I am just trying to help

I am not the most experienced artist out there, but for some reason I have gotten us into all the shows that we signed up for this year, this is a first for us.  The answer (for us) is that I listened to other artist when they had a suggestion...that simple.  We ha\/e friends that argue that the problem is with Zapp or the jury system, etc.  always an excuse.  Sorry honey that is not it, I don't care how long you ha\/e been doing art shows, sometimes a friend can suggest something that works, please listen, you may not ha\/e so much to grip about in the future.  If someone suggest  a new picture, think about it, if someone says maybe a different booth shot, listen, if someone says try a new show or a different area, we just might know what we are talking about.  We are friends, wanting to help, please don't tune us out...

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest,

a friend

 

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Comments

  • Suzanne,  Well said! 

  • I agree we are never too old to learn something new.  How does one imagine big concerns like Macys, Dillards, etc., have been around so long and are so successful?  They change their displays, they do things fresh, they get new display designers.  Admittedly, we are creatures of habit and it's easy to set up our displays . . . just like we always have.  But, in this day and age, that is not working.  We have to go with the flow of new ideas.  After a show I've presented my designs at, I will sit down and go over the whole show, listening in my mind's eye once again to all the comments I heard, or did someone find it difficult to meander through my setup?  In my previous work environment as a paralegal/legal assistant I had an attorney who told me once, "Suzanne, there is always a better way of saying the same thing."  I've applied that in my tent set up, trying to improve wherever I can.   If you think of it in terms of sales, well it might not work.  But what if it does?  Yipee!

  • I love this thread because it reinforces all the work we're doing to help artists achieve their goals.

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

  • Mark,  I am not saying that it takes alot of money for new displays, fancy tent, or other things nicer than what we have to get in a show.  I am just frustrated at friends that (*&%^#) grip to other artist about how they can't get in shows, they blame everything else but won't change anything they have been doing (for years) because it has always been good enough...up to now.

    And yes I have our favorite shows that we are repeating plus a new one we could not get into before making changes in my photographs.  It made all the difference and I thank everyone on this website for all your advice, WE ARE NEVER TO OLD TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW!

  • Give me a year or so Jacque, and I'll get back to you on that....

    I think that most artists can gain entry into most shows which they deisre to do - provided they aren't in the top 100 US shows for their particular forte'... I seem to be able to do so.. even with a hand-built display, extreme crowding and no fancy display extras... But I couldn't get into most of the 'really good' shows

    I'll let you know what the value of investing in a new expensive display, lighting and new booth images are worth....

    Could be that they aren't worth a dime to the big name shows. I am thankful I get into the shows where I do so, but still dream of commercial success doing the larger ones...

  • You're right.  That's why I love this site.  As old as I am and as long as I've been in art, you can always learn something new, or be reminded of something you've forgotten.  They say "great minds think alike".......Not!  If they do, they are stagnant and have only tunnel vision.  Many minds together are the best, more ideas, more variety is what great things come from. 

    Terrific site,  I love it! 

  • Good advice, Jacque. There is a lot of information out there from very tested sources. When people say they don't want to change their booth shot or the way they present their images, even against advice to do so, they are making a choice that just may not work. Listen, do research, take to heart what you hear and see.

  • Sometime we need to take the blinkers off to get a wider perspective on what we want to do and what the buying public wants us to do. Nice comment. ( translation: blinkers or blinders, those little things that keep a mule or horse looking one way ).
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