I feel like I just got punched in the gut. Apparently a simple, flat-out rejection is much easier to take than a rejection that comes with additional information, like my current rejection from Bayou City. Not only was I not chosen, the notification also shared with me that "on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest), your jewelry scored a 2.375".
Wow. 2.375 out of 7, you say? I think I'll pull up local fast food job listings on the old laptop right after I try to scrape my self-respect up off the floor.
I felt only marginally less terrible when I read the part of the email that says that jewelers scoring 3.3 or above were invited. Really? 3.3? Out of 7? Bayou City jurors, you couldn't even break the halfway mark with a score above 4 for the invited artists?
But back to me... "Miss 2.375 out of 7"... I think the additional info with the rejection is helpful to an extent, but it sure seems to make this rejection harder to swallow than the many many other rejections I get that just say, "unfortunately you were not chosen, but please apply again next year... blah blah blah... our fair is great... blah blah blah..."
Has anyone seen my self-respect?
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Wow, this is all new to me. I suppose I have never applied to a show that actually returns score results with rejections. I happen to think that is a step in the right direction! I wish all fairs did this. As others have mentioned, if festivals are going to ask for $20 to $50 application fees, the least they could do is return some feedback (whether you are rejected or accepted). Of course, it would be nice to add some feedback/notes along with the score (as in "In your category, there were 60 accepted artists out of 136 applicants with scores of at least 5.2 out of 7. The judges found your art was lacking continuity & was not as consistent as other applicants, the booth was lacking flow and the images were not clear."
If I am going to be rejected, it would be nice to have constructive feedback to build on. Perhaps shows could actually scan the actual "judge's sheet(s) & comments" and send it to each applicant. That would be well worth the price of applying. I think shows should actually promote this in ZAPP as "Score and Full Judge's Disclosure & Feedback for every Application" ... I think shows that do this will actually get more applicants with such a service.
I have been exhibiting my jewelry at high end craft fairs since 1994. It is always helpful to know if the juror or jurors have any experience in your medium. Many times that experience just doesn't exist in all mediums. I want to believe show promoters do their best to obtain knowledgeable individuals for the jury. I know that the process is very subjective.
If it is available I always look at who the jurors are before I apply. Sometimes that is not available, but it is nice to know who is judging your work. Sometimes the juror or jury is just not qualified to make a learned decision concerning the work they are viewing, unfortunate for us, but it happens.
I did apply to the Bayou show as I have done it in the past and the cutoff was 3.875. I missed it by a hair of 3.6.
That's just the way it is though. Next.
I like the idea of having more info when we get the accepted/rejected letters.
As far as the Bayou City festival though, are they still charging admission just to get in? I went once years ago, and it just wasn't worth the cost. I think just the fact that people have to pay, limits the appeal of their show. On the other hand, shows like the Fort Worth Main St. festival are free and seem to have many more people in attendance.
Thanks so much for posting this. I am very new to this world, and honestly somewhat intimidated. To hear and feel your pain is so reassuring. Sometimes, I think I'm the only one out there" not" feeling super confident. It's been great to read I'm not alone and my feelings are not unfamiliar to others. I also love that you have risen above those doubtful feelings and realize that there really is no choice--- you must continue on---it's just simply your passion and you are compelled to express it, no matter what anyone else thinks. You Go.
P.S. Thanks to everyone else who has contributed to this post as well, your insight is more helpful than you may know.
WEll, I posted a while ago about NUMEROUS rejections I have been taking this year. Say about.....9 in a row. Some of them really hurt too....
THen....upon opening what I was SURE to be another rejection from Bayou CIty...I GOT IN!!!!!
Shock of shocks. ! And....after all and I mean ALL the rejections I had opened recently I could do nothing but really just shake my head. I will NEVER get it.
I am glad to get the score...Mostly it tells me who is jurying. I certainly know I am not the greatest...but I am not as bad as so many of these scores have indicated.
I just squeeked into BC by .25.
Guys, I think I have hit the mother load. Top this, I just got wait listed for a show I didn't apply for...
I applied last year, not this year to Fairhope Chamber. That show is actually two concurrent shows which are ok so I only applied to the Art Center show and got in it...
go figure.
It's not too much trouble to collect the jury fees, however.
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