Question for artists applying to shows

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Finkenbiner on February 6, 2012 at 4:08pm

Personally I like it, once you've got everything set up, applying to shows is much quicker and easier, I'm not spending extra money on CDs/ CD Mailers / postage, etc.  Image format is standard instead of each showing having a different format so you don't waste time using your photo editing software with every app.  The only thing I don't think is the 100 or 200 character limitation to describe process and materials.

I also like the fact that the whole process is electronical, makes it much easier to manage apps, know which shows have accepted you and to get a booth submitted even if you are on the road for multiple shows. 

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Permalink Reply by Amy Ikenn on February 6, 2012 at 5:20pm

Ruth - you said it perfectly - those are the points I would have made. 

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Evans on February 6, 2012 at 5:22pm

I like it too. Slides were plain awful to do (taping! arrgh!) and CDs are a pain because everyone's format is different. Having a bank of standardized images and statements on hand is a huge time-saver, plus you don't have all the postage, envelopes, CDs, slides, etc. Even though artists say that some jury fees went up with the arrival of Zapp, I am saving hundreds each year over the old-school process.

But look at the big picture---decide first what shows you think will be best for you, and apply however their process is set up. Getting the shows you want is far more important than the application process. 

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Permalink Reply by Paula C. Boggan on February 6, 2012 at 5:34pm

Thanks, y'all. These comments are helpful food for thought. We no longer expect slides of course, although we still get them occasionally. I'd like to switch to strictly emailing eveything, no CDs coming in, but some of our old-school artists still only use snail mail, so i'd hate to exclude them. Maybe we'll have a combination of ways to apply, though i doubt it works that way. with Zapplication. Zapp is pricey for a non-profit group like us that wants to keep our shows free to the public--(more $$ for buying art!) It's so hard to decide!

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Permalink Reply by Larry Berman on February 6, 2012 at 7:35pm

You should contact ZAPP if that's what you're considering. They have a lower rate for shows that get under 500 applications.

The advantage of using ZAPP is that it's standardized between shows plus the artists maintain an image bank and choose which images they want to submit with each application. Once the images are uploaded and labeled, an application takes about two minutes. Entrythingy does not offer artists an image bank so each application requires images to be uploaded, with different naming conventions for each show though most want lastname_firstname_image#.jpg. JAS, once everything is labeled, is almost as fast as ZAPP to apply to a show. A few advantages if you use JAS. Artists see their images in the application EXACTLY as the jurors see them, unlike ZAPP which shows you the images on a white background but the jurors see them on black. Another advantage of using JAS is that you can pick up the phone and speak to the people who own the system, and they will tweak it for your specific needs.

Some of what I posted is from an artist point of view in that they prefer to use ZAPP because it's easy. Shows like using ZAPP because ZAPP promotes the shows even if the application isn't open, by having the shows always listed on the web site with their information being available. Artists look for shows to apply to on the ZAPP web site, unlike with JAS and Entrythingy. JAS only lists shows while they are taking applications. Entrythingy justs has a list of shows using their system, promoting the system, not the shows. I feel that by spending a little more to use ZAPP, you have the potential to get it back in increased applications.

For any system you choose, you can point artists to my http://BermanGraphics.com web site if they need help. I even have a web site that formats images for ZAPP or JAS at no charge, http://JuryImages.com

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

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Permalink Reply by Sheila Evans on February 6, 2012 at 7:43pm

Paula--

Sorry, I was half asleep when I responded to your question. I read it like you were an artist wanting to apply to shows on Zapp. Sigh.

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Permalink Reply by Lois Songer on February 6, 2012 at 5:41pm

Paula,

Not sure what show you are with, but we too are in the process of changing to an online system.  Zapp is a bit pricey for small shows and I'm still leaning toward Entry Thingy.  I recently switched from slides to cds and still got a couple sets of slides this year!  I am going to ease people into whatever new system I choose with accepting cds and the online version for a year. 

Key West Craft Show

Old Island Days Art Festival (KW)

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Permalink Reply by Paula C. Boggan on February 7, 2012 at 10:37am

Thanks everyone! Lots to consider here. I had not heard of Entry Thingy either. Cost and fear of losing the personal attention to applicants are the biggest issues for me with Zapp, so we'll see...

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Permalink Reply by Ruth Finkenbiner on February 7, 2012 at 11:53am

 

Paula - Larry Berman started a discussion on ZAPP and EntryThingy last month, you might look at  a few of those comments for a little more feedback on Entry Thingy.

 

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/entrythingy-and-zapp-im...

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Permalink Reply by Paula C. Boggan on February 7, 2012 at 12:25pm

Thanks, Ruth. That's my daughter's name, by the way. :0) I'll get the hang of this website soon i hope.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Steininger on February 7, 2012 at 2:17pm

I have a promoter friend that switched to Zapp in the last 3 or 4 years. She's relatively small - fewer than 500 apps - and has found that it's been well worth it. She gets more applications (ergo, more jury fees) with all the promotion that Zapp does for her show. She doesn't have to spend $$$ printing and mailing out postcards, applications, etc. Overall, I think she's very happy with it (altho at the beginning, there are the usual bugs). As an artist, I know I'm thrilled with it.

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Permalink Reply by Connie Mettler on February 23, 2012 at 3:06pm

You know, the other reason why a show would want more applications is not really the additional jury fees, they really want to have more applications so they can have a better quality show.

A show may say they have 300 applications, okay that sounds like plenty for a 125-150 space event, yet I've seen application pools that were nearly 1/3 jewelry. That wouldn't do at all.

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