Let’s face it, there are tons of art opportunities but you often have to have the artwork, written skills, style, brand name or merchandise to get accepted. If you keep hearing “no” and you need a new approach, this week’s blog post provides some creative problem-solving ideas.
- If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again. If you keep getting rejected from an opportunity that you really want to be a part of, reach out and ask why you were not accepted and ask for feedback. Make the appropriate adjustments and try again the next time the opportunity opens up.
- Some ideas to think about when receiving repeat rejections: Most times during applications you will be asked what types of goods you sell. You could be lacking in product arrangement. Other times they ask for booth and display images so you could be lacking in an appropriate display or look that fits the concept. So ask where you can improve to be accepted.
- Let it Go: If you want to stay true to your brand and business and not try to fit to the opportunity, let it go. Find other pop-ups, marketplaces, and fairs that better fit where you are headed with your creative business.
- Niche Events: If you didn’t fit into one art event, you’re bound to fit into another. Especially if it’s a pop-up or marketplace. There is every theme available and you will fit into at least a few of them. Do a bit of research. There are night markets, brewery markets, pop-ups for LGBTQ creators, vintage markets, and more.
- Vendor Fit: Sometimes the event fits but the vendors don’t, meaning that there is a lack of clear concept or curation of participants. You can be exhibiting an established creative business next to an emerging artist who is doing their first show. Everyone will have their first show at some point, and there shouldn’t be less of an opportunity for first-time exhibitors. However, a lack of curation and placing new and established businesses next to each other will do neither any positive business nor justice.
- Deaf Ears: Do you keep getting the same feedback and not willing to change? While it could represent your desire to be devoted to your work, it could also demonstrate helpful feedback that you are not willing to hear. If you need to make a change and you want to get accepted, it’s time to try something new. Experiment and try listening to the feedback and criticism you have received.
- Saying No Thanks: Just because you did the show once and were invited back or were accepted into a show, doesn’t mean you its a good fit for you. You don’t need to feel guilt or shame for saying no. Everyone has their own business goals and you need to do what’s best for you.
- It’s Not You, It’s Them: There’s a point in time when it’s an issue of it’s them and not you. They could be lacking diversity, organization, coordination, or acceptance of your style of art.
- Tune Inwards: Time to hunker down in the studio and turn inward. Stop worrying about acceptance and what everyone else thinks. Acceptance and rejections come in waves; ride it out by getting back to work in the studio and returning to the source of your creativity.
