This is copied from my blog
You’ve applied to hundreds of shows over the years. You know what to do and not do with your images. ZAPP and JAS have made it really easy to quickly apply and not really think about it. BUT, when was the last time you went into ZAPP and checked your profile? Checked that all your information is correct? Checked your capitalization, spelling and punctuation? Have you checked your artist statement to make sure it’s current?
The same things are important on JAS but on there your artist statement is even more important. When you’re being juried on JAS, your artist statement is right in the center of the page, easy for the juror to read. And you wouldn’t believe how many people make mistakes in there. The wrong words, extra punctuation, missing letters and the big one is your name! Sometimes just the first name, sometimes the full name, “James does this”, “Mary Smith likes that”. I was shocked during my latest jurying how many statements had names. Have you checked yours lately?
Your artist statement should be current and if you want a juror to read it, it should be short. I don’t need to know where you went to school, what your life’s path has been or how many years you’ve been doing this. I need to know anything critical to what you’re showing me in your images. This is not your resume, please don’t list all the shows you’ve done. Short, readable and to the point.
And then there’s the old issue of a name in the booth image. There are still many, many booth shots that have either the artists name showing or the business name. Please, please remove it. It will not help you and it may hurt you. Take down the booth signs that the show gives you even if you can’t read your own name on it. Anything that distracts from what you want the juror to be looking at which is your booth and the work in it. Leave the chair, that doesn’t bother me at all but get out all the signs.
And I’ve learned a couple of new things in this last round of jurying that I’ve done. Photographers as a group have the most odd looking booth images of anyone. Many of them look like they’re 20’ x 20’ booths and amazingly they show under 10 pieces with no flip bins! Wow! Please don’t take offense if you’re a photographer because it’s probably not you I’m talking about but you probably know someone who fits this. Just something to think about.
The other thing I’ve learned is that sterling silver must no longer be a precious metal. No one told me! Jewelers - if there are two categories, precious and non-precious and you work in sterling silver, fine silver pmc or gold, you belong in the precious category. And trust me, you don’t want to be in the non-precious category if you don’t belong there. There is some absolutely wonderful jewelry being made these days without the use of precious metals and you don’t want to be competing with them if you don’t have to. Of course if you’re applying in the non-precious category then I’m not competing with you for a space so maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this…
Comments
No offense taken but it's very reasonable considering these weren't shows with thousands of applications. I'm very aware that I have people's livelihoods in my hands (along with the other jurors) and I'm a very careful, thoughtful juror. I've been doing this a very, very long time...
I have to say, no offense to you, but is it reasonable for anyone to jury three shows in two days? Sounds a lot like speed dating to me.
Bonnie, Thank you for this information! I immediately checked the JAS statement, and I think it's OK. But I'm always paranoid about what goes on at jurying so anything I can do to improve "our" entry is helpful. (I'm not the artist, just the "writer") We couldn't make it to the open jurying at St. Joe's this year due to prior commitments, but plan to go next year if it's allowed. That should be the BEST thing we can do!
Thanks for the post Bonnie - very interesting :)
At this show the booth fee will be from $1250 for a 10x10 to $2000 for a 20x20
So with that kind of out lay, you need to make a lot of sales or have high dollar items of which you need to sell a couple for at least $3000 to just cover your costs. I have some $3000 plus pieces but just selling that one piece really would not cover the cost of the show.
No show director can guarantee you a sale but with this kind of outlay you would hope they are going to draw the right kind of people who are prepared to spend this kind of money.
I guess I am wary because I went to three shows last year with an out lay of a $1000 each and no sales. Two were ACC shows and the crowd was good, but I must have overpriced my pieces.
Others were making sales and people made great comments about my pieces, but in the end nice comments don't pay the bills. Yes we live and learn and you have to be quick on your feet when selling at a show. I know my pieces are worth every dollar of the price I ask, and I have been told at times my prices are too cheap. I only make top quality furniture. At my last show I was asking $3500 for a cherry and curly maple sideboard/wine cabinet. I guy offered me $3000 cash. I had to ask myself, do I accept that or take the piece back home and wait another three months before I can show it again. I took the money. I am happy that someone has the piece. I will make another and hopefully sell it for what I want or redesign it so it costs me less to make and I can sell it at that price range of $3000.
I am quite sure every artist has these thoughts.
Andy - please change your artist statement to remove your name. It distracts the juror from what you want them concentrating on and could affect your scores. Personally, I don't want any clue to who you are, I want your work to speak for you. Just say I or he. Make it simple and to the point.
I'm sorry but I don't know the show you're talking about so I have no idea if it's worth the application fee. But I don't think there's a show out there that is worth a $75 application fee to me unless there was no booth fee.
I would like to know your thoughts sometime on a show "The National Building Museum Home and Design Show" the application fee is $75 . To me that seems a lot of dollars along with the booth fee. I have furniture which could easily sell at a show like this but I am also conscious of throwing money away. My photos and artist statement better be 110%
Thanks from me, too, Bonnie. I keep trying to think of how to make my applications better, but didn't consider looking at the artist's statement, etc. Off to do that right now!
That's a beautiful booth and a beautiful booth image!
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