Acceptance

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="05bfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <B>How to Pull Yourself out of a Sales Slump</B></div> <div> <B>6260 N.W. 19 Street, Sunrise, Fl. 33313 Toll Free 1-877-512-3333    Email: </B><A HREF="mailto:mike@mikealbin.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:mike@mikealbin.com"><U><B>mike@mikealbin.com</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="05cd2043.jpg"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mike Albin.Com "><U>Mike Albin.Com </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="wd.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web design"><U>Web design</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="ma.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marketing Articles"><U>Marketing Articles</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="sr.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Show Reviews"><U>Show Reviews</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mt.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marketing Tools"><U>Marketing Tools</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="l.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#777777" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Acceptance is a Commitment to Show??</div> <bR> <div> I know we all hate to see those words printed on any show applications!  As  full time artists, occasionally we all have to apply to more than one show on the same weekend in hopes of making it into at least one.  With shows changing jurors each year and competition for the number of spaces available so high, there’s a good chance you’re sitting at home some weekends when you need to be out selling your work.  Shows are very emphatic about “decisions of the jury are final” and there’s really no recourse once you’ve been rejected.  It doesn’t make a difference if we’ve been accepted for the last so many years or not or that our work really sells well there.  We’re sitting home and the bills are piling up.  So to keep this from happening we apply to two or sometimes three shows on the same weekend in hopes of getting into at least one.  </div> <div> The first time we were accepted into two shows on the same weekend I did the right thing.  We made our decision on which show we were going to do, called the other show right away and cancelled a full 80 days before the show.  The show we decided to do was in Orlando and the show we cancelled on was in Pensacola.  The show in Pensacola kept our booth space fee, called the next person on their waiting list, filled the vacant spot and received double compensation for their space.  </div> <div> Now it’s mid-week before the show and as I always do I check the weather forecast for the city for the show we are going to do.  Rain all weekend in Orlando and wouldn’t you know it, it’s supposed to be nice all weekend in Pensacola.  Wait just a minute, I’ve paid for a booth in Pensacola!  I called them to see if I could get my spot back.  After all I did pay for a spot, I was accepted into their show.  No way, I’m out of luck.  I cancelled and even though they’ve kept our money I cannot get my space back?! </div> <div> I really felt cheated and there was not much I could do about it.  My wife and I have had this discussion over and over again.  We have to sign the application agreeing with the rules if we want to be in the show.  We need to do the show in order to make a living.  Can you claim you are coerced into signing because you need to do shows to make your living?  What if you agree with all of the rules except one?   Will a show still accept your application if you cross out that rule and put your initials by it?  Probably not. </div> <div> Why shouldn’t shows refund your booth space fee if you cancel in a timely manor and they find another artist to take your spot?   </div> <div> To me, as an artist, it doesn’t seem fair but I know, as a fair person, there are two sides to every story.  So I set out to find the other side of the story by interviewing a few show directors that have the “acceptance is a commitment to show” policy.  The first show director I spoke with was Linda Piper, Chair for the Downtown Festival & Art Show in Gainesville, Fla..  She informed me that that policy was in effect when she became the chairperson five years ago, she had never really thought about it but would do a little research on her own and get back to me.  She called me the very next day and after speaking with a few other show directors and looking at quite a few other show applications she had decided to change the policy at the Downtown show because most of the other shows were now giving either full or partial refunds for canceling at least 30 days in advance.  “The industry standard seems to be moving in that direction,”  said Piper.  She went onto explain that shows do have expenses in finding artists from their waiting list.  They are not always able to get the first person on the list and several calls must be made.  You have to pay someone to make those calls.  There are additional mailing expenses and sales taxes have already been paid.  Most artists I have spoken with on this subject agree that partial refunds, usually in the 80-90% range, are more than fair and it definitely gives us incentive to cancel early to get money back! </div> <div> The next director I spoke with was Ann Johnson, the new director for the St. Stephen’s Art show in Coconut Grove.  She also said that the policy of acceptance was an inherited policy and she had just spoken with another show director the week before about the same thing and she was trying to get the policy at St. Stephens changed.  For those artists in the past that have lost booth fees at St. Stephen’s, I was surprised to find out that booth fees don’t go to support the church and building fund.  They go to support six different charities like AIDS Outreach, Coconut Grove Food Bank, Community Partnership for the Homeless and three other charities.  That knowledge may help to ease the pain just a bit.                        </div> <div> A few show directors I spoke with did not want to be quoted or mentioned in this article but did take the time to explain their position.  They explained to me that they were looking for artists that wanted to do their show and would show loyalty by only applying to their show.  I asked them if those artists were awarded extra points or given a certain priority in the jury process.  Most informed me that all judging was done as objective as possible and every artist that applied was given an equal opportunity.  My next question was “How can you expect artists to be loyal to your show if you show no loyalty in return?”  Artists that do art shows for a living need to be out selling their work in order to pay their bills.  If we apply to only one show and get rejected from that show we’re up the proverbial creek!  Some shows are now pre-jurying artists in for the following year.  That’s showing loyalty to an artist and in turn the artist should show loyalty to the show.  If you accept one of these select invitations, the show is holding a spot for you for entire year.  If you cancel out later on either because of hardship or greener pastures at another show, I can certainly see why a show would feel justified in keeping your booth space fee.  For those shows not offering loyalty points or pre-jurying there were no explanations only re-statements of the shows are looking for artists loyal to them.  </div> <div> I surveyed the top 25 shows in the country and found 19 of the twenty five either offer refunds if canceling 30-60 days or more prior to show dates.  Some of the shows don’t even collect booth fees until after accepted.  You’re sent an invoice along with your acceptance letter and given 30-45 days to either pay your booth fees or cancel their show.  </div> <div> Most artists I know that do art shows full-time for their living work an incredible amount of hours and at times struggle to make ends meet.</div> <div> That’s why they have to apply to more than one show occasionally in hope of getting into at least one.  Some artists apply to the same show twice, under two different categories in hopes of getting in under one.  Competition is that great for spaces and getting in means you can put a few dollars away that month, getting rejected means taking money out of the savings account to pay bills.  I know a lot of shows are run by volunteers that work an incredible amount of hours and are not paid for their time.  Artists and art shows are the quintessential symbiotic relationship.  In a perfect world once a vacant spot is filled the canceling artists should be refunded at least a portion of their booth space fee.  My mother taught me from a young age that we do not live in a perfect world.   If just a few art show directors read this article and decide to change their policy to be more fair, then I’ll feel great.  If you are an art show director and you would like to comment on anything I’ve written or that you feel has been left out of this article, please email me at mike@mikealbin.com.   I will include any comments in future articles.  After all, I want to be fair.  </div> <div> I want to thank Linda, Ann and the rest of the show directors for taking the time out of their busy schedules to speak with me and voice their point of views.  I want to thank Linda and Ann on behalf of myself and other artists for listening to the artist’s point of view and changing their policies to do what’s right and fair.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>