Peer Pressure
Referring to a previous post regarding the "Show Savvy" panel discussion (Peer Panel Discussion header)
The panel was for artists by artists. Rather than discussing how to get a show, the panel talked about what you can do as an artist to maximize your show once you have one.
David Trulli helped organize it & he filled me in on some important points.
Susie White was one of the speakers...we love her work & her work ethic is amazing.
Here they are the points - with my added notes.
Develop your mailing list by starting with everyone you know.
The more postcards, emails & press releases that are going out about a show, the more that you increase the likelihood of more people coming to see it & therefore more people to buy your work.
Work with the gallery to coordinate publicity efforts. Having a good partnership with the gallery is the goal.
Everyone should be on the same page, coordinating & doing things in synergy.
Websites should be updated, emails should be going out announcing the show. Staggering announcements is good, coordinating timelines for sending out press releases, & when postcards vs. emails should go out is all great stuff to work on together. I always print out postcards so that the artist has something to pass out or mail & they just need to cover the cost of postage for their own mailing list. If they want to supplement their personal mailers with more info or image sources that is a good idea too.
Also, artists should tell everyone about all of the shows they are doing. Don't choose to personally promote a show at one gallery but not at another. Give potential clients the choice of which show they would like to go to, don't decide for them.
Photo & frame your work as you go. Update your resume or portfolio as you have shows, as you create new work.
It is really important to always be prepared - you never know when an opportunity is going to arise, when someone wants to do a studio visit, when you get a call to participate in something that seems last minute but you were just discovered by the contact.
And ESPECIALLY FOR PRESS - they need info so far in advance, if the work isn't documented you could miss out on a review.
Life does not culminate that opening night. Start making new work right away.
This is also important in relation to the previous point...because waiting to get a show is the wrong motivator for making work - and if you get a show, you should have some work completed that is a direction you will be going for the rest of the show so that it can be documented for press & publicity while you work on new pieces. The shows should inspire you to make more - even if the show does not sell & you have to take it all home.
Allow time for problems with printers & framers.
For every simple task allow one hour.
Allow for everyone else 3 hours for a task that takes you one hour.
This goes proportionately by the day too. and so on and so on......
Don't let anyone tell you something takes 5 minutes. Or one hour, unless you wait right there for it. This goes up proportionately by the day too. If something is "overnight", allow 72 hours, not 12. so true...
Learn how to talk about your work in short clear answers. People at shows are going to ask you questions.
Be friendly when explaining your work - people will ask questions that you think might be obvious. This does not mean that this person is not worthy of appreciating your work because they had to ask about it or that the gallery is not attracting quality clients. Feel comfortable saying why or how you made something & be flattered that people care enough to ask.
It has NOT been my experience that people just want to look at the art, not know anything about the artist or where they were coming from or how or why they work. They do. If they don't - they are probably just decorating something. (Which I guess is OK too, but most artists want to be understood & want people to enjoy their work for more than just what it looks like.)
It is not just about the art. Leave that for a jury to pick your work for a show.
That is like the only time it is truly, "only about the work".
This panel discussion was I am sure, very energizing & motivating to hear what IS WORKING rather than complaining about what isn't...these discussions will continue at the HASH sessions at LAAA.
Go to www.laaa.org for more info about the HASH SESSIONS. Next one In late March.
They are open to anyone & if you go you get to sit around and "Hash out" art concerns & such. It's fun.
The panel was for artists by artists. Rather than discussing how to get a show, the panel talked about what you can do as an artist to maximize your show once you have one.
David Trulli helped organize it & he filled me in on some important points.
Susie White was one of the speakers...we love her work & her work ethic is amazing.
Here they are the points - with my added notes.
Develop your mailing list by starting with everyone you know.
The more postcards, emails & press releases that are going out about a show, the more that you increase the likelihood of more people coming to see it & therefore more people to buy your work.
Work with the gallery to coordinate publicity efforts. Having a good partnership with the gallery is the goal.
Everyone should be on the same page, coordinating & doing things in synergy.
Websites should be updated, emails should be going out announcing the show. Staggering announcements is good, coordinating timelines for sending out press releases, & when postcards vs. emails should go out is all great stuff to work on together. I always print out postcards so that the artist has something to pass out or mail & they just need to cover the cost of postage for their own mailing list. If they want to supplement their personal mailers with more info or image sources that is a good idea too.
Also, artists should tell everyone about all of the shows they are doing. Don't choose to personally promote a show at one gallery but not at another. Give potential clients the choice of which show they would like to go to, don't decide for them.
Photo & frame your work as you go. Update your resume or portfolio as you have shows, as you create new work.
It is really important to always be prepared - you never know when an opportunity is going to arise, when someone wants to do a studio visit, when you get a call to participate in something that seems last minute but you were just discovered by the contact.
And ESPECIALLY FOR PRESS - they need info so far in advance, if the work isn't documented you could miss out on a review.
Life does not culminate that opening night. Start making new work right away.
This is also important in relation to the previous point...because waiting to get a show is the wrong motivator for making work - and if you get a show, you should have some work completed that is a direction you will be going for the rest of the show so that it can be documented for press & publicity while you work on new pieces. The shows should inspire you to make more - even if the show does not sell & you have to take it all home.
Allow time for problems with printers & framers.
For every simple task allow one hour.
Allow for everyone else 3 hours for a task that takes you one hour.
This goes proportionately by the day too. and so on and so on......
Don't let anyone tell you something takes 5 minutes. Or one hour, unless you wait right there for it. This goes up proportionately by the day too. If something is "overnight", allow 72 hours, not 12. so true...
Learn how to talk about your work in short clear answers. People at shows are going to ask you questions.
Be friendly when explaining your work - people will ask questions that you think might be obvious. This does not mean that this person is not worthy of appreciating your work because they had to ask about it or that the gallery is not attracting quality clients. Feel comfortable saying why or how you made something & be flattered that people care enough to ask.
It has NOT been my experience that people just want to look at the art, not know anything about the artist or where they were coming from or how or why they work. They do. If they don't - they are probably just decorating something. (Which I guess is OK too, but most artists want to be understood & want people to enjoy their work for more than just what it looks like.)
It is not just about the art. Leave that for a jury to pick your work for a show.
That is like the only time it is truly, "only about the work".
This panel discussion was I am sure, very energizing & motivating to hear what IS WORKING rather than complaining about what isn't...these discussions will continue at the HASH sessions at LAAA.
Go to www.laaa.org for more info about the HASH SESSIONS. Next one In late March.
They are open to anyone & if you go you get to sit around and "Hash out" art concerns & such. It's fun.
posted by gallery blog revisited at
5:33 PM
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