Making a show of yourself
We’re nearly there, nearly open for business - so what’s next folks? Time to start planning an exhibition.
THINK WHAT, WHEN, WHERE AND HOW
Lets look at the what first? What do you want to do? Do you want to sell paintings or launch a set of photos and prints? We are truly all in the same boat here. Do a little local research and start booking venues for later this year or 2022, everybody has 18 months of art to display, so it will get a bit crowded.
Think of your dates, would it be possible to move a display from one month to the next and keep your art going for several months. A preview or opening night is always a great way to connect with your greatest supporters and also your new contacts. It’s a good idea to pencil in a preview night (even if the thought of it terrifies you).
The Where is important. If the venue you choose is quite big, now may be the time to connect with fellow creatives and start putting a group together. When looking at a venue, keep in mind what sort of footfall you will have, will people see your work every day? Who will staff your display? Will you need to stay with your work, or will somebody else look after it? Ask about the fees so you know where the ballpark is. Some venues charge a booking fee upfront and take a percentage commission on any sale. Keep that in mind when pricing your work.
So many Hows and so little time
How will you hang your work, a time consuming job at the best of times (Will you DIY or will the venue look after this)?
How will you finish your work before the exhibition? Are you framing work? This takes weeks to complete, can be a little expensive but it certainly adds value to your work. If you are not framing your work, make sure it is possible to hang your work safely, provide good hooks (I’ve seen coat hangers as a hook so don’t laugh).
How will you take payments if you have a sale. If hanging work in a local shop, you may have a situation where the shop can’t put the payment through the till as it is your sale and not their regular income, you might need to be on hand in case somebody wants to buy. Remember that there is a huge increase in people wanting to pay by card, do the research and find some simple way of accepting payments, there are several options that work securely by connecting with your phone.
How will you advertise? The old way was a flyer or a newspaper article (and they’re still great) but you can set up a page on social media just for your artwork and add event pages for each exhibition. (all it costs is your time).
How will you cover insurance (if you need insurance). Some places are already insured, some venues will require you to have a public liability cover in place before you set up work, so make sure to ask. There are specialist insurance companies for this and they are always very helpful.
Finally, all I can say is that you will be surprised at how much you will learn by pushing your limit a little bit.
TAKE THAT LEAP AND ENJOY THE SHOW!
