Zapplications

 I just got back from a meeting in Florida with a promoter of a show I did and some people who represent Zapplication.  I didn’t get any names, and probably shouldn’t use them anyhow.  I just want to write some points from the meeting here, to help craftspeople coming to grips with zapplications.

1. A lot more people apply to zapplication shows because they don’t have top pay for the booth with the application.

2.  You still need good slides.  Well lit, etc.  Digital photos are more dynamic. Zapp digital projection is 3.5 feet by 4 feet. Images on the jurors screen are only for putting in scores.

3.  Booth slides are still tie breakers. No booth tops or canopies in slides. When I say slides I mean digital files. Booth slides are used to show professionalism, and also size of work.

4.  The promoter said they saw 840 zapplications in one 9-5 day, with a half hour for lunch.

5.  When the show went to zapplication, they went from 500 applications to 840. So the show had 68% new artists from 20 states and three countries.

6.  Jurors can zoom in and any juror can ask to.  7 seconds is enough to rate an art photo.

7.  25 word description is enough.

8.  One item in image, no clutter.  Full size.

9.  Apple screens are brighter, so your images are dimmer on pc screens (I disagree with this).

10.  Jurors look at slides closest to them first, then left, then right.

11.  Jurors have three choices, yes, no, and maybe. They may do several rounds, weeding out half of the applicants the first round.

 Here are some pros and cons about zapplications.

 Pros:

1. Easy to apply, takes less time to apply. 

2. No booth fee needed with application.

3. Can take pics with a digial camera,

4. No extra slides needed!

5. Can apply any time of day from anywhere.

6. You learn about fairs you didn’t know about.

7. One short description, not lots of descriptions.

 Cons:

1. More than the usual amount of applications, more competition to get in.

2. Have to learn how to digitally resize a slide or digital image.

3. Up against better slides.

4. Have to have a credit or debit card.

5. Have to buy Photoshop Elements and digital camera (or hire it out).

6. Have to have email.

7. Not all shows are zapplication, so still need slides (send digital images to slides.com)

 I hope this has helped you to understand zapplications better.  Go to zapplication.org for more information.

by Kitty Piper