The Personal Assistant Pro - I can help you!

Art Show Applications

Today I'm working on applications for art festivals. Since I'm currently working with three artists, my day will be spent applying for about 15 different shows - think of that as having 15 job interviews for which to prepare. I really do not know how an artist can accomplish all the required tasks necessary to win acceptance into one show, let alone the 15-30 shows an artist will do in a year!

Throughout the years, I've worked with countless promoters - most are fabulous and I always look forward to working with them. Today I have a few pointers for the applicant from Frank & Katelyn Maguire of ArtFest. They are very professional and personable - great to work with - and they always put on a great show!

• Follow the directions that are outlined in the application and make sure you clearly fill out the application.  
• If a promoter wants you to mail in SASE or a biography with the application form, make sure to do so.  
• If they ask for something, there is usually a reason even if you think it is pointless.  
• If a promoter wants certain payments in certain forms (many request a separate check for the processing/application fee), make sure to do it!  
• Also, make sure the promoter can READ your handwriting.  It may seem basic but it is important.  Failing to do so may disqualify you, delay your response/notification/status letters or prevent you from taking advantage of promotional opportunities.  
• If you have questions CALL or E-MAIL the promoter.  They are usually happy to help.

While there certainly are numerous other points to remember while working up an Art Fest Application, consider the basics a must!

Fine Art Show Promoter Offers Insight

One of the Promoters I've have the pleasure of working numerous art shows with is Dana Hale-Mounier of Pacific Fine Arts
www.pacificfinearts.com.

She and her husband, Troy, are possibly the nicest, most helpful people in the industry, so I asked if she would share her top 2 suggestions for artists:

1. Follow the show rules.

2. Be professional, flexible, positive, helpful and cooperative.

These sound simple enough, but being careful to follow these 2 thoughts can be the difference between being invited back to show again, or not.

Promoters are usually working with hundreds of different people for each show. Not only are there the artists and staff, but a promoter also needs to jump through various hoops to get everything coordinated for a fabulous art show.

So first comes the venue it's self - it could be a park, a main street, or a community center. Each type of location has different requirements, and different people to work with organizing each item.

Then there are artist applications and amenities. To produce a show with upwards of 100 artists, each application must be approved and the artist notified.

The artist amenities can vary from show to show, but usually provided are security and sanitation stations. These are just 2 more things for the promoter to accomplish for the show to be successful.

Whew, lots of work needs to be done for each event, and we haven't even considered the weekend of the actual show! Add to all that, a promoter like Dana produces an average of 25 shows per year.

So, it's easy to see why these 2 little suggestions carry a lot of weight for the promoter.

Flu season

Wow, the flu hit me, BIG TIME. I was down almost the full week. I'm playing catch-up now, and will get new blog entries up on Tuesday.
Ta-N

The Seattle Gift Show

This week starts out with 2 days of research at
the Seattle Gift Show www.seattlegiftshow.com
and the Pacific Market Center www.pacificmarketcenter.com
It's always hectic trying to get to see all the latest trends
and newest products, but it's also great fun.

Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

Soon to end at The SAM is
Michelangelo Public and Private: Drawings for the Sistine Chapel and Other Treasures from the Casa Buonarroti
I gotta tell you, it is AWE inspiring. How amazing is it to "watch" a master at work as he sketches, and thinks, and dreams of his creations for such important locations as the Sistine Chapel?


Also on view is
Alexander Calder: A Balancing Act

This is also a must see, and do not miss the circus video - hilarious! This footage gives insight to the personality behind the works.

Tasks

I accomplish a wide variety of tasks for my clients.

Yesterday, for example, I compiled and shipped all the artwork and paperwork necessary for 3 Art Festivals, discussed logistics for the upcoming Seattle Boat Show Art Gallery www.seattleboatshow.com, http://www.seattleboatshow.com/art-gallery, cleaned & fueled a vehicle, met with 2 colleagues to discuss new clients, shopped for a weeks worth of groceries (and put them away), delivered lunch, and organized cupboards.

As you can see, some of my duties are more glamorous than others :o) But busy people often utilize me to assist in everyday chores so they can work harder and longer to make the big bucks.

Ideas for the budding artist

These comments are from a colleague and veteran of countless art festivals, Catherine Lindberg. My thought in posting this is to help amateur artists that are interested in selling their works, through art festivals and galleries.

"There is so much the new budding artist needs to know, like how to get a Merchant's Account, and not to let some company sell them some fancy piece of equipment that runs on electricity, and then they end up in the middle of a park or out on the street with no where to plug in???

Or just the fact of not wasting what might only be 30 seconds with a client that enters your booth talking about the weather, their dog, or their outfit as sometimes that 30 seconds is all the time you get with a prospective client before they move on to the next booth. If you are going to speak to them, talk about your art and only your art."

Sometime working with the public can seem counter-intuitive. Especially when you need to assess whether to chat to this person or (politely) move to another. When in doubt, simply acknowledge the other (prospective) client with eye contact and a quick, "Hi there!" I think the golden rule is to treat each person you see as if they're your next BIG buyer.

Seattle Boat Show

With the Seattle Boat Show beginning next week, I'm busy organizing all the artwork to be displayed in the gallery. I also will be working the Boat Show Gallery (inside the Boat Show) next Saturday, looking forward to a fun event.

www.seattleboatshow.com

www.boatshowgallery.com/index.htm