First off, I am still pulling arrows out of my back from this recent post.
The torrent of responses, some of them nasty, on Facebook--was amusing. I have been thru worse like the "Fish on the fence episode three years ago."
That said. The most important thing I did was I effected (not affected) change.
I felt photography was getting the raw end of that deal thru their statements in their prospectus.
(Sorry, Mr. Slade a prospectus is a prospectus whether or not you get it on Zapp).
I just want to make three nice observations.
First. I think Christie Kelly, the new director of the show did a class act.
She listened, she set things straight. That's all I was hoping for.
I did not see any of the rest of you really step up and point out the unfairness of their ORIGINAL STATED POLICY about eligible photos.
Some people on Facebook said I was a bully, using my blog to browbeat poor Miss or Mrs. Kelly.
All I did was point out some obvious things that were not in sync with the rest of the circuit.
Christie Kelly has a great future. Better than I can say for many directors who you can't talk to let alone get a word in. She is a class act.
Secondly, I have always stood forward in letting anybody and everybody know that I feel all 2-D artists should be allowed to sell reproductions of their work. You will get no quarrel from me.
Interestingly, Va. Beach like many shows says no repros for painters and the like--then of course, they go and sell repro posters of their former shows.
I know. You will justify them by saying, "It is a fund-raiser." Guess what? When I show up to sell, it is also a fund-raiiser--its called the Nels Johnson Fund-raiser to Make Enough Money to Pay the Monthly Mortgage.
Thirdly, and this goes out especially to the little bully snips who like to downgrade us photographers. I especially love the ones who don't make a living on the street and try to apply museum standards to the street.
If you think it is easy to make big bucks, let alone, a living, out there as a digital photographer--then jump right on in.
The waters are muddied and bloodied from all the ones I have seen come and go over 37 years. And guess what? I am still standing tall, shooting my own visions and marketing them.
I would like to see how many of you can jump in, get in really good shows and then make money. Guess what? Many are called and few are chosen.
So, the bottom line was, I had the balls to make note of a serious problem--and effected change. Guess what? I did it. Which is more than most of you who sit on pretty chairs do on SOCIAL MEDIA but don't really make anything happen.
That's all folks, this is my Fu........day and I am out of here. Playing golf tomorrow. Sleeping good tonight, because I made something happen.
Comments
Thank you Nels! I met the requirements last year and so I barely glanced at them when I applied this year. The morning of your post I had been called from the wait list and paid my booth fee. I was excited to be going and then I read your post and said uh oh. I did a quick response that I was going anyway and then went into ethical dilemma land. I was justifying that I had nothing in my booth with a number over 100 even though I do limited editions of 150 and I had just about decided that was bs on my part and was getting ready to call Christie and do a mea culpa and drop out when I read that she had changed the limited edition size to 250. Thank you Nels and Christie.
Most people dont have the hutzpah to stand up for whats right if it means voicing an unpopular opinion. Keep a few of the arrows, frame them, and hang them on the wall. Change is a process, not an event. Thank you for having the courage.
Exactly, Leslie. If no one stands up and says, "I think there is a problem or misunderstanding here," out here in a public forum the show people don't hear it. Most of them do care and want to do the best thing but don't know how some of their policies are perceived, or understand the implications on our lives.
Participating on this forum "schools" many of these show organizers and they appreciate learning here from you. I know because they tell me so.
You go, Nels! If you don't stand up for yourself, who will? To make a change, you first have to stand up and say "There's a problem!". And you have to say it loud enough that others hear it. Only then can you start to effect a solution. Besides, how will the show coordinators know there is a problem unless someone steps forward and says so. You have to let them so so they have a chance to improve. So you stay loud, Nels.
Well said, Nels! Thanks for standing up for us photographers. I'm a Johnny Walker and Patron fan, myself. Take your choice.
Wow, I get a "Stern" Manhatten and a "Mettler" Martini tonite--I am going to get real looped!
Kudos to Christie and to you Nels for offering the thanks to her and for bringing to light the discrepancies in the Boardwalk's prospectus, putting it out here where people can see it so something can be done. Social media can and does change things.
Sending you a virtual martini to your "page" until we meet again.