Page 2 of 16 FirstFirst 123412 ... LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 159

Thread: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

  1. #11

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    5,308

    to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    I think an opening with an entrance fee and a small gift print would be a good way to get your name out there and get a buzz going, skip the food, but charge at the door.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Sonora, California
    Posts
    1,475

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    Quote Originally Posted by StoneNYC View Post
    John, clear your PM's

    Also, I think an opening with an entrance fee and a small gift print would be a good way to get your name out there and get a buzz going, skip the food, but charge at the door.
    yer joking...right?

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    5,308

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    Quote Originally Posted by BradS View Post
    yer joking...right?
    To an art gallery exhibit opening? Not at all, but compensate with an equally valuable small print.

    For one this gets your art into the hands and homes of potential buyers of bigger prints, it starts their collection of "X photographer" prints. And you make it numbered and signed.

    Most of the famous people are good photographers but you gotta have a gimmick and have good and innovative marketing techniques too.

    Look at Peter Lik, he's not a bad photographer but he's also not the best, he just figured out how to make himself a name, and so people spend more for highly saturated color panoramics. I can make those too, but no one would buy them at peter lik prices even if mine were better because I'm not a name (yet), it's all in the gimmicks... Why not make a fee bucks guaranteed at the opening but also give people something that makes them feel they've gained value from going. Heck make it a first come first choice deal, so people come early and can choose the mini-piece they want best, plus it gets the place "packed" sooner.

    Just saying it's an idea to think about.

  4. #14

    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Atlanta, Georgia USA
    Posts
    1,023

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    An alternate to charging for admission would be a "blind bidding" for a couple of prints. The money would go to a charity.

    That would get your work into the hands of people with money and be better class than charging for admission.

  5. #15

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    5,308

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    Quote Originally Posted by AtlantaTerry View Post
    An alternate to charging for admission would be a "blind bidding" for a couple of prints. The money would go to a charity.

    That would get your work into the hands of people with money and be better class than charging for admission.
    Good point

  6. #16

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Sonora, California
    Posts
    1,475

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    Quote Originally Posted by StoneNYC View Post
    Just saying it's an idea to think about.

    I guess it depends on what the target market is....

  7. #17
    multiplex
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    local
    Posts
    5,358

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    LOL

    the OP might as well have it set up as a PEEP SHOW if he
    is going to charge admission.

  8. #18
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    Honolulu, Hawai'i
    Posts
    4,658

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    I think the only thing to be gained by charging admission is to make all the people who are comped (which will be most of them--press, potentially buyers) feel like they're getting something even more special for not having to pay admission. Someone is going to have to be a fairly big name with a significant publicity budget to get anyone to pay to get into an opening.

    Even museums that charge substantial admission to regular patrons don't typically charge admission to openings, which are by invitation and are promotional by nature, and in addition to the party, guests will likely go home with a gift bag containing a catalogue of the exhibition and other swag.

  9. #19

    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1,247

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    You might partner with a local winery, bakery, restaurant, and or caterer, willing to showcase their products.
    Real cameras are measured in inches...
    Not pixels.

    www.photocollective.org

  10. #20

    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Montara, California
    Posts
    1,827

    Re: to "opening" or not to "opening"?

    I don't want to shoot down any ideas at this point--just want to think (and re-think) out of the box.

    I also want to address the question of what to serve--wine or no?

    As with all this questions, it isn't just a matter of having or not having an opening, or serving or not serving wine--but what are the alternatives. What could be done *instead* to serve the same need, or to better serve the same need.

    Here's one idea we're sort of kicking around:

    Half Moon Bay, the town where the gallery is, is a coastal down a fair drive from more urban areas. It has essentially no night life and no art crowd. However, it has a large number of visitors, most of which will drive by the gallery on the way in and out of town.

    So perhaps a format like this would work:

    Friday night--private, invitation-only event, with alcohol served.

    Saturday *afternoon*--public, drop-in event with finger food and non-alcoholic drinks.

    ?????

    --Darin

Similar Threads

  1. "Eternal Gift" opening, December 7, TCC Gallery
    By Robert Langham in forum Announcements
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 30-Nov-2012, 07:21

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •