Promoting your event 201

Here are some ideas gathered from other artists/ makers/ research, to help you promote your event.

Talk to the other venues on your route to see how you can support each other: joint PR / joint or staggered private views / guiding visitors to each others’ venues/ sharing brochure distribution to local businesses.

Have the entrance to your studio clearly sign-posted from all directions and make sure your neighbours don’t object to signage.
Signs placed on roadside verges or pavements can be removed by the Roads Department.
Please remove your signs after the event. 

Remember that many visitors expect to see an operational work space, rather than a hanging gallery – they can get that experience elsewhere. Visitors want to buy your ‘story’; to see your working environment, to see work in progress, to find out about you. Have sketchbooks available and be able to explain work processes.

If you are sharing a studio, make sure that the other artists or makers can describe your work on your behalf when you’re not there.

Do not undercut gallery prices. Negotiate with your gallery to show different styles of work and offer to direct visitors to the gallery and vice versa. “Artists & Illustrators” magazine advise that older or unframed pieces could be sold at a discount. Again, negotiate with your gallery. Otherwise, the only acceptable discount is the VAT amount.

Show work in the same style as the image in the brochure, otherwise audiences can be disappointed.

Offer other things for visitors to do, e.g. Look round your garden / refreshments/ have a go at making.

Prepare your marketing material in advance, e.g. clearly visible price lists, biography, artist’s statement, business cards and postcards. People like to get in touch after the event.

If you don’t use social media already, can somebody help you set up a blog or facebook page?. This is proving to be very effective for those taking the time to use them

For more advice on marketing and social media, go to www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk/website and click on ‘Information’.

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FEEDBACK Information is vital if we are to continue to be able to apply for grant-aid in the future. Also, we need to know that we are spending your membership fees effectively.

Please ask every visitor to fill in their contact details on the prize draw forms provided, unless they have done this in another venue.
If you prefer to keep your own visitor comments book instead, please ask visitors to indicate if they wish to be entered in the prize draw and forward us their contact details.

Please record how many visitors you have each day.

You will be emailed a Member’s Evaluation survey - please return promptly after the event.

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A few dates for your diary where you will get the chance to chat to other members :

POS launch event at Lochleven Community Centre, Kinross, Wednesday 24th Aug at 7pm.

Taster Exhibition at The Barn Gallery at The Bield at Blackruthven from Wed 31st Aug.

The Red Route are having a gathering for members and friends at The Big Shed, Tombreck nr Kenmore (venue 103) on Sat 20th Aug 6.30 - 9.30 pm - contact Georgia Crook at Cartshed Studio for more details.


... and finally, we are still making arrangements for a marketing day in October, free to all POS members. Details to follow very soon.