I am an Art Fair newbie and want to know if it is common practice to apply to more than one show for a particular weekend in the event that you don't get into the one you want the most. Please reply
Thanks!
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Hi Larry, I know this thread is a little old - but wanted to get my two cents in. I look at applying to art fairs the same as applying for jobs. If I applied for one at a time, went through the whole process of interviewing etc... and then waited for a rejection before I applied for another, I would find myself unemployeed for a very long time. I have at many times had to turn down a job offer because I recieved two - this might have adversely affected other applying for that position, but I don't think anybody would call that unethical. I think it's just called making a living.
William S. Eickhorst said:
Okay, I yield the point. Obviously pragmatism trumps every other argument in the art fair world. Before bowing out however, I would like to make one last point - not that it will change anyone's views on the subject, but simply as something to consider.
If I were a show organizer and my jurors had diligently selected who they thought were the best artists applying, and I thought I had a high quality show lined up, only to find out that 50 of the artists selected had pulled out (because they had also entered other shows) and I had to settle for 50 artists from the Waitlist, I would not be a happy camper. Suddenly the overall quality of my show has taken a big hit. Such a situation certainly wouldn't do much to enhance a good working relationship between show organizers and artists.
What about the rule of the artist being at the show, you will find that you will have to choose and therefore only apply to shows that refund, and there are not many of them. I too earn a living each weekend with shows, 30 years, I just got into Ft Myers and Mt Dora. Both require the artist there.
Hi Molly - I think we all wish you great successes with your new endeavor.
Larry is absolutely correct. Typically most of us who depend on our art as our only income spend many hours/days picking and choosing what shows will best suit our art. It's business - our livelihood. I take a few days each quarter to deal with choosing, then completing applications. Many of the events we choose are personal favorites and we apply for them annually. There is nothing ethically wrong with submitting applications to multiple events held the same weekend..... in fact..... Promoters or event coordinators know this is what must artists do to insure an income that pays the mortgage, utilities, and all necessities in life - thus the option to accept or decline the invitation to participate then pay the fees. The shows that I've been in give a deadline for the entry fee and do not count you in for sure until you pay at least the down payment of that fee.
Again, I agree with Larry & others - it is not necessary (or even a good idea) to let the promoter know you are applying for an additional show that day - in fact it can be disastrous for the immediate event and that event in years down the road. Since most events have application deadlines posted very early (in some cases up to a year), all the promoter or event coordinator is interested in is after an acceptance the event fee be paid by the deadline they offer. At that point they consider you committed. I have typically been able to decide between two shows before that payment is due. Not to worry.... once you have a full season of shows under your belt, the rhythm of the application process becomes easy.
Linda Anderson > Linda AndersonSeptember 16, 2009 at 12:43pm
It's okay William..... after a year or so of doing this, you will note the extreme differences between the art show circuit and your past experiences with more formal exhibits etc. I can only refer to my experiences over the past ten years or so as both an artist and an organizer of not too large events. When attending the higher tier events, about half of the artists rely on their artwork as their entire income, while the smaller events draw artists that only do a few shows annually. This is a business for both those full time artists and the promoters of the upper tier shows.
I understand your concern of the promoter's dilema regarding pull outs. However, this process is it's own check on itself. If a promoter runs a good show - if he brings in buying patrons AND offers top considerations to the attending artists - none of the top artists would pull out from that show. Survival of the best so to speak. Events that experience a high rate of pull outs need to evaluate and make changes to attract not only the top artists, but a large turnout of buying patrons. As with most things in the business world - competition is a good thing.
Molly asked a valid question, I think it has been answered. I apologise for the comment of your lack of experience. I should have narrowed the remark to your lack of experience with the art fair circuit. You talk highly of ethics. On your main page you state the worst show you have ever done was The Westport show in Kansas City, MO. If I read it right, you were not even in the show! How ethical is it to criticise/demean a show on a public forum when you did not even participate in it?
oh absolutely!
but
make sure you can afford to pay the fees to both, and know before you apply and send in your money what the refund policy is!
as soon as you know which show you are going to, notify the other that you cannot attend, so they can replace you.
what is RUDE is accepting both, and just "not showing up" at one of them, because that deprives the fair of a booth. (and makes a nasty gap in the set up) and deprives a fellow artist of a chance.
Kevin Kaye > Kirsten HouseknechtSeptember 15, 2009 at 4:53pm
Really? Genocide compared to applying to more than one show? Come on. There are few if any artists that can apply to only one show for any given weekend and be assured to get in. The only thing unethical would be to not contact a show in a timely matter so they may use their waitlist. Your little experience with shows is evident. an open weekend during the show season is the same as being unemployed, without unemployment insurance to carry you through.
Replies
William S. Eickhorst said:
Kevin Kaye said:
Nothing wrong with backups.
Larry is absolutely correct. Typically most of us who depend on our art as our only income spend many hours/days picking and choosing what shows will best suit our art. It's business - our livelihood. I take a few days each quarter to deal with choosing, then completing applications. Many of the events we choose are personal favorites and we apply for them annually. There is nothing ethically wrong with submitting applications to multiple events held the same weekend..... in fact..... Promoters or event coordinators know this is what must artists do to insure an income that pays the mortgage, utilities, and all necessities in life - thus the option to accept or decline the invitation to participate then pay the fees. The shows that I've been in give a deadline for the entry fee and do not count you in for sure until you pay at least the down payment of that fee.
Again, I agree with Larry & others - it is not necessary (or even a good idea) to let the promoter know you are applying for an additional show that day - in fact it can be disastrous for the immediate event and that event in years down the road. Since most events have application deadlines posted very early (in some cases up to a year), all the promoter or event coordinator is interested in is after an acceptance the event fee be paid by the deadline they offer. At that point they consider you committed. I have typically been able to decide between two shows before that payment is due. Not to worry.... once you have a full season of shows under your belt, the rhythm of the application process becomes easy.
I understand your concern of the promoter's dilema regarding pull outs. However, this process is it's own check on itself. If a promoter runs a good show - if he brings in buying patrons AND offers top considerations to the attending artists - none of the top artists would pull out from that show. Survival of the best so to speak. Events that experience a high rate of pull outs need to evaluate and make changes to attract not only the top artists, but a large turnout of buying patrons. As with most things in the business world - competition is a good thing.
Kevin
but
make sure you can afford to pay the fees to both, and know before you apply and send in your money what the refund policy is!
as soon as you know which show you are going to, notify the other that you cannot attend, so they can replace you.
what is RUDE is accepting both, and just "not showing up" at one of them, because that deprives the fair of a booth. (and makes a nasty gap in the set up) and deprives a fellow artist of a chance.
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