A few days I got a rejection letter for a show in my home town that I have been doing for the past few years. It was a real heartbreaker for me! I mean, its literally less than a mile from my home, (I ride my bike) and lots of people show up to see our latest work. Its not a huge money maker, but its not bad either, since our cost are minimal.
Anyway, I wrote an email to the organization and the new director,(something I never do) telling them how very disappointed I was and how sad the regular "local" artist are being pushed aside.
Boy, am I glad I did, because late that night, I got a call from the "new" director, who explained very apologetically that she had made a mistake, and that yes, I was actually one of the excepted artist. She went on to say that because my name and my business name were different, and there archaic way of notification, and the fact she had come onto the job just a few days before- Well, it was just a mistake.
Yahoo, just glad to get in. Has this ever happened to anyone before?
Replies
Glad you got in Wendy!
Love your bravado Barry - well done!
I have done a not-quite-local show a few times and applied to the last one as I had in the past - and was notified that I was unsuccessful. I wrote to them but got a stock reply.
I went to another small show in the same town a month after my rejection and many people said they assumed I would be at the big show - no, I told them, I had been rejected. They looked at my work and my booth and were quite stunned. Then one lady told me there was a new committee doing the organising and they had rejected a high percentage of previous exhibitors in their effort to put their own stamp on it!
Interestingly, about 2 weeks before the big show, they posted a photo of my work on their website, I assume indicating I was attending, however they never contacted me to advise they had changed their mind and had returned my fee.
The show ended up being inundated with rain the week before and they held a far smaller show on adjacent high ground. Couldn't say I was sad for the new committee!
Yes, this happened to me some years ago, also was a new show director, for a show I always assumed that I would be doing.
I called immediately after getting the rejection letter. They got back to me shortly and put me in the show. No idea what happened.
Yes Wendy, happened in our hometown art show. This is when I worked for a girl before going out on my own as an artist. We had been in the show 7 yrs. in a row and we lived right down the street from town where the show took place. She was so angry that all these other outside artists were jurying in and she was out. I don't blame here as we had lots of customers looking for us every year.
At any rate, she had knew someone who lived about 100 yards from the show; right in town and so she set up her booth at the end of his driveway! Yup, she sold a lot the day of the show and did it again the next year. She did this after she called the Chamber of Commerce to complain about us not getting in. I was not with her that year but she's the type that would do that.....whatever, if you got the nerve....
And...once I was going out of town to do some shows and I got a rejection letter....I called the directors, gave them a list of accolades on myself....received a letter the next week that I was accepted. So...it can pay to contact the show directors at times. Good luck.
I was in a show for several years and then the third year I got the rejection letter...I called and was told that they like to rotate the artist, she said, you know...give some other artist the opportunity to show their work.
LOL, I would have liked to have known this before I sent in my jury fee to be judged!
Following up is always a good idea. I had one show spell my name Zack in my email address. I never would have known I was accepted unless I followed up with the phone call.
I actually found my name on the artist list for a show that I was rejected from...unfortunately, I did not see it until after the show but wrote them to point out the mistake because I did not want a "black mark" for not having responded if they did think that they had invited me. Now I do usually do try to check if I have doubt (which is not often)
That is a great story, Barry. I like the Barry Bernstein Invitational. How resourceful of you to make money with the parking and your art!!!
Note to self: Don't play poker with Barry Bernstein :)
I had a similar but different thing happen to me at our local show. I didn't get invited back and thought it was a mistake. I emailed the director, a former good friend, and he told me that if fact, yes, I wasn't invited back. That was kind of strange because over the years, I had won best of show 4 times. The show invited back 60 exhibitors. You couldn't really call them artists. There were maybe 10 artists at the show, 5 of which show at the same shows nationally that I show at. So, I told him that I wasn't going to apply but if they came to their senses or if someone cancels, I would be ready to do the show. So, flash to late July and I'm back from doing Ann Arbor and they are laying out the booths in the park. The show is kitty corner and across the street from my studio. I went down to see if they had a spot for me. Of course they didn't, so, I created the first annual "Barry Bernstein Invitational," posted the event on Facebook, and set up my display in our parking lot, facing the show.
In the morning, people are streaming in, passing our lot, and began parking in the lot next to ours. I realized that no-one was parking in our lot because there was a restricted parking sign at the entrance, its paid parking, and with me standing there, no cars were pulling in. On a usual week day, everyone ignored the sign even though every space was payed for by people who had businesses in the building.
Nobody was stopping at my booth and I had to come up with a solution or I was not going to get any customers. I ran up to my studio and printed a large $5 sign with my computer and pasted it over the restricted parking sign. Cars started streaming in. In addition to now having a steady stream of customers, I got to collect $5 for parking. I ended up selling some pieces and collected about $500 in parking fees. I even made a handicap area closer to the street. Those people got to park for free. I even offered a discount to anyone parking in my lot. On the second day of the show, the owner of the lot, my landlord, drove through the lot and then drove out. I thought, he must be upset. So, on Monday morning I was prepared to split the proceeds with him. Instead, he said he thought collecting money for parking was a great idea and to keep all the cash. He said he was just turning around.
The next year, the owners wife hijacked the parking lot and collected the $5 for some charity. I ended up doing the local show and I am now invited back every year.
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