Simultaneous Submissions

I've talked about the submission process before, but organization remains a must. It can be difficult keeping track of all of the works that you have submitted to and that are in various shows, especially the more shows you enter. I like to try to have several submissions out at once and often find myself waiting to hear back from as many as ten different opportunities at any given time.

As a result, many artists can run a risk of submitting the same work to multiple opportunities, even including potentially overlapping ones. For all that it is undesirable to tie up one's best work in waiting to hear back from something, simultaneous submissions can be very bad, especially if you do not work in multiples. The act of submitting an artwork to more than one opportunity at a time can result in a lack of professionalism on behalf of yourself as an artist. Many publishers will not even consider simultaneous submissions. If the same work is accepted into two shows at once, how is it supposed to be in both places at the same time? Even if there is a decent amount of time between the two shows, what if it sells at the first?

This comes into play with solo show proposals as well, but not to the same extent. In regards to solo shows, the works submitted may not actually be exhibited and are often meant to provide an example of what you do. However, I have found it unwise to spread yourself too thin so that you cannot keep up with all of your endeavors. If you get a solo show for which you would like to make new work, you need to provide yourself adequate time to do so. If you are showing previously produced work, you will want to consider whether or not that audience has already seen it.

For all that you are unlikely to get everything that you apply for, it is good to behave as though you will so that you have ample time and resources for the things that you do get. You need to consider travel arrangements if you want/need to be present. You need to consider shipping times if works need to be shipped. You need to consider how long it will be before you hear back regarding the status of your submission. Therefore, it is wise to research opportunities before submitting to them, to ensure that they are something that you want to do and are willing to tie your work up in waiting to hear back from.

I am very conscientious of what I have submitted where and keep a spreadsheet devoted to this topic detailing where I have submitted work, when the show is (if it's a scheduled event), and what works I have submitted. This allows me to keep track of where all of my work is and to beware of simultaneous submissions while making sure that my best work is either being shown or submitted to an opportunity somewhere.