First solo show...opinions needed, and a name!!

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

Hello all...
I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice/opinions on what makes a good opening night, and suggest a title for my exhibition.
I will be showing only my wildlife and nature paintings, a couple of landscapes and a couple of florals ( no surreal or nude fairies!) .
The opening is being held at 4.00 pm on a Saturday afternoon...
The main question that I am curious about is, drinks.
Do people find it acceptable to buy their own , as there is a bar on premesis, or do they expect to have the first round of drinks on me??
I recently attended an opening at the venue, where the artists didnt buy any of the drinks, they just covered food (finger food platters) there were no complaints from anyone that I spoke to, and it didnt seem to stop people from drinking.
By not providing the first round of drinks, I will potentially save up to $600.00...
I know it is obvious to save the money, but I was recently given a lecture about openings with out alcohol for free, being a waste of time.
Then ... what food do people like to nibble on??
Thanks!!

AvG · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 1912

$600 for as round of drinks? You're kidding me right? That's a lot of drinks, or very expensive drinks with you paying the retail bar prices. Since you are bringing in a crowd of people I don't think that's reasonable of the venue.
You should be able to either supply alcohol bought from say Dan Murphy's, or put a much smaller amount of money on a 'bar tab' toward agreed drinks (basic red, basic white and soft drink) and when that's gone people buy their own. $200 contribution tops.

Food is always good at openings and often overlooked. Again just basic finger food that can be nibbled one handed (they have a drink in the other hand remember). It's not a given that food and drink is supplied and that's not the main purpose of the event, but it is a nice touch and don't forget if your art is a business every cent of it is tax deductible.

gggraph

I was at a book launch this week (in a gallery) where the finger food was baby potatoes with sour cream & caviar, club sandwiches, potato chips and fairy bread. (!!) The fairy bread got the best reaction - it was a kid's picture book after all.

Drinks were supplied - normal house white, red and champagne.

What sort of venue is it?

Cheers

Grant

Stefan Maguran

Even paying $10 for corkage it's cheaper to bring your own drinks. Drinks do not guarantee sales, but certainly facilitate them.
As a title, Wendy Olsen - birds, or simply Wendy Olsen should be enough -you want them to remember your name for further reference.
$600 is a lot of dough for most people, don't know about your part of the world Smile

Good luck and keep us posted.

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

The venue is a restaraunt gallery ( The best food ever!!) it works well for display and sales, previous artists have sold a lot of work through the venue, and people do travel up just for the art.

I calculated around $7.50 per person for drinks ( If everyone by chance chose the champagne 4 glasses per $25.00 bottle for 80 people.)
This was a worst case scenario, alot of people would order coffee, tea and soft drinks as mentioned.... but not one for surprises I thought I would estimate the worst. ( and that price was discounted from the bar prices! It would probably be a couple of dollars less for red and white wine, but as all the produce is local boutique , it wont be the same as bottle shop prices... costly but nice)

Given the feedback from other people at the last opening, and that it will be at 4.00 in the afternoon on a Saturday, I might just opt for food....
food for the last opening there was antipasto platters with local cheeses and dried fruits and nuts, and chef made mini spring rolls .
All the food is made on premesis, and I feel that it contributes alot with its quality and reputation.

Guests can always stay on for dinner after the opening anyhow...

I will do a bit more planning, and researching, because it might be good to put $200 on a bar tab, and when it is gone it is gone!!

I feel a bit better with your comment Amanda about the food and drink being secondary... I have been talking to the wrong people ... who placed all emphasis on the opening being a big free party!!
I am running the art as a business , and while it is all selling at the moment, the bills are travelling in just as fast as the cheques!! So there is a budget I will need to stick to!

Grant! I like the fairy bread idea!! But maybe for my next solo in November...the fairy one!!

Thanks!!!

Any ideas for a name??!! Very Happy

Boris01 · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Western Australia

keep the receipt and claim the alcohol on tax - I LOVE claiming alcohol on tax , it feels like Im winning against the tax man for once

King Julian · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Madagascar

Yes stamp on my head and keep me posted, I like to travel.
I think you should call the exhibition, "Weny olsen, you all got drunk at my expense now buy a painting"

Stefan Maguran

I guess you've missed my post.
Wendy Olsen
Wendy Olsen - birds
Wendy Olsen - flowers and birds

What do you think?

King Julian · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Madagascar

Stefan Maguran

Ah, the charcoal and pencil is back to spice up things around here - how have you been?

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

Ha ha!!
Love the title King Julian!!

I dont know what title I will go with yet... or the drinks... but I have to admit, I would certainly be happy to buy a drink for who ever buys a painitng!!
If they buy two...They can have dinner on me aswell! Very Happy

I like drinks on the tax man too... and travel!!
Winning though.... he always seems to get the upper hand!! Laughing

As the venue is called 'The Barn' I could incorporate it into the title...
'Wendy Olsen's birds in the Barn'
Hmmm, not sure... it wont just be birds!!
Maybe... 'Nature in The Barn', an exhibition of the natural world through the art of Wendy Olsen...??? Shocked

petero · Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 142 Location: Melbourne

Wendy Olsen: Au naturel Smile

Jo Tyler · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 489 Location: Newcastle

Hi Wendy
Firstly - Congratulations, very exciting!
Food & wine at an opening may not be a given but it is expected and appreciated, considering the exhibition is in a Restaurant & Bar makes the situation different to most. If it were me I would just supply the free nibbles, you could discuss it with the Chef for what has been supplied in the past and what prices there are for different choices and then choose what you feel is right. I wouldn't put any money to the bar tab at all if it wasn't enough to cover everyone, as you said, the exhibition goers didn't seem to mind, but some might if those before them got a free drink and they didn't!
and how about...
Wendy Olsen...Nature Calls!
Wendy Olsen - The Call of Nature..from the Barn
Wendy Olsen from the Barn
Wendy Olsen in the Barn
Wendy Olsen is in da barn Very Happy

velvet · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 1655 Location: Hunter Valley

Wendy Olsen - Natural Selection

Jade

Wendy Olsen - One Stone