Inspired by many calls and by the post- Can the System be Improved, (Thank you R. C. Fulwiler) I would like to start a new thread exploring ideas of how to create that improvement. My proposal is that we generate some ideas and then ask the National Association of independent artists (NAIA) to help champion it.
As a starting point, can we assume that artists would like the following from the jury process-
1) Criteria- You want to know what you are being judged on.
2) Process- You want to know who is judging your work and how.
3) Numbers- How many slots are open for how many categories.
4) Results- Specific comments so as to be able to make decisions going forward.
Other desires?
While each sounds simple, they also each have issues.
Criteria- reminds me of the Supreme Court Judge who stated "I can't define what is obscene but I know it when I see it". Stated criteria needs to be just as flexible or we would never see anything new at the shows. It can be simplified. A statement like- our jurors will judge your work based on: Technique, creativity, and originality tells you what they are looking for without giving you any information. Artists do you have examples of how this has been done well?
Process- Of the above, this is the most likely to be public in my experience. Projected, monitors, three jurors, score of one to five, yes, no, maybe... Not so hard to let artists know the system and, while you may not agree that a monitor is acceptable, at least you know what is expected.
Numbers- If there are a particular number of slots open in a medium that information could be useful. A show cannot let you know how many applications will be received but could give historical information. Predicting the future changes the future. If I tell you that I have ten slots for photo and generally get 40 applicants you may not apply. I might end up having to select from fifteen applicants suddenly and miss out on having your work in my show. Any ideas of how to make this fair?
Results- Not every artist really wants to know the jurors comments. Many say they do, but then argue each point. I try to be clear, but after I get attacked a few times for my jurors subjective opinions it is tempting to go back to generalizations. Movie line "You cant handle the truth". How am I handling this now- The notifications go out with general comments. If artists want they can call me and I will let them know what the jurors comments were. I start with the safer things- "Um, your booth shot was out of focus". If you prove to me that you want to hear I will continue going and discussing for as long as it takes to be helpful. If you instead start arguing with me it will be a very short conversation. Zapp just added an option to share juror feedback with the artists. Let's see if that helps.
Please, let's hear some more stories and maybe together we can change the systems.
Comments
I think that is a fallacy. I am subscribed to all the services I can find. As an artist, I want to maximize my opportunities and perhaps unlike some artists, I am open to new events and will freely replace non-performing venues on my annual show calendar
I started using Zapp because they had so many artists signed up. That put the show in front of thousands that may not have heard about it otherwise. I know some show directors that accept applications from multiple services to assure that they reach as many folks as possible. So, why do artists use Zapp- because that is where the shows are. Why do the shows use Zapp- because that is where the artists are.
Obviously, the smaller services could benefit by value shopping by smaller and more hungry events... and the events could benefit from aggressive advertising by the service to woo them away from ZAPP
The short answer why ZAPP is the hundred pound gorilla in the room is that's where the artists go to look for shows to apply to.
The other systems get by offering a less expensive alternative. Juried Art Services was first by a number of years, hand picking the top fine craft shows. Then ZAPP came along backed by about eleven of the top fine art shows and went after every show it could. Entrythingy is the very inexpensive alternative.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Mark L.,
ZAPP , JAS, and Entry Thingy, etc... are services which rely on their two classes of customers to make money.. They have a system which collects and organizes data on servers through the use of image and entry form data uploading and a shopping cart-type system for the entrants. They collect fees from the entrants and pass these onto their clients (the events). I imagine they collect a %-age of the entry fee.
They are also charging the event clients for server space, server time and the GUI used by the event clients (in essence, the fees charged for using their system to actually jury the event).
Then, if the event uses the service to send out results and also to collect booth fees, I'll also imagine they collect a cut of these fees...
Hopefully, there is a healthy amount of competition among these services to offer the best, easiest service, for the best price. If there isn't, perhaps you should shop your event to these service providers and do your best to get the best services at the best price. I am sure that JAS and the other service would be willing to be highly competitive in order to have your business.
Also, ponder this thought: Anyone can host images for really cheap - or free - otherwise, there's an entire class of FREE adult internet-based entertainment which wouldn't exist in it's current form...
So, you as an event organizer are paying for what? I admire their ability to monetize an existing process by putting it up on the net and attracting advertisers, entrants and event clients.
Artists like it b/c they were getting ripped off for entry slides to the tune of 25-50$/slide... and often had to have a large number of slides in order to customize their entry to the event... and the slides had to change each year. Now, if they can work a digital camera with a modest level of expertise, they can often obtain good results... And thus the artists have eliminated a middle-man who was no longer necessary for many...
I am surprised by the fact that the larger events organizers (Amy Amdur, Howard Alan, Paragon, Sugarloaf,....) have not licensed this software or commissioned their own software and taken it in-house (there's thousands of eager programmers working for cheap off-shore and on-shore who'd love to make you a great internet-based jurying program)..... This would also allow them to generate revenue by providing jurying services to smaller events in their regions of operations in addition to hosting and jurying their own events...
There are software contracting boards out there where people indicate that they want a program to do X, and they want it to have the look and feel of existing software Y... Then people negotiate their terms and generate the software...
My take-home on this is that if your event is incurring higher costs on the jurying and entry process and losing money on the booth fee collection b/c of use of one service or another, that it's a free country and you should shop your event around and not be afraid to play one jurying service off against another to beat them down on price... That's known as smart shopping. I'm sure you do this when contracting for porta-potties, barricades, signage, and other event necessities.... Why aren't you trying for better value on your event internet-based jurying software services?
Kathleen, jewelers have to have it the roughest of all media. More competition than others, even more than photographers. The booth is the toughest as most of your work is so small it can't be seen except as a small item in groupings, and the only way to really show the pieces in the booth is to hang large photos of them around the walls. It sort of devolves down to who has the spiffiest booth and it becomes a project in interior decoration.
Have you posted your booth shots on here for commentary? There may be something you're missing. I know there were mistakes I was doing, and I'm still not where I want to be with mine.
Steve, A pass/fail sounds like a great idea. I too have the Propanels with shelves and a Trimline and I know the investment. I think we all want some basic standards in booth displays. I've seen some fail (in my opinion) booths win awards. The emphasis should certainly be on the art!
Good idea, Steve. I really worked on my booth, too, but still have many rejections and don't know if it's the booth or the art that's not meeting approval since I'm not getting the jury scores.
Thanks for the comments and the compliment.
Mark, I have always been able to show the jewelry and the diningware in the same booth.
Kathleen, Even though my silver diningware pieces are made to be used over and over, I cannot eat on my diningware alone. I make it because I love creating these pieces that are held in the hand, shared with friends, and make for a stimulating conversation. As I show these works together, it is obvious that the same person designed and made them because of the cohesive sense of design & creativity and the materials & techniques used. Originally I was working in jewelry, but within the first year (a very long time ago) I ventured into the diningware as well. To me they hold equal validity and weight. I have not added on a jewelry line just because I know it can be a good boost to my sales, these 2 approaches are intertwined and been created for over 30 years. I do not plan to stop making and showing one or the other, I just wish that I was not financially penalized because I do not fit into one existing category.
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