The Crafts Report: Public Opinion

What Kind of Motor Vehicle Works
Best for Your Crafts Business?

What’s your opinion?

Each month, The Crafts Report invites readers to respond to the Public Opinion question. Responses are published in the magazine.

This month’s question is: Do you use different sales techniques during an unstable economy?

Please respond by Aug. 8. Responses to this question will appear in the October 2003 issue.

E-mail: publicopinion@craftsreport.com; or answer online here.

Send responses to: “Public Opinion,” The Crafts Report, Box 1992, Wilmington, DE 19899; fax: (302) 656-4894.

Anonymous responses will not be published.

Promoters should at least tell artists their score, if judging is done with scores. Additional comments would be nice.

If judging is not done by score then the promoter should tell us why we did not get in. After all, we pay a substantial jury fee for the work that is done by the jury and with today’s technology there would not be much of a burden to the promoter to send out scores.

I’m not sure “obligated” is the best word but yes, I believe an artist should be given a reason for being denied. Many times the artist is paying a jury fee and should get something in return besides a blanket denial. In addition, it can only help the artist become better at their craft if they have constructive criticism.

Yes, promoters should tell you why you weren’t accepted. The show application process is a scary and depressing process. If I’m not accepted into a show I would be less likely to apply for the same show next year. However, if a letter accompanied the rejection stating the reason why I was not accepted … then I would know what items I needed to work on for next year’s application.

Yes. I think that promoters should let the artists know why they were not accepted. That gives the artist the opportunity and the ability to make improvements or changes where they may be needed.

It would be so helpful. How can anyone improve or grow if they don’t know? If I were told, specifically, why I wasn’t accepted, I would know what to work on for future shows.

As much as I have wanted to know why I have been rejected sometimes, I think my answer would be “no.” I think a promoter has a business and moral obligation to keep their jury procedure honest, and if they do that, accepting the consequences of the jury system is as much an issue for them as it is for us as artists.
An honest jury system keeps shows exciting and new. An abused jury system is a crime (maybe literally!). Am I comfortable with rejection? Not really, but it tends to keep me striving for that next great piece.

The word “obligated” implies a moral decision. Artists are now paying substantial jury fees when they apply for a show. Personally I believe promoters have a “responsibility” to report why an artist was not accepted. How else can an artist adjust in order to get into the next show? This doesn’t say the reason has to be pages of explanation, just a concise reason or checklist.

FNAIC hosts two events/shows per year at this time. We set a limit on how many people may participate as craftspeople/venders. While ours is a deadline issue, we would tell someone why he or she were excluded if there was another reason. Yes, I do think show promoters should be obligated to tell artists specifically why they were not accepted into the show.

Carol Ray
FNAIC Eagles Nest and Cal-Amigo Enterprises
San Bernardino, Calif.

Obligated? I don’t think so, although it would be very helpful if promoters would offer constructive feedback to applicants. By this I mean they should be specific about what could be improved (slide quality, the technical and/or artistic aspect of the work).