OPEN STUDIO CHECKLIST – IN AN IDEAL WORLD
o PLAN WELL IN ADVANCE THE NEW WORK YOU WANT TO DO – I HAVEN’T ALWAYS DONE THIS BUT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, SO YOU ARE NOT LEFT FEELING YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE.
o THE MORE YOU DO IN ADVANCE THE BETTER CHANCE YOU WILL HAVE OF GETTING ANY FRAMED THAT YOU WANT TO – SOMETIMES LOCAL FRAMERS CAN GET BUSY IF LOTS OF ARTISTS ARE WANTING FRAMING LAST MINUTE.
o MAKE SURE YOU SCAN OR PHOTOGRAPH ALL YOUR WORK WELL BEFORE THE OPEN STUDIO STARTS IF YOU CAN.
o CORRECT SCANS AND DO COLOUR PROOFS GET THEM HOW YOU WANT THEM FOR PRINTS EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SELLING THEM AT THE OPEN STUDIO.
o ADD ITEMS TO YOUR LIST OF INVENTORY SO YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE, I USE ARTWORK ARCHIVE WHICH IS BRILLIANT, I WILL LEAVE A LINK DOWN IN THE INFORMATION BELOW. I HAVE USED THIS FOR AROUND 10 YEARS AND LOVE IT.
o MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL SUPPLIES YOU NEED – CELLO BAGS FOR PRINTS OR CARDS.
o MOUNTS
o PRINTER PAPER AND INK FOR FINE ART PRINTER AND NORMAL PRINTER.
o ORGANISE BUSINESS CARDS - THIS IS A GREAT MARKETING OPPORTUNITY.
o EMAIL SIGN UP LIST.
o LEAFLETS PRINTED FOR OTHER EVENTS YOU MAY DO, SUCH AS WORKSHOPS.
o DRINKS AVAILABLE – YOU DON’T NEED TO GO MAD BUT MAYBE A FEW BOTTLES OF WATER, I HAVE FOUND THAT DURING THE DAY PEOPLE DON’T BOTHER MUCH.
o GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME FOR PAINTINGS TO DRY BEFORE VARNISHING AND PUTTING FIXINGS ON THE BACK.
o MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD ORGANISED TO MAKE MEALS EASY AFTER THE OPEN DAYS AND ALSO EASY TO EAT SNACKS FOR BETWEEN VISITORS.
o IF YOU CAN HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER TO HELP WITH THAT OR GO ON THE TEA RUN, EVEN BETTER.
o TIDY AND CLEAN YOUR STUDIO NOT SO IT LOOKS CLINICAL BUT SO ITS FRESH AND WELCOMING.
o HAVE A SUITABLE PLAYLIST RUNNING IN BACKGROUND.
o MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BUBBLEWRAP OR SUCH LIKE TO WRAP ANY WORK SOLD.
o SMALL BAGS FOR CARDS OR FOR WAHTEVER YOUR SELLING.
o IF YOU USE A CARD READER, MAKE SURE ANY UPDATES ARE DONE AND IT IS CHARGED, FIND IT WELL IN ADVANCE SO NO LAST-MINUTE PANICK - I HAVE TWO JUST IN CASE.
o CASH BOX AND FLOAT SO PEOPLE CAN STILL BUY WITH CASH IF THEY WANT.
o MAKE SURE THERE IS CLEAR SIGNAGE, PICTURE YOURSELF TRYING TO FIND IT. I ALSO HAVE BRIGHT BALLOONS OUTSIDE.
o MAKE SURE YOU SEND INFORMATION A FEW TIMES TO YOUR EMAIL LIST AND ALSO THAT YOU ARE POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA WELL IN ADVANCE.
o HAVE PRIVATE SIGNS DISPLAYED WHERE YOU DON’T WANT THE PUBLIC TO GO. THINK ABOUT SECURITY - YOU HAVE TO ADJUST TO AREA AND SPACE WHERE YOU ARE HOLDING THE STUDIO – MAYBE YOU DO NEED SOMEONE ELSE THERE TOO?
o EMAIL PEOPLE A DAY OR TWO AFTERWARDS THANKING THEM FOR COMING AND JUST AS A REMINDER TO THEM ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE ETC