Well, the contest is over and it did become a little more fair (the same guy didn't win all three spots). Perhaps, you all are to thank for that. I sure could have used that certificate to get more inventory for the year.
Harold, it's rare when I give up on something. I'm like a dog on a bone. I usually have to be pushed out or have it taken away from me before I give up. I'm a 'hopeful' case; which means that I'm always thinking, it's just around the corner or next time if I do this...it will work. You can call it youth if you want, but being that I'm in my forties, not sure if that's true, lol. I guess that would be a relative statement.
I don't have a problem with people promoting that they are in a contest. It's a good way to practice networking/marketing skills. More artists need to do that, but with the thought that they would like it to be competitive too. Artists can't throw an image in a contest and expect the random visitors to vote and btw, humility or false humility has no place in marketing. You have to have a go get it attitude or hire someone that has that go get it attitude to do it for you.
When I do these type of contests, and promote that I'm in them, I also encourage voters to vote for the images that they think are worthy. They are probably going to do that anyway and they did. Some of them told me so. Each time I noticed the vote count changed for several of the images and a few votes were added to mine, but not usually enough to sway it in my favor.
Losing this contest wasn't a failure, but was another creative opportunity for those on my lists to see my work. I will be successful at this art business come hell or high water...or until I get pushed out or it gets taken from me.
