How do you possibly post the horrors of a show without getting "blackballed" by others shows? I have been warned not to do this. So then, how do we know all the pretty words aren't just words so they get invited back?
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Lynn, so often people will post that they can't find any reviews for a certain show. Some shows just seem to drop below under the radar. Reviews are meant to help each other out. It is your view. Plus, the way you word your comments is important. Your can be down right mean and nasty about a show. However that sometimes causes people to wonder more about you than the show.
Lynn, you must know about www.Artshowreviews.com. That is one of our websites and it's purpose is to provide artists with information that will help them. Some of this information may not be found on the show's website or in their written information. This information may be about the way a show does their load in, or help on the show's parking for artists, you get the idea. Many artists will post about their experiences and also mention that they made these same comments in their show survey. If a show director wants to improve, they will want to know what you think about their show. I think if you use tact you probably won't be black balled. If you are black balled, do you really want to be involved with those kind of people in the first place.
And this to anybody that hasn't written a review for our website, it is not hard to write one. Writing a review is a great way to help each other out. If you use the reviews, please leave one.
I want to choose my words wisely so I will get to another email as soon as I recover from 93 degree heat for 4 days!
Although I don't get to any of the shows I've seen others review here (too far, not the right market .... I do crafts, not art, etc.), I still like reading what others are experiencing at these shows. Who knows? One day I may make into one it would be nice to have some honest reviews to see exactly what I am getting in to.
Lynn McAleer, please leave a review, not just because I ask but you've read what others have written and it may definitely influence them for or against the show(s) you're referring to. It may save someone a lot of $$ they cannot afford to invest in a show if it is one not suitable to what they sell or how much they expect to make in sales.
Melanie posted a review recently that was full of helpful information and yet she said in the quietest way "no way going back to this show," at least that is how I read it. It is doable. When this site started there was a lot of shouting about the shows and comments that would keep people from posting here. As Richard said, there are MANY more readers than there are reviewers, but every fair review you do helps someone else. As we've all learned along the way a good show for you or your neighbor is not the same for you. Marge Luttrell wrote a glowing review of the Old Town Art Fair and some of the feedback was sort of on the line of "were you at the same show?"
We're all learning how to say things online and talk online as we would in person. If you were talking to the show organizers, of the bad show, what would you say to them? Can you write it that way?
I thank you all kindly for your responses! I will need to find a "PC" way to say what I truly need to.
I also think that even if it's a good review and I have written both, everyone else's take on it.... can be as important as the review. Where the reviewer has a good show and everyone else reporting has a bad one... gives just as good info to show director's as the review. Honestly, I think it's not the promoters who choose (except in the case of Howard Allen and Paragon and such and they seem to know what sells for their shows). Most shows bring in a jury to objectively choose the show. I guess someone could hold a grudge.... but I have never thought of it that way. These reviews as Christine said, are for objective input. I guess thats how I have to look at it or else I wouldn't post anything. I'd be too worried.
I have been doing shows for over 20 years and now I only do a few select profitable shows per year. I wrote a lot of honest reviews in that time. Sometimes I went back, other times I did not. The reviews are IMPORTANT but few are written considering the number of people viewing the site. If a show stinks, say so because why on earth would you want to go back to it. In theory, reviews should get promoters to clean up their act. Current reviews are the only way artists are going to know if a show is heading into the tank or is improving. If I get on somebody's black list, it is their loss not mine.
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