Hey All!
I'm a newbie to the art show world, and have been preparing for this season for the past 3 months or so. I'm the type of person that plans things meticulously, and probably to a fault. Since I am just getting started, I only applied to about a half dozen shows (all local) to get my feet wet. In preparation I have spent the last few months acquiring equipment, and building my own pro panels. Today I received my first rejection, and I have to say - it felt like a swift kick in the gut. I'm still kind of reeling from it. I know this is part of the game, and it would be unreasonable to expect to get in to every show applied for... but it sure does sting.
I wonder... veterans of this crazy game, does the rejection get easier to take after you get a few under your belt, or do they all suck as bad as the first one?
I wish I had an idea *why* they rejected my application. Unfortunately, all I received was a generic "the competition was very stiff, and I was not selected". Maybe I did something wrong in the application process, or maybe they just didn't like my work. I guess I will never know.
Thanks for letting me 'cry in my beer' for a bit!
Anyone that wants to take a peek at my work, please drop by my website @ http://www.liquids-in-motion.com
Feedback is MUCH APPRECIATED!
Cheers!
-Jim
liquids-in-motion.com
Replies
I did the same show for two years and then wasn't accepted, I have to say I was a little upset, but told myself "their loss!" For the next three years they sent me applications, I didn't reply, the fourth year I sent in the application and was accepted again! Then, I saw a listing in the paper for the show with a photo of one of my pieces and the tag line...Returning after several years absents!
There was another show that I kept getting rejections from, so I gave up. The next year, a lady came into my booth asking if I had a moment, she handed me an application for the show I had been rejected from, with her name on the top saying Jury Fee Waived! She continued to say how much she liked my work and wanted me to be part of their show... Life sure is funny at times!
wow! That is amazing. Thanks!!!
I had a quite a few rejections by using a gallery shot instead of a booth shot, but I found out that was hurting me. I inquired ahead of time and they said I could use a gallery shot. After I submitted with my booth shot, I have had a lot better luck.
The first one of the season does fell like a swift kick. Last year I must have been really lucky that I did get in to all but 3 shows. I thought this isnt any big deal. Well reality has set in this year. The rejections are rolling in. One was the best show I have ever had. That one hurt.
I have contacted some of the shows and have gotten 3 responces. One did tell me my score and the other was just that there were so many apps for my category.
If there were not a lot of artist rejections for shows then the same people would always be at the same shows with the same style work...and no spots would ever be available for new creative talent.
I would imagine that the promoters like fresh and new art mixed in just as much as the visitors to the shows. Seeing the same-old-same-old causes many people to loose interest in visiting the shows after a while.
All of that is why an artist has to keep evolving and growing their work. I've seen some folks with the same basic work for 15-20 years, and they keep complaining about sales dropping. I'm doing serious cleaning out of inventory and retiring work. With a little luck, about 30% of my work this year will be from prior years.
First off, thanks to everyone for all the replies, kind comments on my work, and guidance. I'm feeling better now since I got accepted into the 2nd show I applied for. It's smaller, but it was still juried. I am really starting to think that I just blew it on the application for the first show, as I was not detailed about my technique. As Geri Wegner said, the space provided is ridiculously small, but still I should have been more clear that my work is photography and not digital art. I'll try again next year. In the meantime, I have applications in for another 3 or 4 shows (all local, and all smaller shows). Hopefully I'll get in one or two more this summer.
Thanks again everyone!
-Jim
From what I have heard, a 50% acceptance rate is common. So don't get too upset and plan accordingly. If you don't get into any shows, then worry and look at what you're doing wrong.
This is only my second season and five of my first applications were rejected this year and I started get get bummed, But now I've started getting acceptances and I just have to remember to go with the flow and that no one gets into all the shows they apply for no matter how awesome their work is.
I know I have a lot I can improve on in my pictures and application, but at least my work is appealing to enough people to keep going.
Good Luck!
Your work is amazing. I coincidentally discovered another liquid photographer this week and it is a wonderful technique. He uses guar gum and I read that you use various things to create your images.
I can see where judges have no idea how you are creating your shots and you are not getting the credit you deserve for what you have to do to get them. It is a ridiculously small amount of info that you are allowed to give but for you it is extra important.
The sign for your booth looks great.
Good luck to you.
Jim, it never gets easy but it doesn't hurt as much any more.
Your work is really beautiful, but I can see how juries might not understand what you are doing. I recently saw a short film by a German photographer who does something similar and was amazed at how complicated the process was. You might prepare a statement that describes your process and shows that it isn't some sort of digital hanky-panky.
That said, you have to know that photography is a very popular category these days, and you are competing against a much larger pool of entries than some others.
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