Here's another Art of the Call video podcast where we ask directors, artists and curators to talk about the call for entry process.



In this video, Sandra talks about:

Applying to calls

Trial and error - look to see who the jurors are, higher pedigree

If it's oversaturated then it has to be of high level

Whatever is going to give you notoriety, build your portfolio so you have credibility and the collectors start coming more

Try it once locally and see how it goes, I tend to sell in high traffic venues

Photo magazines is a matter of trial and error

Look who has one or juried in - you want to make sure it has the pedigree

I've seen contests where the work is not good, really bad photoshopping - why did they even allow that into the show?

Make sure whoever wins is really really good at what they did

Choosing work for a call

I had several ones that were just sitting there, aching to get in

Is it a theme?

It can be a problem if the scope is too broad

Use juried competition to push yourself, get ready for rejection - you need to take a look at the theme and see if you can break into that

Make sure that they're looking at emerging folks as well - some jurors get comfortable with tried and true artists

Success

When I've sold something or won notoriety or an award

I have some pieces that sell no matter where I go

Affirmation is when somebody shows up and buys the piece

At the show

At openings I watch people, to see how they react to my piece

And if they're really lingering I go up and ask if they have questions

What goes on in the minds of jurors I don't know but this has been a great year

Consistency

Being accepted is one thing - I'm very inconsistent

I did this project with a whole series... the curator thought my work was too inconsistent - but I did get a lot of notoriety and they did sell.

The market

Social media and digital has changed it

May be oversaturated, especially photographer

Go from being a photographer to being an arts

People want this tactile experience of seeing the art although some people prefer to just get online and purchase there

Every artist needs to cater to whatever the market dictates

All the noise on Twitter , Facebook etc and maintain a voice. Artists that understand online may have a better chance than better artists who are not online

The taste of the audience is changing - anything goes

Trends

Social media

It's more difficult for people who have not adapted to new technology - more a problem for the older generations

Us boomers have to keep up

If you don't have a place on the Internet... not good

Preparing images

Varies to the call, not a lot of consistency

Is confusing for people who don't understand Photoshop etc

It would really help if there were a standard on the size of the image

It's just a free-for-all

Need to be technologically savvy

Improving calls

Oversaturated, calls get way more than they need

Everybody has jumped on the bandwagon

You should have pedigree

When you're judging these contests, that you're not getting lazy

We need standards

I get emails all the time for calls - but I'll just wind up in a pile of tons of people;

Maybe there should be a limit for the number of entries. How do judges go through all that?

No idea what's going on at the other end