how would you rate artists and crafters?

Discussion in 'Fashion and Crafts' started by the_allister, Jul 3, 2006.

  1. the_allister

    the_allister Member

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    Hey i am trying to come up with a rating scale (either 4 or 5 stars) to rate vendors (really their work) from a local art fair for a review i am doing.

    i'm not really sure how to make the scale. my intention is for buy/sell booths to not even get 1 star; and for the best ranking only possible to get if the only person making the work is the artist themselves.

    do any of you have any ideas of what the criteria could be regarding the ranks inside of that?

    sorry if this seems totally lame; but i've been wracking my brains all day and i am just having trouble coming up with a scale.

    thanks for listening!
     
  2. mamaboogie

    mamaboogie anarchist

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    why not review each on their own merits rather than ranking them against each other? In your review, you could discuss their personality and people skills, their prices, marketing skills (how the booth is decorated makes a huge difference), and their products based on selection and how well they are selling (it really doesn't matter if you like their stuff or not if it isn't selling or is priced too high).
     
  3. hummblebee

    hummblebee hipstertist.

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    oohh,, be careful! Don't want to hurt any feelings! I agree, though, that buy/sell type booths don't deserve a lot of credit. Look at the uniqueness of the items in the booth. Durability, usefullness, and inovation are good too. Are seams serged? Is that particular piece not only really cool, but FUNCTIONAL in some way too?

    What kind of artists will be there?
     
  4. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    what's the audience of the review? local paper, blog, for the show's jury to use next year to weed out applications?

    I'd look at creativity of product, and pressentation as well as ease of navagation of the booth. Next customer friendliness. Does a customer feel welcome and invited or does it feel like a desparate carnival barker (too sales-oriented and obvious about it) or a hands-off gallery?
    anyone who can have a demo or static display of how the craft is done gets points to me because I know how difficult that is to arrange and transport.
    imports/ resale booths (aside from artist co-ops) should be rated together on uniqueness of items (oh boy, another shop reselling Mideast Manufacturing's crappy instruments and nag champa...yawn) and how well the sales folks know the stuff.

    then there is the art itself. Art/craft fairs often have little real art, but more likely artisan level crafts. that's market dictated and not a comment on a particular show or artist.

    with this, I'd highlight some standout work and a character or two and let it go.
    Don't bother to tell people what isn't worth their time. tell em what to see instead.
     
  5. cerridwen

    cerridwen in stitches

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    Um, I don't understand why a booth that sells things would only get one star... would it be because what they're selling isn't what they made, or is it because they're somehow selling out because they're selling what they made? I don't get it, sorry...

    I suppose you can base your criteria on originality, appeal and demand. If their booth is constantly crowded with costumers, then clearly they're selling a good product so the higher the star rating. If what they're selling is original (compared to what you normally see on the market or original to the show) then extra credit should be alloted to that too. Appeal could be how they display their booth, the interaction you have with the artist, etc.

    Within this alone you can create 5 categories, say, and allot one star per category, and how they score based on this is whether or not they get 5 stars or not... Maybe....
     
  6. RetroGroove_Grrl

    RetroGroove_Grrl I'm a big girl now

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    I dont think its fair to give buyer sellers a shit rating, what if theyre selling local produce, that means your downgrading them just because they could be there to sell their wares.
     
  7. organic.psychonaut

    organic.psychonaut Member

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    i'd say give everyone at least 3 stars. :D
     
  8. the_allister

    the_allister Member

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    this is for a local paper.

    ya, i definately don't want to offend anyone- i know how much blood, sweat and tears are poured into this! :) it's not so much my intention to rate artists/their wares against eachother; more for organizational reasons; i'm still working out what i'm going to do; i'm not exactly sure.

    as for buy/sell; this is for the reviewing of artists/their wares. a buy/seller who imports clothes from a third world country shouldn't really be compared to artists who make and sell their own.

    i'm not saying there isn't room for them in general; just not pertaining to my article.

    i hope i didn't come off as a jerk.
     
  9. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    trust me, no matter what you write SOMEONE will complain.
    I've got a decade of news under my belt, and no article, no matter how fluffy, is ever going to make everyone happy.

    One way around it is to rate originals/ artisan items(including a sister selling another sister's items) in one section and imports /commercial resale in another.
     
  10. MikeE

    MikeE Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

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    Do you need to mention everyone?
    and/or rather than a numerical rating, perhaps noting what is special about each artist?
     
  11. lola78

    lola78 Member

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    crafters are like rainbows, how do you compare colors?
     
  12. hummblebee

    hummblebee hipstertist.

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    Rainbows. I hate those things, you know. You'll just be sitting there, minding your own business, and they'll come marching in, and crawl up your leg, and start biting the inside of your ass, and you'll be all like, 'Hey. Get out of my ass you stupid rainbows.'
    ;)
    :p
    :D
     
  13. MattInVegas

    MattInVegas John Denver Mega-Fan

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    I don't think I 'could' rate between my favorite leather tooler and my favorite

    beadworker. You get the idea.
    But, Knowledge of the trade should be worth points.
     
  14. cerridwen

    cerridwen in stitches

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    True that. Some folks will vent about anything.


    I was just thinking that. Why not write and rate only the artists and not bother about the sellers?
     
  15. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    I'm guessing this is a view of the audience piece, and it's the writer's job to get through the chaff.
    I appreciate guides. Don't always follow them, but appreciate them.
    If you have written the piece could we see it?
     
  16. the_allister

    the_allister Member

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    hey everyone thanks for the input. as soon as i've finished the reviews up i will post them on here for you all to see :)
     
  17. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    man, you have one slow deadline.
    Lucky bastard.... :)
     
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