Changing an Application

I need to change something in my application!

Now what?

Something I (the artist) never knew was that it is possible to change a ZAPPlication once it has been submitted to a show. Some shows may not allow it. But AHD does and ZAPP has a way to easily allow an artist access to their application.

Art in the High Desert understands that sometimes you have a better image you want to substitute in, a website URL that needs updating, a different phone number or address. Email me. I will happily mark your application “incomplete” which gives you access to it to make the changes. You then resubmit with changes made.

Notta problem.

Carla

2012 Planning

Big meeting tomorrow night with the AHD Board with plenty of good food and wine serious planning for a successful 2012 event.

Reading the Show Prospectus

So many words, so little time.
Do we hafta read it ALL?!

Artists wear a lot of hats. Applying to shows is not the most fun job. It takes time from the studio, it can be boring, deadlines sneak up on us, images are not ready,…but its gotta get done. And it often gets done in a hurry. Arghh.

On the flip side, most shows put in a lot of time writing prospectus for their artists and show directors bemoan the fact that we artists often do not read their prospectus. I am guilty on both sides. I often don’t carefully read show prospectus when I apply, and yet I beat my head on my keyboard when an artist emails me (as a show director) for info that is clearly in the Art in the High Desert Prospectus.

That is why I try to write AHD’s Prospectus in a way that is easy for artists to pick out the pertinent info and not have to wade through it all. I also try to note changes from the previous year’s prospectus at the top of the current year one.

Most shows, including AHD, consider the prospectus the contract between the artist and the show. We ask that you sign an agreement saying you will abide by our rules and guidelines as stated in the prospectus. We artists need to know what we are agreeing to.

It may be dry reading, but necessary. Some of it is just info: when the show runs, hours, parking for artists etc. Some of it will help you prepare your application in terms of jury information-this should not be overlooked. Some of it is the specific rules for each media. Please give it a good once-over before you apply. It’s in your best interest to do so.

To see & READ, the AHD 2012 Prospectus…you will find the best copy and most carefully formatted (to make it easy reading) on our website. Go to:
http://www.artinthehighdesert.com/ > For Artists > AHD 2012 Prospectus

It’s in a pdf format, download it, print it off, and give it a read. Thanks.

Carla

The Importance of Booth Images

Booth Images matter more then you think.
For many artists booth images are the Achilles heel of their application. Time to change that.

The booth image is the last image that the jurors see. This is your last chance to Wow! them or tell them you don’t care so much. You want jurors to know you are on top of your game…..a professional artist, one they want to jury in. Give them a good, accurate booth image to help them make this decision.

Jurors probably comment, react negatively, gasp more at booth images then any other thing in the jury room. “What was this artist thinking?” is often heard. Your application will benefit from your efforts to get a good booth image.

Things to consider when shooting a booth image:

+Artist names & business names on booth images.
This is a no-no! In a blind jury it is expected that artists remove, blur, or mask their names before submitting their booth images. Having a name clearly seen in the booth, image title, or in an artist statement is in an artist’s favor. Remove your name. 2-D artists, especially painters, if your signature is easy to read on your work, blur it.

+Ribbons and awards.
The jury does not want to see that you won ribbons and awards at a past show. It does not impress them. It gains you no points. Take em down.

+Booth images with very different work that was not part of the juried images.
This always puzzles jurors. Their concern is; what is this artist going to bring to the show? It is hoped that it is not an attempt to get unjuried work into the show if accepted. AHD will not allow this type of “bait and switch.” Don’t confuse the jurors. Don’t make them question what is going on.

+Booths with people in it, blocking and distracting the view of the booth.

+Booths or other images with the artist in the image.

+Messy, unprofessional booths.
You pick up your home when people come to visit….do the same in the booth. Remove the coffee cups, the jackets, trash, small children, etc.

….And on the other end of the spectrum….

+Booths that appeared to be heavily photoshopped and/or styled, that looked unreal are a major turn-off for jurors. 
They want to see how your booth will look at the show. They don’t want to see a photoshopped facsimile. Really! Don’t do it. Jurors can see it and don’t like it.

+Booths so poorly lit ie: too dark or too bright, outta focus images where the work can’t be seen.

+Cell phone cameras are nice things to have…but don’t shoot your booth image with them. 
Upgrade, at least, to a point and shoot camera. On the flip side, professionally shot booth images are unnecessary. You can get a good one with a point and shoot camera. See my recommendations for how to shoot your booth image below.***

+Non-booths, work shot in living rooms, basements, school gyms, backyards, against barns, etc.
Sometimes that is the only option. But do your best to have some type of a booth shot. If you don’t at least explain why in your application.

+Images with just parts of booths showing.
The jury wonders what and why a wall is missing from the image, is there something there that the artist doesn’t want them to see. Again you don’t want the jurors questioning what is going on. Shoot all 3 walls.

+AHD jurors have stated that seeing models’ faces distract them from looking at the work.
They felt a human face drew the eye away from the work and wished model faces (or at least eyes) were cropped out of images.

++++++++++++

***My recommendations based on what I see in jury images and from listening to other directors at the NAIA conference:

1. Take a booth image at every show you do, so you have several to pick from.
2. First day of a show....watch the ebb and flow of the crowd and how the light is hitting your booth. Try to pick a time when your booth is lit beautifully and the crowds are down. Often early morn or late afternoon works well.
3. Use a REAL camera. Park your cell phone camera's in your pocket.
4. A tripod will help....but is not necessary
5. Don't shoot into the sun.
6. Clean up your booth of names, small children, friends, booth #"s, your name and/or biz name (or plan on blurring them in photoshop), yourself (yup it happens), ribbons you've won, coffee cups...ie make it all neat and tidy and spiff it up, like you do your home when company comes.
7. Snap from a variety of angles.
8. KEEP IT REAL….is this how your booth looks at a show? Don’t use heavily stylized images.
9. Browse bins: in or out?
If you use them, shoot some with the browse bins in place and some without.
10. Show all 3 sides of your booth.
11. Shoot it with different display set-ups, if you have them.
12. I personally find oriental rugs or any wildly graphic floor-covering VERY distractive to a booth image. They jump out and grab all the attention from the art you are trying to showcase. Leave ‘em at home.
13. Keep your booth as the focal point. No need to get the street, the neighbor’s booths, the lovely tree behind you...(or the porta potties....)

+++++++++++

For more information, this article from NAIA’s (National Association of Independent Artists) most recent Directors Conference is a recommended read:

This info is in-line with how AHD views booth images. Scroll down to page 14 to: “Booth Images: Report from the NAIA Conference.”

Link: https://www.naia-artists.org/documents/cms/docs/IA_Fall_2011sm.pdf

++++++++++++++++

I hope this all is helpful.
Carla

A Message from Carla - Second in Series

This is the second of a series of blog entries from my perspective as an artist and a show director. I am a jewelry artist and do shows all summer long in addition to being the show director of Art in the High Desert. I see our world of art shows from both sides of the booth. So I hope this information is helpful to artists as you apply to shows.

Photography. Professional or do-it-yourself?
Just because you can, does it mean you should?

There are many kinds of artists. I used to feel that when one is an artist in any media, one can take on any other media….be it photography, graphic design, or web design. I have found for me, that being creative in one area does not necessarily translate to another. Each area has different skill sets, different equipment and different approaches.

It can’t be stressed enough the importance of professionally-photographed work for jury images. This would include clean, neutral & consistent backgrounds, images in focus and effectively lit. Those artists who submit images following these general guidelines seem to fare best with the jurors. Bad photography won’t sink great art; nor will great photography elevate bad art. Artists need to give themselves every advantage when they jury for a show.

Artists are competing with others in their media. They have 2 important things to remember when putting together their images for jurying. The first is obvious: to be the “stand out” application among all the applications the jurors see in your media. Second, less obvious: do not give the jurors any reason to say “No” to your application….this is especially important in times of close scores, or in categories that are very competitive.

Honor your talent and hard work by getting your jury images shot professionally. I know this is an extra expense, a pain in the butt, and at times difficult to do. But it’s worth it. Your art deserves it.

Carla

A Message from Carla

This is the first of a series blog entries, for artists who apply to art shows. As a show artist and a show director I am fortunate to see the application system from both sides of the booth. I have learned things I wish I knew years ago, as well and new info as our profession changes, that I need to share. I hope this is helpful information, to artists new to art shows as well as experienced art show artists. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments, suggest other areas you'd like to see me discuss.

ZAPP’s Backside!….
It’s not the mystery you think it is….but there are some things to be aware of.

What I see when I check on applications. This is just 2 days after our applications opened.

Your profile info:
One thing I wish all artists knew, is that ZAPP has an excellent Excel format for show directors to use. Meaning we can sort and resort data and send it out to whoever needs it (for printing, booth assignments, media counts, geographic break-down). What it means for artists is be sure that your ZAPP profile is updated and clear of any typos, outdated info, etc.

Example:
The shows I was in kept referring to my husband by his full name and middle initial. I did not get such elegant treatment. I was ready to call a "sexist foul!" when I realized I had filled out the ZAPP partner's name with his full info, but not mine. Oops. I changed it and now all is accurate. Artists often ask why I don't list their website, or have the new website listed...on our festival's show pages. It’s because in the Excel info that I get from ZAPP, artists have the old info.
Bottomline: Recheck your ZAPP profile info and make sure it is all current. And please capitalize in the proper places. ee cummings is long gone and I spend a lot of time putting in capital letters before I hand over the info to our web, print, etc designers.

Order Jury sees entries:
Another thing and this is a biggie to me as an artist. It is my understanding that shows can set the order that artist images are seen by the jury. I set Art in the High Desert’s show's default to the date the application is received to make it most fair for all artists. In shows & categories that are loaded with artists, applying early means your images will be seen earlier by the jury before image-fatigue sets in. Check with shows you apply to and see if they are screening artist images by application date, application #, or alphabetical. I think the first choice is fairest to artists.

Please feel free to post any questions you have here.

Carla
Director, Art in the High Desert

Grab Your Sunscreen

...and head on down to the Old Mill District for this year's Art in the High Desert! Saturday 10-6, Sunday 11-5.