Congrats, Glenn!
ukasz
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www.fotopolis.pl
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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internetowy magazyn o fotografii
- Original Message -
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 7:07 AM
Subject: My Exciting Evening
When I and the friends mentioned in my previous message went into
a coffee shop, I noticed local-artist art on the walls with prices
next to each piece. So I asked our waitress whom I'd ask about
getting my photos on their walls, and she said that their art
director wasn't in, but she'd give him my contact info.
When she brought our order, she told me the art director had come
in and was upstairs, so one of my friend and I went to fetch my
portfolio out of my car a few blocks away (which I'd tossed into
the car on a random whim), and I asked him to look at it.
Now I've had show my portfolio to a gallery or a restaurant
on my to-do list for about two years, but I'm _shy_[1]. I'm also
insecure.
You see, I know that I've made some photos I can feel proud of,
and I'm used to hearing my friends tell me in impressed-sounding
voices that I've got great photos, and I've started getting
accustomed to strangers and vague acquaintances saying, Hey,
these are pretty good! when I show off my work (but never buying
anything). But an art director, or a gallery-owner, or someone
like that? Whole different level of ego-issues; whole different
bundle of stress and insecurities; and complete lack of confidence
regarding how to _approach_ someone like that (which is where the
shyness comes in).
The art director at Xando (31st Charles, for folks who know
Baltimore) looked at my photos. He made the expected noises
that I interpreted as, Yeah, that's okay, and That's nice
enough, but didn't seem _impressed_ at first. Then he got
to a photo that he reacted to by changing his body language.
(It's one that I consider _pretty_ but kind of cliche -- the
Baltimore Aquarium on a sunny day.) Then a few more that
seemed merely ok, and another that he looked at a little longer
and said, That's nice, a few where he asked where they were
shot, and another that seemed to get a reaction from him ...
and so on to the end of the binder.
Then he said, My first available slot is September.
I was expecting, I'll keep you in mind. No, he was telling
me my photos would go up in September and asking whether I
wanted the whole restuarant or only part of it (I opted for
just downstairs). He also said that if I wanted to hold a
reception, that'd be cool.
#blink#
*pause*
BOUNCE
Looks like I've got my first public showing lined up several
months from now! Big step for me. The art director said that
the photographer who has nine photos grouped together downstairs
now is making a lot of sales; I hope I manage to sell a few this
Fall. Now I get to: drive myself and my friends crazy trying to
decide which photos to show at what sizes and changing my mind
every time I start to second-guess my own judgement; come up with
money to frame enough prints and get a few printed at larger
sizes than what I've got; and try to figure out how I should
price my work.
WHEE!
Advice and pointers from those of you who already know how to
play the fine-art game Extremely Welcome. This is water I've
been trying to work up the nerve to dip my toe into for a long
time, but it's all unfamiliar territory. (Now to go dig through
my archived mail for what folks said when I first said I was
interested in going in this direction...)
September. Looks like a long time from now, but it's probably
a good thing I have that long to prepare.
-- Glenn
[1] Yeah, yeah, I know, I hear it a lot: How can somebody with
the guts to wear a skirt and heels with a beard in public be shy?
I am; I just managed to conceptualize that as a Different Matter
than my shyness -- it doesn't involve _approaching_ people, or
calling them on the telephone. In fact, since folks sometimes
approach me to talk to me because of how I dress, it even helps
to _compensate_ for my shyness a little. I talk easily to
strangers if they start the conversation or if there's a BIG
conversation-starter to comment on, and I do fine in the spotlight
(including public-speaking), so most folks think that's the whole
story and don't see where I have trouble; but I'm not making this
up -- I really am shy about approaching people. Less so than a
dozen years ago, thank God, but it's still a problem.
***r-e-k-l-a-m-a**
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