This past art show season, (for me, as in spring through fall here in the Midwest.), I did my first juried art shows and had some success in a crowded category, photography. I used Zapp to apply to some shows--got in some--rejected by a couple. I Realize that's the way it goes.
Recently I have been getting emails asking me to apply to certain ZAPP and other listed shows fro 2014—a couple that I did not get into last year.
I'm assuming that these email solicitations go out to many, many people, probably to people who applied last year, correct? Is this a way for some shows to build a "jury fee bank?"
Yak
Replies
As you probably know, once your name is entered into one of the jury systems (ZAPP or Juried Art Services) then you are in their database and will start getting those emails regularly. Zapp has recently added a new service, in addition to receiving their weekly updates they are now offering what are called "dedicated" emails to their show clients. So you'll receive as I did this week add'l emails from Old Capital, National Cornbread Festival (!), etc., in addition to their weekly digest.
I know some artists think that shows try to raise funds by getting lots of applications, and it is a source of revenue for them. I also know some shows deliberately have lower jury fees because they want lots of applications. In addition, some shows choose to have higher jury fees because they want to discourage applicants and attract only the people who are most likely to make the jury cut. Honest, that is true.
Here is a podcast I did about juries and jury fees that I think explains it well from the show's perspective: Jurors, Jurying and What Happened to my Jury Fee
For shows, just like for your small business and mine, all sources of revenue are welcome, but I'd like to disabuse you of the idea that jury fees are any kind of important revenue stream for art fairs. I'm sure there are folks who disagree.
Thanks Connie. I appreciate your experience and knowledge of how this business works.
Yak
Some shows feel this is more targeted than the weekly ZAPP emails.
Larry Berman
Yup, thought so. Thanks Larry
Yak