Advice From a Promoter Read Everything Before You Apply

February 2023, by Denise Wynn, Events Management Group

We are known for our customer service and spending as much time as needed with an exhibitor to assist them. However, it gets frustrating when an artist does not do the legwork required to apply to one of our shows. 

We worked hard to create an application that answers all the artists’ questions before they begin the application process. It just takes moving the curser down the page and reading over the information. 

In addition, we include several documents with other information to assist artists — like the discounted hotel rate and amenities they might want to order like drapes, tables, and chairs — even down to the table dimensions. Artists can apply online anytime, day or night, and have all the information to decide if our show is right for them, even after our office closes. 

Many artists find it easier to call rather than locate the information themselves. We are a small office with only three employees, and this does not bode well just before a show — especially if the artist calling wants to be considered for a cancellation space at a show coming up soon! 

This image from a past Events Management group festival provides a glimpse of the various ways exhibitors use their booth spaces. Photo courtesy of Cory Langley 

Take Your Time

Some artists who have been on the show circuit for a long time forget what it was like when they first started out and applied to many shows hoping to get in to just a select few. Back then, they spent a lot of time on the application and answering all the questions with a good bit of thought and respect for the establishment/event they wished to become a part of, ensuring the jury had all it needed to review and make a decision on their application. 

At EMG, if an application is missing information, it goes to the back of the pile until we have time to communicate with the artist. Sometimes by the time they respond back, their category is filled. 

Complete the application fully, so we can speed up the time to respond with a decision. We want to help artists, but when processing more than 500 applications in a month, we do not have the luxury of walking through all that is needed on the application. 

Our jury sees all the applications and reads all the way through them. If applicants do not describe their handcrafted product and how it was made or if their artist statement only tells how much they enjoy being a maker but gives no detail about what inspires them and what their process is, that is all taken into account toward their overall jury score. 

Often, those applicants do not make the grade, because if the juror is on the fence or it is a toss-up between two artists, the one who took the time to give us everything we needed to make our decision is the one chosen. 

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