Encourage shows to enforce their rules

Carla,

After this year's show and some concerns about rules not being enforced, (yep me) I asked for artists to help me work on that very issue......... I was looking for artist advisors, who could advise me, before I go to print with next year's applications, to determine if the wording was right and clear or if the rules were appropriate etc. I inherited a show with a certain set of rules that had not been working in a downturn economy and lower attendance at shows. (we are just now getting back up to the "old days" levels of toursists here) My mistake was that instead of changing the rules, I allowed people to bend/break them. I now find I made a really bad decision there (although it more or less happened and I allowed it than an actual thought process!) It's time to step up and figure out what works for both my shows and the artists.

That's one of the reasons, I look forward to working with artists at the NAIA conference on issues like this and booth shots and buy/sell and production work etc.

My biggest point though is that while input from artists regarding wording and intent and how rules affect them is very important, it is up to the show to determine the rules for their show and then...... ENFORCE THEM as you said. If artists find they cannot abide by those rules, they shouldn't apply and then both sides will be alot happier!

Lois

Replies

Larry Berman March 26, 2011 at 5:48pm

I've been thinking about this all day. The problem is that show staff has more to do during the show than spend time enforcing rules that they took for granted and didn't plan on having to enforce. This is the type of issue that needs to be worked out in advance as it's part of a cycle that never gets the right amount of attention until it's too late. Having artist advisors and maybe an onsite neutral mediator might go a long way towards resolving issues before they become bigger issues.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Lois Songer March 26, 2011 at 5:13pm

Carla,

After this year's show and some concerns about rules not being enforced, (yep me) I asked for artists to help me work on that very issue......... I was looking for artist advisors, who could advise me, before I go to print with next year's applications, to determine if the wording was right and clear or if the rules were appropriate etc. I inherited a show with a certain set of rules that had not been working in a downturn economy and lower attendance at shows. (we are just now getting back up to the "old days" levels of toursists here) My mistake was that instead of changing the rules, I allowed people to bend/break them. I now find I made a really bad decision there (although it more or less happened and I allowed it than an actual thought process!) It's time to step up and figure out what works for both my shows and the artists.

That's one of the reasons, I look forward to working with artists at the NAIA conference on issues like this and booth shots and buy/sell and production work etc.

My biggest point though is that while input from artists regarding wording and intent and how rules affect them is very important, it is up to the show to determine the rules for their show and then...... ENFORCE THEM as you said. If artists find they cannot abide by those rules, they shouldn't apply and then both sides will be alot happier!

Lois

This reply was deleted.