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Roy Erickson

9 Years Ago

Juried Contests

Well - I've just made a "new" decision - nor more entering contests that are "juried" - especially if the juror's aren't announced to start with. First - there are "no prizes" worth the effort - LOL and second - part of the idea for entering contests is so that others will, perhaps, see them. " I " prefer open judging - FAA and anyone that comes to FAA - you at least might have a chance of someone, a buyer perhaps, see your image. The ones only open to FAA - well that's nice - but they aren't buying either - so it really is just getting your ego stroked - or not.

I sort of understand the contest admin's idea - people just go vote for their own - or they have those that will come vote for theirs - so they find a "jury" - my supposition is that it's their friends - and it will hardly be seen by anyone not entered into the contest

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Louise Reeves

9 Years Ago

Although I do put images in once in a great while, I never really got the purpose of them here. Can anyone come to FAA to peruse and then go through the contests to further look at stuff more dedicated to their buying mission? Like, there was just one having to do with motorcycles. If I'm in the market for a motorcycle image, can I look through the contest entries?

 

Kyle Moss

9 Years Ago

Louise,
Anyone can come to FAA to peruse and then go through the contests. For the ones that allow voting to the "General Public" you can vote if you are an FAA member or have a facebook account.

I recently posted a link and an encouragement on my facebook business page for my visitors to go view a contest open to them for voting. I let them know there was some great art there.

"If I'm in the market for a motorcycle image, can I look through the contest entries?" YES

 

Dan Richards

9 Years Ago

I have yet to see many Juried Contests that have much of a "Good Jury". I know when I used to enter them, I would see these pieces that were so outstanding, I knew I had no chance against them. But the problem was, they, like, did not win, and I did not expect to after seeing them. What usually wins, is some piece that looks like it came from a Kinder class. I felt so sorry for the ones that had such excellent pieces, that I knew if I ever got that good, mine would be no different. So I just quit trying in them, and just kept working on my skills.
Now I have had some luck in my poetry, having five national and international awards. But even then, I have seen some real pitiful ones win too, and some really beautiful pieces lose. It just makes no sense to me to keep trying in them. I will from time to time look through a few contests, and again see some wonderful pieces that do not win, and some pieces that win, that make you wonder what the judges were smoking.

 

Mary Ellen Anderson

9 Years Ago

I rarely (can't think of any instances) enter a contest for the prize, only the opportunity. For juried exhibition or shows. Even if it's a local arts fair I don't want everyone in the world to be selected. I tend to be uninterested in the awards because they are so political and bias. Even if you win something, which art awards have general public recognition and appreciation, making them worth their cost to obtain? To me it's just a marketing cost. I bet on my work being salable to their attendees. Otherwise, I'm wasting my money.

But also, artist's often aren't very well thought out in their marketing decision. I would think for the most part that the exposure in online contest and publications is poorly spent $. You would have spent less and gotten better results just running a good ad in the right local venue.

You can't escape risk (cost) in any business, but it's critical that you manage it and base you decision on your own due diligence not popular fad, and false dreams. If whatever you're doing isn't working locally than just doing it bigger won't help. If there are buyer for you art on 5th avenue, there are buyers for your art on hometown main street. Hail Mary's are last resorts, not mode of operation. For the most part winning the heart and respect of your home market, is you best investment... and determination of what contests your should consider.

I enter contest to sell work not win prizes. Instead of criteria on prizes, I'm more interested in what is known about last years sales and attendees.
-- mary ellen anderson

 

Mary Ellen Anderson

9 Years Ago

Oh sorry, just realized you were talking abt FAA contest. I thought you meant pay to enter contest off FAA.
--mary ellen anerson

 

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