YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT WITH THAT?
This is a four month Boykin Spaniel at the retriever demonstrations at The South Carolina Wildlife Exhibition on Sunday.
This pup just wasn't all that sure that he wanted to pick that thing up in his mouth. He loved chasing it out when it was thrown but he clearly was deciding just what to do. He did finally pick it up and gleefully return it to his trainer.
A great number of hunting dogs were on display as well as the usual "Roadies" or wildlife artists, who were in attendance. I am usually one of those artists looking for victims, but the last two or three years have been "Slim Pickens". I am waiting either for senility or an upturn in the economy before I start on the show circuit again. Right now I am betting on senility!
It was actually fun visiting with friends and listening to them complain! I would have been right in there with them....complaining that is.....had I chosen to display. Too bad but that's all part of the business. They had snow on Friday night, the weather was still a mess on Saturday, and Sunday's are just generally slow selling days. And the economy ain't all that great or haven't you noticed? All part of the business which folks that attend don't recognize. They just want to know why prices are so high. Well if you figure in order to show, at nationally recognized show like that, a photographer has to do the following things before opening his/her door.
1--Buy the photographic equipment to start his/her career.
2--Go to wherever it is that the animal or subject he/she wants to photograph lives--photograph.
3--Pay for his/her transportation, lodging, and food.
4--Buy the computer, printer, inks, paper, and software to process the photo's he/she takes.
5--Spend the time and develop the computer skills to get a printable image.
6--Buy the mat cutter, mat boards, frames, and glass to create a framed image.
7--Spend the money to be accepted at major shows which only allows you to pay the entry fee.
8--Buy the setup for a booth and or tent (probably should include a prayer rug).
9--Pay the particular shows space rent (sometimes in addition to a percent of sales).
10-Pay for transportation, food and lodging to and at the show.
11-And finally don't count our hours or possible wages for such hours.
And then he/she can open the doors to the public and spend one, two or three days on his/her feet selling. And believe me you do have to sell.
The acid test, after spending all that time and money...... is does the stuff sell!
If not, why not?
And what is he/she going to do about it before the next show.
Please note the amount of time devoted to actually being a photographer. I think that is somewhere under number 2 above.
And this is only one aspect of the business. What am I nuts?
Very nice to be a visitor for a change!
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