After attending a popular festival in Utah for many years, I was wait listed for the past 3 years. Yesterday the promoter called me to say they had a spot and gave me until 6:00 PM today to give him my answer. this is what I wrote.
Hi Doug,
First off, thanks for the phone call yesterday offering me a space in Swiss Days. I really did enjoy doing your show.
I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer, here's why.
Being selected for the "wait list" or as your show calls it the "alternative list" is just plain hell. A rejection, although hurtful and disappointing at the time, is over in a few days. The dreaded wait list lingers on not allowing the artist to plan accordingly. It's like interviewing for a job and being told, "you're almost good enough for the position but we feel there are others better qualified, so at this time we can't offer it to you, but were would really like it if you would stay available incase our first choice blows us off."
I know you already know this and get the point, but it makes me feel better explaining it. I've professionally created and sold my art for over 15 years as the sole source of my families income. This is not a hobby. So many of your vendors (I use that term instead of artists) buy and then resell what they bring to Swiss Days. Case in point, the various scrap booking vendors, some of the sign people etc. I know not all break the rules but many do. I don't.
I've participated in nearly 500 shows, many in the top 100 through out the country. I am truly a one of a kind artist that when attending your show, sent out my own mailing to over 500 of my past customers. I know I'm responsible in bringing buyers that might not otherwise wanted to come to your show. Out of all your vendors I stood out with art that was original and unique. How many country craft sign vendors can one show support? There never has, nor quite possibly after you reading this email, never will be an abstract, crazy personality like me in Swiss Days. I was told 100's of time how refreshing it was to have an artist that was cool and cutting edge at the show.
Doug, this writing isn't intended to upset or demean you or your show. It's a great venue with a tremendous tradition and I would have been honored to attend if I was chosen in the first round, but having uncertain status I chose to do a large street festival in Denver that same weekend and don't want to leave that promoter hanging. I don't enjoy that show as much as yours but I do make more money (granted the show is 4 days) and they in-fact selected me in the first round allowing me to set my schedule and plan on.
Good luck with your show Doug, I always enjoyed our conversations in person. Again, this isn't intended to upset you, maybe to help you rethink some of my thoughts yes, but not to PO you. My dad always told me to tell the truth and this is that.
Take care Doug.
dennis
Replies
I've always felt that waiting lists are just inches away from getting into top shows. More so because more artists cancel with ZAPP/JAS than they did in slide days. If you call them frequently expressing continued desire to do the show, it usually works. I've gotten into Coconut Grove, Columbus, Madison, State College, Port Clinton, Broad Ripple, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth off the waiting list.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Yes, I was able to get into Crosby by constantly contacting them for being on the wait list. And hey, I got a ribbon at that show...
Being put on a wait list is definitely not enjoyable and it is good that you spoke your mind and told Doug your thoughts on the waitlisting.
Somehow it seems like the shows are looking out for their own well being in the same way as we look out for our owwn well being when we apply to several shows that are on the same weekend...sorta like putting the shows on our waitlist until we end up knowing which show we will accept.
Scott, don't do Dayton! It's a beer-sodden cluster-FUBAR. It's a large crowd of 20-something's. and older folk acting like 20-something's drinking massive amounts of beer. Art takes a seat in the back of the bus. I did it last year and never will again. Check the reports on it on here and you may change your mind about applying again.
Thank you Robert. Yes, the booth fee seems kind of high too! Besides, I'm already in Hyde Park which is a week after that show. No driving to southern Ohio two weeks in a row! Alyssa would kill me!
The show goes to 11 at night on Friday and Saturday nights, and tear down is a freaking exercise in mass confusion and having to cart out of the big tents.
I don't think you're crazy, Dennis, but I do have a totally different take on it. I consider a wait list far better than a rejection. I understand the things you're saying about the unfairness of letting in "vendors" over you, but it seems to me that the time to say that is when you get the wait list notification and use that as a reason why you should be offered a space. If you need to fill the weekend and can't just wait and see, then schedule something else and have your name taken off the wait list so they don't waste their time calling you.
Point well stated Ruth but I do feel the wait list is purgatory. I've gone to applying to 2-3 show for many of my prime weekends during the season just to make sure I fill that date. Sure my ZAPP fees tripled but missing out on just one good weekend of sales more than covers the extra jury fees. If you've been on the circuit for any length of time I'm sure you see the logic in that. As for wasting they're time, you're right, I should have called to tell them that after being accepted into the other show. I got way busy on the road and forgot. But without knowing the "rest of the story" here, you'd see why in a million years I didn't think I'd get that call.
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