<!--quoteo
(post=1230:date=Jan 27 2006, 02:11 AM:name=bean)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bean @
Jan 27 2006, 02:11 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1230"><{POST_SNAPBACK}
></a></div><div class='quotemain'>i plan on attending the chicago convention and
would like to enter some cichlid paintings. i need to know the requirments, such as canvas size,
medium, ect. i would like to get started as soon as possible. thanks!</div><!--
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Wow. You posted this in January and got NO replies. I'd say you're
screwed.
In the future, remember this. This is for you and anyone else that might want
to enter an art show, ACA convention or any convention or show. It depends on how you're
traveling to a event what you can take. AND whatever you take you have to take home again unless
you plan to AND succeed in selling it. For that reason, I'd limit canvases to 11X14 or smaller.
Acrylics would probaly travel better than watercolors or pastel chalks and would require less
packing. There's a problem with paintings... the signature. Judges aren't supposed to know
who did the work. If your signature isn't your full name or isn't familiar to the show
commitee you may be okay. I'm not certain what they do if your full name is on it. I'd
guess, if your item is matted, they'd ask you to place some sort of card over your name, hiding
it from view. So, if you signed it "bean" you'd probably be okay too.
If
you're taking art work with the intent of making a sale, I wouldn't enter the show. You
won't be able to display your art until the judging is over. By then alot of discretionary
spending has already used up the funds for possible sales. Instead, I'd buy a space on the for
sale board and sell from your room or purchase a table in the vendor area and sell there.
Unfortunately,neither of those options are going to give you much time for attending any seminars
or events. If, you only have a few pieces, you may get away with taking one or two with you to
whatever seminar you're attending, setting on the main aisle and selling from there before and
after the session. The convention committee won't be pleased with you but conventioneers will
remember you and relate your face to your work. Convention committees and people attending
conventions often have a different idea what what they expect. Originally, thats how small vendors
and clubs sold their t-shirts. Some still do. One of the best of the t-shirt people now offers so
many selections she probably plants spotters in the crowd directing people to her.
If
you're wondering about getting paid, I'd make sure I had an active PayPal account set up
before the convention. If you've got a laptop, I'd take it with you. LEAVE IT IN YOUR
ROOM!! When someone wants to buy one of your items get his/her name and e-mail address.
Tell them you'll hold the item for ... say 4 hours. During that time they can visit the
computer room at the hotel, login to their account and pay the amount you've agreed to into
your account by whatever credit card they have or from their PayPal account. When you receive a
conformation e-mail give them the product. Oh yeah, you can take cash too. I wouldn't take
checks. I also wouldn't give them the items expecting to receive payment from them later.
I'm still waiting for money from ICC 2 from someone I thought was my friend. Now I know.
Don't do it.
BTW, convention hotels sometimes don't know how to handle
conventioneers. Late night conversations in the lobby, even at conversation levels are sometimes
frowned on. Impromptu groups, drinking and talking near the pool areas "after hours" are
even less welcome. If you plan to entertain, get a suite or go in with some friends and get a
meeting room. Chicago's a party town. Lot's of music, good food and late night stuff. TAKE
A CAB ! And don't go alone, travel in a small group.
Something for the lurkers,
you never know what you'll be attracted to. There was a quilt at one convention made from t-
shirts from former conventions and cichlid clubs. A good friend of mine and I were each a number or
so off on the drawing to win that quilt. I don't know what the drawing brought in but I would
have bid at least a couple of hundred on it in the auction. I'd probably pay that now. I
wouldn't have been alone in bidding either.
Another thing, I was ridiculed at an ACA
convention once by the person announcing the awards. Some people are there for the fish alone, and
whatever else their small brains will take in. At the art show, I took a decorated BOX with
paintings of cichlids on it. I don't remember how it finished. I DO remember his comment,
"someone entered a BOX?" It really ticked me off. I know he probably didn't really
mean anything malicious in the comment but I haven't spoken to him since. I had previously
entered slides or photos. I haven't entered anything since either. Dan