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Although I knew it was a long shot at best; I just got my yearly Cherry Creek rejection letter. I had new pictures shot just for this application and actually felt that I had a chance. I know it is an imposible show to get into, but I still feel less than worthy this morning.

Just needed to vent and see if anyone else has more rejection letter stories to share

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Hey Sara, You're #2 on Krasl's waitlist?  I'm #3!  How funny is that!  Now when do you think we'll hear back?  I'm trying to flip a coin on whether I should even come to MI at all, based on the economic woes  I've heard about the state and just heading up to New England...I got Muskegon and Wyandotte, but not sure if it's worth the gamble for 2 shows (if Krasl doesn't pull through)  Ahh, the thoughts that keep me awake at night...
Don't feel so bad, i was rejected from Cherry CreeK once again also but that wasn't so bad...... I've won numerous awards in the Chicago land area, WI and IN and I recently moved to Evansville IN on the KY border so to support the local art community I submitted a piece for a local art/church show with 6 monetary prizes and 10 honorable mentions (now that's 16 possible prizes) Out of the 20 entries (some very nice, most very ummmmm..... ehh?) I didn't win not one of the 6 monetary prizes and was very blessed that I wasn't dragged up front to accept a honorable mention, I don't think I could put on my happy face for that.............. I felt better being rejected by Cherry Ck!
Don't give up applying to Cherry CreeK though, if we all stop applying it just makes the odds better for the competition LOL
Krasl has always gotten a ton of cancellations each year because there's about ten shows that weekend.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Larry    do you know how many rounds there are in the jury of Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
 
I have been reading the forum and it is very interesting.  it has taken me 20 years to get over the frustration.   rejected for the last two years , same images this year and I am in.  I have done this show many times before but heard this year was 2800 applications.   I am finally convinced if the images are good you may get in and you may get thrown out the next year with the exact same images.  It is only an opinion of 4 people.   and  on and on the discussion goes.etc..............
 
Deborah Carlson
 
No but it goes on for something like two and a half to three days. It's usually between 2400 and 2500 applications. Have you read my write up of last years jury:
http://www.bermangraphics.com/artshows/cherry-creek-2010.htm

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
yes,I have read it.   did hear this year from one of the friends of the jurrors that their were 2800 applications.  Terry had told me years ago their are 5 rounds, just wondered if you knew for sure.
There are definitely five rounds. I requested jury feedback this year, and although I didn't really get any, I was told there are five rounds.
Thanks. I think that would be a nice one to be my first. The setting sounds gorgeous.


Larry Berman said:
Krasl has always gotten a ton of cancellations each year because there's about ten shows that weekend.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Thanks, Larry, for pointing this out. Geri has started a new thread on this. Yes, I'm very pleased with Munks --good job on his part.

Larry Berman said:
This is a really interesting post about the Amdur shows. I wish it had been in it's own thread so everyone could read it. Usually when threads last as this one, people loose interest in the subject and stop following them. I did catch Munks reply and thought that was well thought out and to the point.

Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Larry, missed Munks input about Amdur shows. Like to have read that. John
Where is it? With the way these discussions are threaded I can't find it.
Very good chance you will get called to Krasl, Sara. There are so many shows that weekend all looking for artists.

Sara Youngman said:
The tally so far - yes from Columbus, OH; no from 2 of the Ann Arbor shows; #2 on wait list for Krasl. 3 more to apply to and 10 more to hear from. What a life!


Sara Youngman said:
No - didn't figure odds out. Just applied to, I think, 13 shows which are in drivable distance. Applied to all 4 Ann Arbor shows. And to Kalamazoo & Columbus, OH which are the same weekend. And Ada and Birmingham, MI which are both on the same weekend. It was getting too expensive with all the jury fees, so I had to call it quits there. Also just applied to shows which were recommended to me as being popular and good (as good as it gets these days) money makers.

Keeping my fingers crossed. How humiliating if I don't get into any.....

Sara Youngman said:
I feel much better now, being a printmaker...

Linnea Lahlum said:
Just out of curiosity: Did you know what your odds were, before you applied?

I refigure my odds every year, and have since I started this business over 20 years ago. I know, for example, that I have never once gotten into shows where the odds are 10 to 1 (like Cherry Creek). So now I get to save that hefty jury fee. I used to occasionally get into shows with 8 to 1 odds. Since ZAPP has increased the number of apps, I am usually only predictably successful now for shows with a 5 to 1 odds or less. About once every year or two I may crack a show with 7 to 1. But I may have to throw 5 jury fees into the 7 to 1 hole for that one hit.

What the success ratio is, will, of course, vary from person to person. If you are in a less competitive medium, or routinely get into the top tier of shows, you will know that your acceptance ratio may be much higher. But the only way you can find out is to keep records.

You can target even closer if you can find out the number of apps in your medium for each show. Some shows will provide this info if you ask. Obviously in some very competitive mediums, odds will run worse that the overall booths available over apps received. (Every now and then I think I should go back into printmaking for this reason. But it’s just so darn flat.)

If you are not already, start keeping track. Go back over all you past records too.
Like Larry is always saying, go to an open jury and see what your competition is. I used to belong to an organization that offered this for all its members, and I drove 150 miles one way every year to go look.

Jury fees can be a black hole. At least try to peer down it before throwing yours into the pit.

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