How many shows to apply to?

Jewelry Discussion
1

I read a while ago in a newsletter for a different art form that the
newsletter editor applied to 24 shows a year (gallery type shows) to
get into the number she wants to get into.

And of course I’ve forgotten how many she got into, on average.

Does that seem reasonable?

Is it even do-able in metals? Because there are fewer metals-only or
jewelry-only shows?

I’m thinking about this as I have a pile of exhibitions to apply to
that were mailed to me, plus various calls out that look
interesting.

Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

2 
I read a while ago in a newsletter for a different art form that
the newsletter editor applied to 24 shows a year (gallery type
shows) to get into the number she wants to get into.

I used to apply to maybe 12 shows to do 8 or 9. In recent years, the
worsening economy has apparently caused people to need to do more
shows to earn the same money, and some who had stopped doing outdoor
shows to resume (Tom Mann said he is one of these). So shows are
harder and harder to get into.

Last year, I applied to two dozen shows, and got into 6.

This year, I am only doing four shows. How many I applied to depends
on whether you count American Craft as one or several (one
application and score, 5 or 6 rejections). I cut back on
applications, though. For next year, I am cutting back even more,
and doing more teaching. While my sales at shows I get into continue
to increase, it is even harder to get accepted.

A grim picture.

Noel