Stress, Posters, Jobs, Beer etc.

And I know it's over, Still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
It's over, it's over, it's over

Have you ever tried to sell your work with little confidence, in a boiling hot room with sweat patches that resembled the geographical shape of Russia? It sounds like a nightmare, but man when you are stood surrounded by 200+ people who have turned up to an event that you birthed from the ground; all those other things feel irrelevant. So irrelevant.

So to put it in other words, although I was a stressful mess – our exhibition – Grillust etc. was a huge success. I've never seen more people shuffling around twenty business cards as they try their best not to spill their beer and also pose for a photograph. I previously had not seen 8 sets of grandparents all turn up to smile at their grandchild's work as if it was the first time they had met; and I have never, ever seen so many people get excited about OSB.

Photographing the photographer

I won't go in too far about how well it went, as honestly it's not particularly interesting writing but I will tell you what went wrong; and if you are a second year who is starting to plan their exhibition or anyone who will be in contact with the running of one I have a few bits of advice for you.

Being Art Director of said exhibition has given me lots of perspective, medium amounts of knowledge and a little ego.

But before I do, our exhibition is actually still standing until Friday 10th of June. So get yourself down to the land of trees, colour and excitement. More information right here.

It was both packed and boiling hot—what a treat!

So here are my bits of advice, warning and general information.

• If you offer free drink, people will take the piss
• People really rather like free food though, as long as it's just nibbles—nobody is here for tea.
• Business cards are important, but conversation is king
• Make sure all your branding, marketing and advertisement is clear, concise and visually similar.
• Make it exciting and give your audience something other than student work to look at.
• Don't invite anyone, invite people who you would like to see at the event
• Be selfish—it help nobody else but you'll do better off from it
• For the love of god, don't try and plan it solo.
• But make sure you do it, and you do it well.

Lines of people

Now it may be apparent by now that I bit off a bit more than I could chew with this exhibition and my grades would have been much greater if I had been selfish and and not planned this exhibition to the level I did. Sure; it still would have run and it probably would have served it's function but in my mind I don't believe it would have been anywhere near as good as it was.

So don't try and do it unless you are willing to sacrifice a lot of your time – or if you are a Grillust student, your grades – but there is something to be said for the reward of bravery and leadership.

I didn't lead an army into battle and I never won a war, but I hope that even somehow I was 10% of helping someone get a job from this event—and that is totally worth it.

p.s. if you are yet to come we are open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday until June 10th. See you there!