Craft Show Applications: Part 1

This is the first section in a two part series about applying for shows. This week, I am going to bring up some of the problems associated with the application process. In the next part of this article, I'll offer some solutions.

Crafters near and far will almost all agree that the most dreaded part of our business is completing the show promoter's application requirements.

Some promoters want to see slides of your work. Others require photos. One promoter will want two photos of three pieces of your work. Another will want five slides of individual pieces! The combinations are endless and annoying. Also, slides and photos usually need to be labeled or numbered in a variety of ways. I've even had one that wanted an actual piece of my work along with slides before they would even send me an application! Give me a break!

Many promoters require a non-refundable "jury fee" before they will review your work. This typically ranges anywhere from $5 to $50. When you consider that these slides or photos will only be viewed for a few seconds, the price can be quite steep.

This is only the beginning. Now it's time for the dreaded application. An application might ask anything from previous shows you have attended to what kind of pets you own! Many times, you must search through tons of paperwork just to find all the required information you need to send. Now keep in mind that many promoters have this rule: if you omit one piece of information, in the trash your application goes! Also, if you send the wrong size photos or fail to label them in the required manner, the same fate awaits your application packet. (Make sure you do not forget to send the required money, or else they will come to your home and take you first-born!)

All promoters understandably want to receive your applications far in advance of the show. Some even require them a year or more in advance! I have recently applied for a show that wants to receive the packet on a certain date. Now I'm supposed to have control over the postal system too? I know crafters are resourceful, but this is taking it a bit too far! Most will also want your show fee included with your application. Many will go ahead and cash your check and then send you a refund if you are not accepted. (Drawing a little free interest in the bank, maybe? Hmm.)

The most aggravating thing about all of this is, after having gone through this entire process, you are not accepted for the show, then you come to find out the promoters have "hand-picked" over 50 percent of their exhibitors! That's neither here nor there though, since we have little control over how fair a promoter will be. However, I have witnessed "hand-picking" at juried events, one too many times to ignore this highly unprofessional behavior.

If this sounds confusing, it is! When you do 25 or more shows a year, this becomes an agonizing, time-consuming process. Where do you find the time to produce your goods when you are constantly faced with an upcoming "deadline" for one show or another? How can you keep your expenses under control when you have to come up with thousands of dollars in show fees for shows you might not even be chosen to attend? It's almost enough to make you want to give it up and go into another line of work! How about the show promoting business? Oh well, maybe not.

I have a few things that I do to make this process as painless as possible. I'll be discussing these in the next article.

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