How to promote a photography exhibit ?

nmp · Dec 7, 2022

Paul Ozzello said:
Actually, the reason I want to promote the exhibit is because it is topical. I spent several weeks photographic the trucker protests in Ottawa with a Polaroid camera and will be exhibiting some ~65 prints. It will be the 1 year "anniversary" of the event in the city where the event took place, so I am confident there is a certain part of the population that would be interested in seeing the show. My only question is how to go about advertising it. I will have the whole gallery to myself, there will be drinks etc. It's going to be a really nice event - if people show up !

Another thing you can try, which worked well for my first solo, would be making a bunch of postcards with a photograph in the front and details about the show in the back and leave them all over in cafes, boutique shops etc where people interested in art and photography are likely to frequent.

:Niranjan.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 7, 2022

Paul Ozzello said:
Thanks for pointing that out. I just updated my personal website and reactivated a temporary popup, I also created a menu item with upcoming exhibits. Do you think it's visible enough ?

The gallery website usually only displays show a month in advance, but I'll ask them if they can do it sooner.

I'd include the time the gallery opens and closes. Also, if you're having a "meet and greet" with drink and so forth, mention that on the poster picture as well as where ever you show the address of the gallery. If there's a specific time you'll be there if not all day, mention that too. Sort of like: "Meet the artist at noon for cocktails and delicacies and a Q&A."

Pieter12 · Dec 7, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
I'd include the time the gallery opens and closes. Also, if you're having a "meet and greet" with drink and so forth, mention that on the poster picture as well as where ever you show the address of the gallery. If there's a specific time you'll be there if not all day, mention that too. Sort of like: "Meet the artist at noon for cocktails and delicacies and a Q&A."

Artist talks can be a good draw, even after opening night, to keep interest from lagging.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 7, 2022

Pieter12 said:
Artist talks can be a good draw, even after opening night, to keep interest from lagging.

Which reminds me of a funny, but true story. Years ago, my friend a commercial artist, since passed, suggested I submit a couple of my photos to a well known gallery in NYC that was doing a contest, with selections of different categories of artwork. Oils, photos, charcoals, etc. You were only allowed to submit one photo each and I had two I wanted to submit. So I submitted one under my wife's name.

So wouldn't you know it, "her" picture wins second place in the photo contest. So my wife and I go down on "award" night and are standing around the photo mounted on the wall of this huge gallery. And people come over and ask me if I shot the photo. I said no, of course, pointing to my wife. "She did." And smile. Next thing they're asking her what film did she use, what was the exposure, what was the camera, etc. She didn't talk to me for days after that.

Here's the shot:

cowanw · Dec 7, 2022

In post 22

"Thanks for pointing that out. I just updated my personal website and reactivated a temporary popup, I also created a menu item with upcoming exhibits. Do you think it's visible enough ?"

Is your linked above website in Latin?

First paragraph translates as "The customer is very important, the customer will be followed by the customer. So that lacinia, landus and vulputate rutrum, there is no pain pregnant with the bow, it is really made for the very life itself. Now let's go to the hospital. Everyone doesn't want to invest, but it's a pure dignissim. Chat who can put the trigger, it's a life cycle. In trucks always wise, let it be a lot of targets from whoever takes it. Let us live as the pain does not place itself in the vestibule of the eleifend diam. But to be great and great, wise with the pulvinar, wise with the quiver. But the sauce is just as good as the valley. There is no reason, but a sad, soft policy will be followed in time. The author of the book just died, but the sorrow is the door of grief. Sometimes I don't have time to do my homework. Vivamus mauris dui, tempor not a cartoon, members a libero."

That will help??

Paul Ozzello · Dec 7, 2022

cowanw said:
In post 22

"Thanks for pointing that out. I just updated my personal website and reactivated a temporary popup, I also created a menu item with upcoming exhibits. Do you think it's visible enough ?"

Is your linked above website in Latin?

First paragraph translates as "The customer is very important, the customer will be followed by the customer. So that lacinia, landus and vulputate rutrum, there is no pain pregnant with the bow, it is really made for the very life itself. Now let's go to the hospital. Everyone doesn't want to invest, but it's a pure dignissim. Chat who can put the trigger, it's a life cycle. In trucks always wise, let it be a lot of targets from whoever takes it. Let us live as the pain does not place itself in the vestibule of the eleifend diam. But to be great and great, wise with the pulvinar, wise with the quiver. But the sauce is just as good as the valley. There is no reason, but a sad, soft policy will be followed in time. The author of the book just died, but the sorrow is the door of grief. Sometimes I don't have time to do my homework. Vivamus mauris dui, tempor not a cartoon, members a libero."

That will help??

That’s Lorem Ipsum text one uses as a placeholder for formatting while the actual text is being finalized. I posted the page here but I haven’t actually publicized it yet.

Paul Ozzello · Dec 8, 2022

Pieter12 said:
Because it is topical, news outlets might be interested beyond any usual arts coverage. Maybe arrange a special media night about a week before the show opens and invite them, including any online local media. Even though the gallery hasn’t had much attendance since the onset of the pandemic, people are starting to go out in public again. Make sure the gallery sends out invitations for the opening to their client and visitor list—galleries almost always have a guest book where people sign up for news and updates. And a large poster featuring the upcoming show in the gallery window as well as any artsy or nearby businesses wouldn’t hurt. If you or anyone you know has any kind of social media following, get them to post or repost about the show, but not too far in advance—people have very short attention spans. Post during the show, too.

Good points

Rob Skeoch said:
I had a solo show in Sept-Oct in a public gallery in Kitchener. Are you trying to sell prints at a commercial gallery or is the show a statement about your work at a public gallery. The Art Gallery of Ontario doesn't sell any of the artists work... they showcase it.
Have you created a following, possibly through email or social media, and you can now invite them to the opening?
Are you having an opening? Expect to pay for the wine/beer/cheese and work with the gallery on the invite list. If you're trying to sell work, anyone on the gallery's list who purchased art in the past three years is a good start.
Contact the art writer at the Sun and Citizen, they don't usually do anything for you but you should at least reach out to them.
Contact the 'community' or 'weekly' paper in the area, again might not produce anything but worth the try.
Contact SPAO and volunteer as a guest speaker for the students the week before the show.

The work is more about presenting a different view point on a very polarizing subject - but selling prints would be a bonus. Since I shot the originals with Polaroid - I'm limiting each print to an edition of 1. I'll reach out to Sun and Citizen and see what they have to say... Thanks for all the suggestions.

nmp said:
Another thing you can try, which worked well for my first solo, would be making a bunch of postcards with a photograph in the front and details about the show in the back and leave them all over in cafes, boutique shops etc where people interested in art and photography are likely to frequent.

I'm having them printed as we speak

Alan Edward Klein said:
I'd include the time the gallery opens and closes. Also, if you're having a "meet and greet" with drink and so forth, mention that on the poster picture as well as where ever you show the address of the gallery. If there's a specific time you'll be there if not all day, mention that too. Sort of like: "Meet the artist at noon for cocktails and delicacies and a Q&A."

AnselMortensen · Dec 10, 2022

cowanw said:
First paragraph translates as "The customer is very important, the customer will be followed by the customer. So that lacinia, landus and vulputate rutrum, there is no pain pregnant with the bow, it is really made for the very life itself. Now let's go to the hospital. Everyone doesn't want to invest, but it's a pure dignissim. Chat who can put the trigger, it's a life cycle. In trucks always wise, let it be a lot of targets from whoever takes it. Let us live as the pain does not place itself in the vestibule of the eleifend diam. But to be great and great, wise with the pulvinar, wise with the quiver. But the sauce is just as good as the valley. There is no reason, but a sad, soft policy will be followed in time. The author of the book just died, but the sorrow is the door of grief. Sometimes I don't have time to do my homework. Vivamus mauris dui, tempor not a cartoon, members a libero."

Ooh!
I might just have to use that as my "Artist's Statement"....and change my 'nom de plume' to:

E. Taoin Shrdlu

Paul Ozzello · Dec 13, 2022

So, no more Latin ;-)

I created an event on Eventbrite - which should get integrated into google search. Several people already signed up.
Just in case, I also added a json google event record in my exhibit webpage and submitted it to google search - this should make it appear to anyone googling "What's happening in Ottawa.."
Also got in touch with a friend of a friend who owns a media relations company local to Ottawa - talking with him tomorrow..
Had cards printed cards to bring to local cafes libraries etc.
Reached out to Tourism Ottawa but haven't heard anything back yet...
Also reached out to SPAO

Wrote a press release but still have to distribute it...
Still haven't contacted Carleton...
Still have to create a Facebook event.
Still no promotion on the gallery's home page...

I also thought about creating a "contest" or giveaway on Instagram - something along the lines of anyone who tags someone in the post would get put into a drawing to win a limited edition framed print. Does anyone have any experience with this ?

I updated the text on my promotional page on my website and made some changes to improve SEO - anything I should consider changing ?

eli griggs · Dec 13, 2022

Rent a semi, with trailer, install lighting and safe folding stairs and park in the neighborhoods where your patrons, only showing some of your works that'll be at the gallery.

PS: I hate spell check!

Paul Ozzello · Dec 13, 2022

eli griggs said:
Rent a semi, with trailer, install lighting and safe folding stairs and park in the neighborhoods where your patriots live, only showing some of your works that'll be at the gallery.

That would be insane. I actually know a few truckers that might totally be into it

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 13, 2022

Looks a lot better. Now the trick is to get the information out to the kind of people who will show up. Good luck and lots of success. Alan.

VinceInMT · Dec 13, 2022

I did my solo show last spring as part of finishing my BFA. Leading up to that I’d had a class in how to promote work in general and a show in particular. I did the show but outside of that I have near zero interest in showing my work and even less in monetizing it. That said, I did have a bout 40 people show up for the opening/artist talk I I think that most came because I’d flooded so many channels with my postcards:

http://www.codecooker.com/projects_visual_arts/index.php?f=postcard

Aside from that, I do have some experience in promoting an event. Myself and five other members of my running club got together 12 years ago and decided to put on a Thanksgiving morning 5K race to raise money for local food charities. We planned the event and figured that we’d get, maybe, 350 people out the first year. We had over 1,800 show up. This year, our 12th, we had over 2,400 and in these dozen years, our all volunteer effort has donated $366,000 dollars.

For promotion we do a variety of things. We have posters made up, 11x17, and have them placed in every business who will allow it and on every “community activity” bulletin board in the city. There are several “free” magazine published in our area and we have them add the event to their calendars. A few even add an article about it. I don’t know if you have this where you are, but the local cable TV company has to provide a public access channel and we get on their banners and, usually, get a spot or two to appear on their shows to talk about the event. We boost ads on Facebook. We bought an ad package on our local NPR (radio) station. We had banners printed, something like 3 feet by 10 feet, and got permission to hang them in various places. The city even has dedicated space that one can reserve for community activities, a sky bridge across the busiest street downtown. We have bought an ad package in the local paper but have quit that due to the cost.

Of course, our event is different from yours but it might give you an idea of what might work. As I think someone else mentioned, associating your event with another one can really help. We have all sorts of groups who want to set up their tents at our event to promote whatever they are promoting. (We decline but tell them that we don’t control what they can do on business properties along the race course.).

I think that one of the key things that can make an event a success is to design in something for the audience. For our race, it’s easy, since they get to participate by walking or running, and they get a shirt and a pint glass. We have a free beer garden (kegs donated by local breweries) and a free food area with muffins, cinnamon rolls, coffee, etc. The social aspect is huge. So, if there is something in it for the participant other than looking at something, that could be a draw.

Just my 2 cents, or 5 cents with inflation.

Alan Edward Klein · Dec 13, 2022

That's really nice charity work, Vince. You're a better man than me.

eli griggs · Dec 13, 2022

One, post show or crawl detail I personal felt was a good practice, is to keep a small notebook with the names of patrons and their interests in my art/art in general.

This means pulling up a pair of chairs and having a conversation.

I was lucky and, my Rozeann, could take care of sales and general inquiries, in the front space of my small studio, while I answered questions and enjoyed the chat.

I did no ever require that a patron have bought from me to keep their name in that notebook, but sales at the next crawl or two, often resulted in small sales and those too were noted in writing.

I suggest any artist/photographer adopt a similar process, as you never know if you'll have a new show that needs those who are most interested in your work, spread word or mouth as well be some friendly faces in the crowd, as some of them will become friends with you.

Godspeed and The Best of Luck.

Pieter12 · Dec 13, 2022

Paul Ozzello said:
So, no more Latin ;-)

I created an event on Eventbrite - which should get integrated into google search. Several people already signed up.
Just in case, I also added a json google event record in my exhibit webpage and submitted it to google search - this should make it appear to anyone googling "What's happening in Ottawa.."
Also got in touch with a friend of a friend who owns a media relations company local to Ottawa - talking with him tomorrow..
Had cards printed cards to bring to local cafes libraries etc.
Reached out to Tourism Ottawa but haven't heard anything back yet...
Also reached out to SPAO

Wrote a press release but still have to distribute it...
Still haven't contacted Carleton...
Still have to create a Facebook event.
Still no promotion on the gallery's home page...

I also thought about creating a "contest" or giveaway on Instagram - something along the lines of anyone who tags someone in the post would get put into a drawing to win a limited edition framed print. Does anyone have any experience with this ?

I updated the text on my promotional page on my website and made some changes to improve SEO - anything I should consider changing ?

View attachment 324025

It seems like you are well on the way to promoting your show. Unless you have the budget to do more, try to get the gallery to start doing something and not leaving it all to you. The least they can do is provide their mailing list. As an aside, a number of years ago there was a "pop-up" gallery here in a parking lot that consisted of a number of large shipping containers outfitted with interior walls and lighting for an impressive show of large prints. If you didn't already have a gallery, it would be a cool idea to pull off for your work.

jtk · Dec 15, 2022

VinceInMT said:
I did my solo show last spring as part of finishing my BFA. Leading up to that I’d had a class in how to promote work in general and a show in particular. I did the show but outside of that I have near zero interest in showing my work and even less in monetizing it. That said, I did have a bout 40 people show up for the opening/artist talk I I think that most came because I’d flooded so many channels with my postcards:

How many postcards did you send?

Did the recipients have history with you (classmates?) ?

What kind of thing did you say in your "artist talk" ?

awty · Dec 15, 2022

Paul Ozzello said:
So, no more Latin ;-)

I created an event on Eventbrite - which should get integrated into google search. Several people already signed up.
Just in case, I also added a json google event record in my exhibit webpage and submitted it to google search - this should make it appear to anyone googling "What's happening in Ottawa.."
Also got in touch with a friend of a friend who owns a media relations company local to Ottawa - talking with him tomorrow..
Had cards printed cards to bring to local cafes libraries etc.
Reached out to Tourism Ottawa but haven't heard anything back yet...
Also reached out to SPAO

Wrote a press release but still have to distribute it...
Still haven't contacted Carleton...
Still have to create a Facebook event.
Still no promotion on the gallery's home page...

I also thought about creating a "contest" or giveaway on Instagram - something along the lines of anyone who tags someone in the post would get put into a drawing to win a limited edition framed print. Does anyone have any experience with this ?

I updated the text on my promotional page on my website and made some changes to improve SEO - anything I should consider changing ?

View attachment 324025

Oh no not another bearded flag waving Australian, someone aughta lock him up before he hurts someone....seriously.
Doesn't Canada have water canon?
Good luck with the show.

jtk · Dec 16, 2022

Vince...how about some data about your marketing? (no such thing as "marketing" without data).

Did you mostly mail to former classmates and pals?

How many postcards did you send?

What did you expound upon in your "artist talk" ?

ts1000 · Dec 17, 2022

@Paul Ozzello good job on getting many of the tech steps sorted out!
WRT ".. So, no more Latin ;-) " the tech steps

When you are in search engine console (Bing or Google) go there to see if they give you any warnings or suggestions.

For example I use RSS feeds as a 'site' map (to get the text out into the search engine).

The search engine basically wants: unique (non common) relevant text, a site map, and a bunch of references from other popular sites to yours.

(there are also smaller details I am sure that the search console would warn you about).

---
With that said, I think previous suggestions to reaching out to local stores -- is a good one. May be have them reference your event from their web sites if possible.

I would also reach out to http://www.alexluyckx.com/blog/ to see if he may have suggestions.

WRT social media, I think the way to leverage that is through 'influencers'. I have never done that. So cannot tell you more details.

Do not be afraid to reach out to other online small business that may be
a bit more 'tools/technologies' kinds of places (eg. https://kosmofoto.com/ ), rather than Art.
Often a combination of multiple interests create the needed velocity to
get business opportunities going

Glad you are doing this stuff!

jtk · Dec 17, 2022

Postcards to likely gallery visitors. Don't focus on photo because that will ignore people whose interests are "art" and "photo" doesn't relate. "Photo" would ignore most of the people who might be prepared to buy something.

Photographers don't buy photographs, they rarely care about photos by anybody other than themselves.

Pieter12 · Dec 17, 2022

jtk said:
Postcards to likely gallery visitors. Don't focus on photo because that will ignore people whose interests are "art" and "photo" doesn't relate. "Photo" would ignore most of the people who might be prepared to buy something.

Photographers don't buy photographs, they rarely care about photos by anybody other than themselves.

I disagree. Photographers might be more likely to appreciate photos than the general public, might see the value. Obviously collectors (and possibly interior designers) and even investors would be the target audience. I have bought more photos than paintings, but that is a question of available funds and wall space.

GregY · Dec 17, 2022

Pieter12 said:
I disagree. Photographers might be more likely to appreciate photos than the general public, might see the value. Obviously collectors (and possibly interior designers) and even investors would be the target audience. I have bought more photos than paintings, but that is a question of available funds and wall space.

Pieter, I can't see interior designers buying up photos of right-wing truckers outside the Parliament buildings......

jtk · Dec 17, 2022

Paul Ozzello said:
Actually, the reason I want to promote the exhibit is because it is topical. I spent several weeks photographic the trucker protests in Ottawa with a Polaroid camera and will be exhibiting some ~65 prints. It will be the 1 year "anniversary" of the event in the city where the event took place, so I am confident there is a certain part of the population that would be interested in seeing the show. My only question is how to go about advertising it. I will have the whole gallery to myself, there will be drinks etc. It's going to be a really nice event - if people show up !

This apparently would be a political, local history themed show...evidently not intended as "art."

Therefore union halls, greasy-spoon restaurants, truck repair shops, barber shops would make a LOT more sense than "art" galleries even if the polaroids are construed as "art."

jtk · Dec 17, 2022

Pieter12 said:
I disagree. Photographers might be more likely to appreciate photos than the general public, might see the value. Obviously collectors (and possibly interior designers) and even investors would be the target audience. I have bought more photos than paintings, but that is a question of available funds and wall space.

Photographers don't appreciate photos more than the general public. Photos rarely justify gallery exhibition.

How to promote a photography exhibit ?

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