Hi,
I have been researching doing shows for the last couple of years and it's finally coming down to it. Yea! I purchased a season pass from Colorado Events that gets me in to more than a couple dozen shows around Colorado this year. The first one is in early June. While these aren't necessarily premiere shows, i.e. Cherry Creek Arts Festival, I think it's a good starting point for me as it will get my work out there and after completing some 40 days of shows in my first year, I will certainly be proficient in the day to day operations of running a booth. I even paid the extra fee to reserve a priority corner spot.
At this point, I don't really need a booth shot to get in to any more shows but I thought it's still a god idea to have one in case the need arises. I think my shot is representative of how my booth will actually look if I don't have a corner spot. I will probably add a print bin down the road. I have a plan for a corner spot but I think I will wait until I set up a few times to refine my layout before I do a corner booth shot.
I know my work is kind of out there, especially for photography, but that's a good thing right? I should get some attention within the media. I want my shot, and booth in general, to be bold and colorful. I really want people to compelled to stop and ask me 'What the heck is that?'
Am I in the ball park?
Replies
Hey guys,
I have done dozens of shows in the last year and I have learned so much. After conducting lots of market research at the many different types of shows I attended, I'm shifting my business model from selling mostly small, affordable pieces, to selling mostly larger, higher priced works. Sell fewer pieces but make more money, at least that's the idea. From my experience there's a market for my bigger pieces.
With that in mind, I have created a new booth shot and I'm pretty happy with it. Larry, I thought about everything you said last time. I simplified things and kept them more symmetrical. It's better right? Do you think it's good enough to appeal to juries at higher end shows?
Also, which other 4 images should I use in my applications? Should I include #1 and/or #2, which I feel are among my strongest pieces, even though they are shown pretty well in the booth shot? If I don't, I can include other images, giving me more chances of having an image resonate with jurors.
One last thing, if you had to choose would you pick 6a or 6b? My work is much more impressive in person than it is in photos. I tried to address that in the booth shot by showing the bright, saturated colors and revealing the depth of my pieces mounted on 1/2" acrylic. The perspective in 6a really shows the beauty of the process but it's so different that I worry that the extreme angle detracts from the overall piece.
Any feedback would be appreciated!
Kurt
You need to back the camera/tripod up so you don't cut off the images on the sides in the front. And hang the work more symmetrically and balanced within the display. Think of the inside of the booth as a single image and move the componants around until it looks balanced.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Thanks Larry for taking the time to look over my shot! I have wider views of the booth but I was trying to straighten out the vertical lines and not include any distracting elements on the outside of the booth. I think you're right that cutting off the pieces at the edges is a problem. Here is a version with just a little of the Pro Panels showing. Is it enough?
While I think that you're right that things aren't symmetrical I was thinking about balance in my placement of pieces. I could print & hang different pieces to create perfect symmetry but I'd have to limit the number of different sizes I could use. Another thing that makes it hard to achieve perfect symmetry is that I included all three of the different presentation options I will be offering. I could only include the Plexiglas mounts and limit the sizes just for the photo and make things cleaner and more organized if you think that would help me get in to shows or would it be better to keep all the pieces I currently have and just reorganize them to make things look more balanced even if there not perfectly symmetrical? I would think the latter would be better because it would stick closer to how my booth would actually look.
Again, thank you so much for your help!
Kurt
It's too jumbled up now so hanging symmetrically will make it more appealing to the jurors. Also, if you limit the sizes you'll make it easier for interested people to choose what they want to purchase. Adjacent sizes compete and the smallest/cheapest usually wins.
Larry Berman