The new seasons opening at The Riverside Cafe.

Ok, What did I just do????  I am not to sure if this is working?...............so if its not completely obvious to you yet, I am new to this blogging business!
I have already spent near an hour trying to figure out how to use this site and it hasn't been easy.
I decided it would be good to set up a blog ages ago but in true Bonnie Coad fashion have put it off for............about six months. I am home from work today, sadly struck down by a terrible case of MAN FLU that is is currently going around and thought that now would be a good time to set up a blog. I thought it would be an easy and stress free exercise that I could undertake in my fragile state, lol, silly me! If I hadn't come so far already I would have canned this in a fit of "oh sniff, cough, sneeze! I cant be bothered!!!
But at last I have managed to work my way through what seems like a mine field of tabs, suggestions, options and REQUIRED FIELDS.

Soooooo............... what am I blogging about?
It may appear that I am actually moaning and bitching about setting up my blog page (well I am...................I'm sick, I feel like moaning!)
But my original intention was to follow the steps taken over the next four weeks or so until the opening of my next Riverside Cafe exhibition. I don't know how many of you will be interested in this but I though it would be a worth while exercise. I myself would find the process other artists go through interesting and informative. I have had quite a few exhibitions but still feel at times as though I am stumbling about in the dark. Mostly when using a totally new venue...... it can be a bit like starting a new job, a bit intimidating at best!
I have learned all I know mostly through trial and error. Luckily I have a "Oh hell! I will just wing it! How hard can it be?" sort of out look on life and have never been to scared to give things a go.
So here goes............

A great big THANK YOU! to the wonderful folks at Riverside Cafe for making me House Artist in 2009.
Here's a plug for them, check it out if you are in the Region, they make the best food!!!!
http://www.riverside-cafe.co.nz/riverside-cafe.html
This October I will be kicking off another new seasons launch. Opening night the 8th, 6.30pm to 8.30pm. All welcome!!
The Cafe officially opened its doors, or rather kitchens, again on September the 1st and my art from last season is currently still adorning the walls. This will all come down on October the 8th to be replaced by aprox 15 new art works. This number depends largely on whether I get my A into G and finish a few pieces that are in various stages of "PROGRESS"  I am one of those weird artists who works really well under pressure and I am quite often finishing work very close to my exhibition dates. Its not unusual for me to start a new piece on a whim, way to late and then work tirelessly all hours of the day and night to get it finished in time. (Needless to say- I am a bit disorganised!!)  This approach is not the best because it can make producing catalogues and flyers etc a bit hit and miss. When your doing your own thing you can keep it quite relaxed but Gallery's and agents might find this sort of thing a bit annoying at times.
I used Vista Print to create my own invitations, catalogues, promotional banners, and a few other bits and bobs. I also brought a few books of stamps and envelopes for posting out invites. My total bill for advertising my exhibition is $100.
I have learned the hard way that you are better off spending a bit of money on advertising and creating a more professional impression than just trying to make do with "As cheaply as possible" or "I just cant afford it!!"
Vista Print do bombard you with the most annoying e-mails but once you learn your way around their site they have some very good deals and often offer their products for free. They are well worth checking out.
There are lots of sites you can find on the internet that offer printing options and if money is no issue there is always the local print services too, its good to support local business and if you don't want to spend hours and hours uploading and arranging your own designs this may be a better option for you. I am limited by budget too designing my own. But note!! The first time I ever did it I missed a typo and the whole lot of invites I had ordered where useless. I learned a very valuable lesson "Get Google Chrome" or any other spell checker if you haven't already!!!
The opportunity's for self promotion via the internet are endless and really can be broken down into two simple groups. Sites that are local to your event and sites that are easy to use. I have wasted countless hours over the years submitting events to websites that where difficult and time consuming to use and probably didn't get much traffic anyway. Over the next few weeks I will post links to the sites I find the easiest to use.

The Face Book Event page is great! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239481339421163

Most of you will have already seen and used one. They are a very valuable tool for free exposure and promotion and its nice being able to actively interact with friends and people that are going to come, cant come or are thinking about coming!! There are also countless websites that offer free event listings and of course it makes sense to spend a bit of time on Google searching for local and national sites that you can use.
Here is a link to my free event listing on a Nelson information site run by the Nelson/Tasman council  http://itson.co.nz/2011/2877-take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side
The Big Idea is a great site that is very easy to use, it has an Auckland focus but every little bit helps and you can maintain a profile and gallery for free. If your show is based in Auckland they have an option to suggest it to the editor for publishing on the home page. Also once you set up your event you can see at the bottom of your event listing how many views it has had, but be aware, each time you look at the page is also part of that count :)
http://www.thebigidea.co.nz/connect/events/2011/oct/91667-take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side
So, there we have a brief out line of a few of the steps I have taken so far................. I am going to have to sign off now as I am quite sure I am dieing.................. well, maybe just need a sleep, sick sick sick!!!
I will sign in again soon (day or so) with a few words on approaching the local media, invitations and anything else that pops into my head.

Disclaimer!! All information listed in this or any following blogs is meant only as "Helpful advise"  :)

Please don't hesitate to comment if you have anything at all that you want to add or think would be a useful observation or addition here. This blog is meant to be all about helping artists to stumble through that no man's land of self promotion, exhibiting, showing etc.............. I'm certainly no expert, I am learning all the time and any useful information that costs you nothing is priceless!!!