While I am here online HOW DOES EVERYONE FEEL ABOUT THESE EXTENDED DEADLINES FOR ART FESTIVALS////// LET US HEAR IT ALL////
Did the largest $$$ prize show and one of the oldest art festivals have to extend their deadline// 1000 applications weren't enough to choose 200 artists????
ANY COMMENTS OUT THERE???
Comments
Richard - I meant that "Wow!" as a compliment on your pro-artist policies and procedures. You believe, as I do, that artists and shows alike should work on win-win situations, not us vs. them. That's how this business will survive, how newbies and veterans will continue exhibiting and shows with either a short or long history will continue to serve their communities with great festivals!
Wow! Where are you when all of the other shows continue to take jury fees, even though the show is full (but before the deadline)? Then we're put on the waitlist from H*ll, with no chance of getting in. Or when an artist gets waitlisted at two shows, but has to send in both booth fees way before the show dates. Shows shouldn't need this year's booth fees to pay the bills for this year's rentals/leases/security, etc. If they are run in a businesslike manner, they should have money left over from last year to pay the current bills for this year's show. But many shows want a long lead time, tying up the financial resources that artists have because we artists have to cover their financial ineptness. I'm not trying to sound like it's the artists vs. the shows, but one show has one show's problems to deal with, whereas artists have to deal with sometimes two dozen - more or less - shows to deal with.
Christine as you know we didn't invent the "Pay me in October for the show in March" system. So we have tried to reinvent they way booth fees are handled. We hold booth fees until about 5 weeks for all of our shows. Some shows that are scheduled for the busy season (when artists have prepaid thousands in booth fees) we have artists send in two separate checks for 50% of the fees, we cash one six to seven weeks in advance to cover most of our expenses and hold the second half until one month before the event. I think the "Pay me in October" system is a way to lock people into a commitment so that they can't decide to shuffle into another more desirable event without forfeiting your booth fee. We think this is a bad policy. In fact if you declare to us that you are on the wait list for Winter Park and are scheduled for our Peace River event we will fully refund your booth fee up until the Friday of the event if you are selected to go into Winter Park off the wait list. We also offer credit for a future event for last minute cancellations. If we are told earlier we mostly just send you back your funds.
If a show extends a deadline they should be very specific as to what they are looking for. If they are light in one or two particular categories then say so. A show may have the desired number of jewelers and watercolor artists but have slots available in sculpture and wood. If they are seeking to round out the show by filling spaces in the light categories then they should be returning applications in the full categories without cashing any application fee. If they are in need of specific categories declare it and only seek artists in those categories..
Extended deadlines are either a money grab or a testament as to how the show did, bringing in the customers in the past.
The shows get too big, the publics money spreads thinner, no one makes expenses.
I think one way promoters could gain more credibility with their practice of extending the deadline is just say "jurying closed when show is filled" and then post it on their website "show closed". Keep a good list of wait list artists for cancellations or no shows. So that would mean in a sense extending the deadline by not sending out an extra message about extending the deadline. It just means in their original release stating the information as suggested above. Some shows already do this and it would be helpful to us all if more shows followed this practice. I always wonder about the money due in December deal for Summer shows. I can understand if they have to put deposits down on facilities or city rent. I would like to hear from the promoters perspective about this.
We have never officially extended the deadline for our fine art shows. Unofficially, I will accept apps up until two days before the jury meets, just enough time for me to add images to the slideshow upon which the jury bases its decisions. While we did receive perhaps a few more apps than last year, there were fewer "solid" applications — i.e., completely filled out with professional quality images of work that the artists did themselves.
I have not raised my $10 jury fee in 12 years. The jury process actually costs me less now than it did 10 years ago. Booth fees for the one-day show have remained the same for five years, for the two-day show, were raised last year (to $120). In talking to other show directors, I often hear a note of desperation. So many "regulars" are retiring or just not returning that it has made filling up and keeping a good mix of high quality art very difficult. I think many shows are having more difficulty attracting talent. Another large show in my city was begging artists to come back. Oddly enough, three of those high-profile local artists won awards last year. Hmmmmmm.
I agree. It makes me nervous when a show keeps extending the deadline. Either they don't have enough applications and that reflects badly on the show or else they are trying to get more jury fee money. Jury fees over $30 are just too much. I too, am not inclined to apply to shows with unusually high jury and booth fees.
When you start listing the shows on ZAPP that take place in the summer, you notice that their ZAPPlications are due 12/10 to 1/10, that ties up a lot of jury money early in the year, just when we're paying for supplies to build inventory and pay the booth fees for the Spring shows. You need a small fortune socked away to pay for everything before you start doing shows (that applies to those of us who have stopped doing FL shows - we don't get busy until March or April). Then April showers bring the tax man.
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