Applying for Craft Fairs

The Application

Read the application guidelines

Read them carefully.  Make sure you note the exact requirements given in the guideline notes.  Most craft, design and trade events have very similar requirements - name, contact, background, CV, artist statement and images.

But to complete the information appropriately you need to do exactly as they request.  Complete all the questions. Send only the requested number of images.  Make sure you have sent them in the exact format they ask for.

You need to read between the lines of the application guidelines to understand best what the event is looking for.  They may be looking for production work, designer or lifestyle items, etc.  Reading between the lines will give you an indication of how to steer your application to attract the selectors attention.   This will help you present the written parts of your application in the light of the organiser’s objectives.  This will apply particularly to the CV.  It is here that your story of what, how and why you make glass will distinguish you from other applicants. Importantly, it will also apply to the selection of your images.  If your images fit the objectives of the event, you are more likely to be selected.

Show your best pictures

The most important part of your application is the images you send.  This, more than anything else, will count in your favour during the selection.  Of course, the written material still counts, but the first element is the images.

They need to be of professional standard, ideally taken by a professional photographer. When you are selected, these images will be used in promotional materials, for the press and for the exhibition catalogue. So, great photographs are more likely to get your work into the press for the event.  Conversely, if the images are not of press quality, they are unlikely to be selected.

The images should represent in detail the things you will be showing at the event.  They need to show an overview, with some variety, of what you do.  They should show your skills and quality of production.  Some idea of scale is essential.  This is where props can help.  You can use lifestyle settings which allows more items to be shown, but make sure your work is the focus of the photograph. 

Often it is best to photograph each work as a single item on a white background.  Well-lit studio photographs work well, but daylight settings on an overcast day can provide really good images with indirect light, as any harsh shadows are eliminated. 

The images need to be labelled – often in the file name – with your business name, title and short description. 

When preparing your application and images, make sure you update the website, because the selectors will be looking there for more information and images, especially of any previous shows you have been to and show there.  The freshness of the site’s appearance will have an influence on your selection.

Return your application on time

This is obvious, but not always done.  Take note of the application deadlines, and make notes in your diary as to when things need to be done to get the application to the organisers on time, or even early.

If the event is not a selective one, you need to get in early as applications are often reviewed as they come.  Juried events will have all the applications looked at on the same day, but give the organisers enough time to get the images loaded and co-ordinated with your application.  Remember that organisers get many applications, so you need to make it easy for them to like your work.

Get feedback

If you are not selected, you can review your application to see what you might do better next time.  The rejection letter may give you some information, if it is not a generic one.  It may be that there were just too many applicants, or too many with glass as their medium.  Did your work fit with the ethos of the event – e.g. traditional vs contemporary.

You can contact the organisers - politely – indicating theirs is a show you really want to get into because of its quality or other element that is complimentary to the event.  Your questions should be polite and ask for feedback on specific things, so it is easy for them to respond.  Many of these questions will be centred around what you could do differently to have a better chance of selection next time.

It is just possible a polite professional approach to getting feedback may take you off a waiting list and into the event. In any case, visit the show, if you can, to see how it looks and feels.

https askharriete.typepad.comask_harriete201212responsibilities-of-craft-show-organizers.html

The Organisers’ Views

Research

Show the event has been researched by indicating how your glass work will fit with the organiser’s objectives.  How does your quality of work fit with the other exhibitors?  Give evidence of stands and participation at other shows, especially on your website and social media.

Application

It is most important that the application guidelines have been read and adhered to.  You should include relevant personal information on what inspires you, where you work, the materials and techniques you employ – in short, your story.

Images

Present images showing a confident, original group of work rather than showing all your variety.  The pictures must be in focus, well lit, with clean backgrounds and with detail shots only were necessary.  Many organisers get four or more applications for each available stand, so the photography is essential to show the potential of your glass.

Have good, up to date images of current work on your up to date and professional website and social media.  Often your website will be considered for more information, especially their previous stands at other events.  It is often good to see images of previous stands at previous shows.

Review

Don’t take any rejection personally. Don’t give up.  Review why you were not successful – right fit to the event? Too many of your medium/style applied? Does your glass stand out from others? Perhaps you need more confidence in your work.

Finally

“Fit the criteria of quality, innovation, skill and dedication” [in your application]. Samme Charlesworth, Director of Breeze Art and Makers Fair in Cornwall.

Selectors Views

The administration

The selectors and the organisers work together to create a focused event with originality and quality of work with a combination of established and emerging makers.  They also want diversity of media and styles with a variety of price.  Applications which have not met the application guidelines will have been eliminated by the organisers before the selection process begins. 

Often the organiser will give the selectors the number of applications and the number of stands available, with an indication of how many per category.  Then the selection begins.  Sometimes a quick pass through the images will be the first stage, followed by a slower showing at which the selectors vote for inclusion, exclusion or possible (waiting list).  The waiting list (of around 20%) provides the organiser with some flexibility to fill gaps where selected people do not take up their place, review the balance between established and emerging makers, the balance of media represented, etc.

This administrative process shows how important images are in the selection process.  Only the people on the waiting list are ever likely to have the other parts of their application viewed by the selectors.  The text you provide in the application gets you to the selection or eliminates you at the first stage.

The Selection

The selectors need to be able to distinguish what the images show.  If you show only detail, it will be difficult to determine what it or its function is. Too many other items in the image make it difficult to determine which are the items for the show. Dark images do not show the glass at it best. Extreme contrast makes for uncomfortable viewing. Material of composition should be apparent in the images. Whether the glass is production or handmade needs to be obvious.  A combination of these failings will be likely to get your work rejected.

Your images should show a coherent group of work. Diverse styles and materials make it difficult for selectors to see a style or brand. A unity of theme for the group of images is needed.

Technically good images are essential.  Focus is absolutely essential.  Any camera shake or unfocused images will not be viewed favourably. Use the same level of resolution and format for all your images so that all you work appears on the same scale to enable the selectors to judge the size of the pieces in the images.

Images must be professional in appearance.  If your work is selected, the images may be used in promotion and  the catalogue.  So, it must be of a quality for reproduction in the news and design press. Busy backgrounds are distracting and not normally suitable for the press.  Lifestyle images must be clearly focused on the glass.  The surroundings cannot intrude on or dominate the piece of glass being shown.

Using models to display your work requires professional photographer to be effective.  Amateur photographs of pieces on models will not get selected.

Show your work at its best.  Close ups will show quality but only a small proportion. Present a few items to focus attention on the group of items you intend to present at the show.

One of the images you present to the selectors might be of you working on one of the glass pieces, or your packaging or branding in the context of a stand.

Emerging makers are more likely to have their website and additional information looked at.  So, it is vitally important that these are up to date with current work, and older work put into a subordinate section.