The stuff I do can be found at http://www.mymagneticsculptures.com
I am struggling a bit with how to do a booth... I set something up, but it seems to be... I guess the word is "sparse". See it here: http://i25.tinypic.com/2yl1fg0.jpg
Any comments/suggestions would be more than welcome.
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I use the colorful floor mats, same style like yours, but I do the entire floor. It keeps the area clean and people comment how good it feels on their feet. (Colors go with my art) It would certainly give a more finished look to your set up. I found mine at Sams Club, color on one side, black on other. I think a dozen and a half tiles will cover entire floor. I bundle them up with bungees for transport and they are lightweight. They clean easy with a hose too. You really have to set up your space by trial and error. Do any of your magnets hang or are they all table top? Look at other peoples set ups for ideas too. You might see something entirely more presentable for your particular work. I like Larry's idea of a tiered system. Check them out. You could fit more work on one if you chose that way. I wouldn't worry about walls for now. Your product doesn't hang, I am presuming, so show them as they would sit. Later down the road you might want to consider walls.
Well after attending the NAIA conference and listening to the comments at the Mock Jury about Booth shots this is what we learned. Take your booth to your photographer and set it up there and have it shot. Why? You wouldn't submit amateur jury slides so give your booth shot the same professionalism. Show the whole booth, not just two sides or a part of one. Show the booth as it is in a show, do not edit it to "look better than it does" at a show. If you normally show more work than that in your booth in a show then put it in. Good luck.
Now for critique of the shot itself. One, your using an EZup or similar canopy, you need to crop the top off that shows the cris-cross structure. Two, the white walls add nothing to the look of your booth. Three, the pedestals on the mats on the grass, a very clumsy and strange look. I'd lay out thewhole floor and place the pedestals on them.
David Hipwell > Martha GibersonOctober 31, 2009 at 7:36pm
I think the booth shot requirement is baloney....but I do play the game.
Why.....suppose I painted the Mona Lisa and had a rip in my tent because I was poor.....Hey Id be out.
Also some big big shows dont require booth shots....like Artstreet in Green Bay....gee are the people saying that Artstreet has it all wrong.....lol.....it is baloney....but play the game like I do
Larry Berman > Martha GibersonOctober 1, 2009 at 9:42am
To add to what Martha says, I was hosting the mock jury at the conference and one of the people critiquing the images who has juried about eight shows in the past year made those comments about wanting to see three walls in a booth slide. Every artist should be aware that it's only one juror's opinion. If you read the juror interviews on my web site, you'll see conflicting opinions on how the booth should be photographed.
For example, the juror at the conference stated that he doesn't want to see a non professional canopy (KD or EZUp) and a different juror in this interview tells you to only shoot two walls into a corner, indoors, without a canopy. http://www.bermangraphics.com/artshows/longs-park-2008.htm
Again, different jurors have different opinions and that needs to be reinforced to artists setting up their booth to be photographed. Do the best you can and keep in mind that setting a booth up at a show is usually the worst place to take a booth picture.
Amy Schulz > Larry BermanOctober 1, 2009 at 11:03am
Why is a show the worst place to get a good booth picture? Is it due to crowding? Some locations have such beautiful grass and trees to be a nice backdrop to the booth.
Larry Berman > Amy SchulzOctober 1, 2009 at 11:32am
You just answered your own question. The jurors don't give a crap (pardon my English) about the beautiful grass and trees. You want them to see a professional booth with absolutely no distractions. Make sure the walls are down and you can't see the trees from the position of the tripod supporting the camera.
Most artists set up a booth to sell, filling it to the brim with their work because it works at a show. If that is also your display picture, it will look cluttered and the jurors will comment on it for the wrong reasons.
I worked with an artist this past weekend who had submitted images for the mock jury. All the individual pieces in his booth overlapped and some were cut midway at the edges of the frame because he hand held the camera and couldn't change the position of the work from the camera position to visually improve the picture. I had him purchase or borrow a tripod and reshoot the booth on setup day at the show. Within the group of new images he sent me on Monday, I was able to pick one and improve it to the point where he has a much stronger booth image that stands a better chance of him getting into shows. The work is spaced properly and his featured pieces don't overlap or aren't blocked by the work in front if them. But he spent a good part of set up day working on the booth for the picture and it would have been easier with less pressure to do it at home.
Mike Medved > Martha GibersonSeptember 30, 2009 at 11:59pm
Thanks. I will post the new booth shot as soon as I have one.
What I would be concerned about is the fact that the customer might just keep walking, not realizing the really cool art you have created. I like the tiered pedastals that someone suggested and have those in a row. I would also have a couple more right up front, facing the aisle. The large pictures of a piece or 2 would be great. Make sure you get yourself a banner as well so that they know what they are looking at.
I agree with the others about draping something dark behind the work, but you may need lights if it makes the inside too dark. I saw a nice arrangement at a recent show. A potter had a series of pedestals in varying heights. Put together they looked almost like steps. Each one fit inside the other for transporting.
I also think your booth looks a little sparse. I'm hoping that you are carrying more of your work because if one or two sell, then it's really sparse!
Mike Medved > Dave HindeSeptember 18, 2009 at 2:50pm
Thanks everyone for comments. I am reworking this incorporating suggestions. When I get it together, will take a new booth shot and post here.
Replies
Now for critique of the shot itself. One, your using an EZup or similar canopy, you need to crop the top off that shows the cris-cross structure. Two, the white walls add nothing to the look of your booth. Three, the pedestals on the mats on the grass, a very clumsy and strange look. I'd lay out thewhole floor and place the pedestals on them.
Why.....suppose I painted the Mona Lisa and had a rip in my tent because I was poor.....Hey Id be out.
Also some big big shows dont require booth shots....like Artstreet in Green Bay....gee are the people saying that Artstreet has it all wrong.....lol.....it is baloney....but play the game like I do
For example, the juror at the conference stated that he doesn't want to see a non professional canopy (KD or EZUp) and a different juror in this interview tells you to only shoot two walls into a corner, indoors, without a canopy.
http://www.bermangraphics.com/artshows/longs-park-2008.htm
Again, different jurors have different opinions and that needs to be reinforced to artists setting up their booth to be photographed. Do the best you can and keep in mind that setting a booth up at a show is usually the worst place to take a booth picture.
Larry Berman
Digital Jury Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
Test Your Jury Images and Presentation
http://JuryImages.com
412-767-8644
Most artists set up a booth to sell, filling it to the brim with their work because it works at a show. If that is also your display picture, it will look cluttered and the jurors will comment on it for the wrong reasons.
I worked with an artist this past weekend who had submitted images for the mock jury. All the individual pieces in his booth overlapped and some were cut midway at the edges of the frame because he hand held the camera and couldn't change the position of the work from the camera position to visually improve the picture. I had him purchase or borrow a tripod and reshoot the booth on setup day at the show. Within the group of new images he sent me on Monday, I was able to pick one and improve it to the point where he has a much stronger booth image that stands a better chance of him getting into shows. The work is spaced properly and his featured pieces don't overlap or aren't blocked by the work in front if them. But he spent a good part of set up day working on the booth for the picture and it would have been easier with less pressure to do it at home.
Unfortunately, RL (real life) is interfering.
I also think your booth looks a little sparse. I'm hoping that you are carrying more of your work because if one or two sell, then it's really sparse!
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