Anticipation of exhibiting
Next week, I’m having my Second Solo Show of the year.
Exhibiting is never not nerve-inducing. Makers put our work out into the world with zero idea of what we might get out of it. Perhaps there will be no-sales, no-show - perhaps it will magical.
The point of putting our work up on the wall is feedback, in terms of conversations, and of course, sales.
Over my thirty years of working I have had shows flop spectacularly, and others that flew - there really isn’t much telling in which way they will go during the actual show itself.
BUT here is what I have learned along the way….
When planning a HUGE mega show - always have a teeny tiny second sale planned to come a few weeks or months (no later) after the big one. This way, we get to chat to our visitor about it if the conversation is struggling, it’s good for the soul to know you have a little something else coming down the line, and in general - it’s always that little thought about second show/sale that brings relief, surprise, and delight to the artist. This second show could be held in a studio, our home, or online - anything, as long as it’s a second opportunity for people to engage with you.
Contacts made during shows are GOLDEN. Have some way of contacting you to give out liberally during your exhibition. This could be a postcard, business card, anything goes - just something easy for people to walk away with so they know how to reach you weeks, months, and sometimes years down the line.
Name, Surname and Email addresses gathered during a show are precious. If someone shows interest during your show, ask that you may contact them again by way of adding them to your mailing list. The majority of my sales are made this way today. If you walk away with 10 interested people on your mailing list, the exhibition has been worth it.
Know that you are going to be tired. Organising, hanging and manning a show is tiring. Along with tiredness comes potential loss of perspective and it’s easy to turn that inward by telling yourself that this is not where you are meant to be - your work isn’t as good as you thought it was, etc, etc. Imposter Syndrome is real and loves tiredness. Just welcome it in as you would an old friend and see it for what it is. Even better, if your show lasts a week, try to take one day off by having someone sit with your show for a day (not a busy day such as Friday Sat, Sunday), but perhaps the Monday or Tuesday. Tell yourself that during your day off you are not getting dressed and spend your day resting and sleeping.
I hope this helps and writing it has been a good reminder for what is coming for me next week.
If you are local to Woodbridge in Suffolk, I would LOVE to see you.
You can find my show details here. I open on Thursday 17th October - until Wednesday 23rd. 10am - 5pm daily. I won’t be in the gallery on the Monday, but my lovely partner Carl will be. PV drinkies are being held on Friday 18th October, 5-8pm. All are welcome.
Much love
Sam x
