Fine Art Fairs

I've had a house guest for a little over week now which has made me negligent in my duties both to blogging and to pursuing my career relentlessly and doggedly without stop or consideration to others in my life...

kinda like The Voice does.

Maybe she should secretly be my heroine.

Nah.

I enjoy head-banging to a karaoke version of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' at birthday parties too much to give up socialising to stay home and write cover letters and perpetually update my CV.

Which is what I did during my duvet day today.

Instead of attending a class on the market value of ceramics followed by one on a video-installation museum I opted to stay in, keep warm and write up a fresh CV. Complete with ideas from the Christeby's staff. Cheers for that.

In the process of this I noticed an e-mail floating in my inbox...

Tis volunteering for the London International Fine Arts Fair time.

Not really the most exciting thing I can imagine, you know - working for free. But my CV could use some work experience in the art world department. Time to glean it.

The CV wasn't all that bad, just slightly tedious to write, but so it goes. It was during the cover letter I got a little stuck.

What on earth do I tell this woman I've done that makes me a worthwhile candidate?

'Uh, I go to art museums? I like paintings a lot. Let me work for you for nothing...please.'

Yes.

Perfect.

A post-modern masterpiece of covering letter genius!

Maybe not.

Instead I began to think of things that might make me a little more unique, such as my experiences at TEFAF. And even more recently, the Print Fair held at the Royal Academy. Cocker Spaniel and I went to have a networking day there a little over a week ago.

That went down a treat! Turns out I'm a bit of a memorable character. My freakishly good memory for faces served me well as I recognised not only a member or two of the staff at Christeby's, but I also saw two dealers from TEFAF there. The first one joked with me and asked when I'd be along to the gallery and told tales of how vastly different every fair he attends is and why it's so great to go to so many.

It was refreshing to relax and laugh with a gallery owner. Not that I'm a person who gets flustered easily, but being eyed up for what I can offer (or spend) does tend to make me flush, luckily Cocker Spaniel was there to help me keep my courage.

I don't think she knows how much she bolsters me.

We continued to walk through the fair and I saw Mr. XXXX XXXXXXX, the one from TEFAF. Yea, that one.

And guess who recognised me?

Oh it was grand. We chatted about British art, TEFAF, and even Raeburn. Turns out he's a big fan. Seems like things are continuing to look up as I'd be keen to intern at the gallery given half a chance.

I put my attendance at the two fairs into my cover letter for LIFAF and am hoping that the elusive work experience I so desperately need doesn't slip away. Time will tell.

In the meantime, maybe karaoke should take a backseat to job hunting, after all, I don't know many people who hire bad Kurt Cobain impersonators. And don't even get me started on the Supremes.