In less than two weeks we’ll open the doors to The Edge Gallery for the first time.  I’m excited to finally have a retail space in which to display my work but I’m also looking forward to using the gallery to host events such as mini-workshops, slideshows and presentations.  This is where you come in: I’m looking for photographers who have something they’re dying to share.  Maybe you’re releasing a new book, or you’re working on an exciting project, or you just want to help others learn a few tricks for making better photographs.  Perhaps you just returned from a month of trekking in Patagonia or photographing grizzlies in Alaska and you’ve got an interesting story to tell.  Whatever it is, I’m all ears.

The tourist season in Moab runs from March through October, occasionally even reaching into November.  I would like to offer an event once a month in-season, although I’m getting started too late to host anything in March or April of this year.  March through June and September through November sees primarily domestic (American) tourists.  Europeans and Asians flock here in June through early September.

Here’s how it works:

All events are free to the general public.  I’ll promote them in the local publications, at the gallery, on my website and blog, through social media and in my e-newsletter.  I provide the space and all necessary furniture, a projector and screen (laptop too, if needed) and light refreshments on the evening of the event.  You provide the entertainment.

What’s in it for you:

I’m not gonna lie – I can’t pay you.  Sorry, just had to get that out of the way and I wanted to be as blunt as possible so as to avoid any misunderstanding.  I’ll probably buy you a coffee, a beer or maybe even lunch, though. You are encouraged to bring copies of your new book, greeting cards, matted prints, calendars, business cards, brochures, etc. on the night of the event as you will have a place to display them.  You keep 100% of the profits on all of your sales.  I also encourage you to promote your products and services before, during and after the event – so long as you don’t sound like an infomercial the entire time.  Importantly, you’ll gain exposure to a highly engaged audience.

What’s in it for me:

One word: traffic. Your amazing presentation will bring people into the gallery who may not otherwise have paid us a visit.  That’s it.

Additional details:

I’m not interested in hosting an event that is politically motivated.  I’ve got to tread the middle ground as I am running a business and it makes no sense at all to alienate or offend a segment of the population.  As we all do, I have my own political and environmental beliefs but I choose to keep them private for the aforementioned reasons.

I expect that most topics will be rooted in photography but if you’ve got something unrelated and interesting to present, I’d like to hear from you.

If you plan to bring items to sell please also be prepared to handle all payments whether they be cash, check or charge.  Square is a brilliant way to accept credit cards without the hassle and expense of a merchant account.

Serious inquiries only, please.  No flakes. If we schedule an event and I go through all the trouble to market and prepare for it only to have you back out at the last minute because your fingernail hurts, it’s gonna suck for everyone involved.  Don’t be that guy (or girl).

What to do next:

Email me your proposal.  Let me know what you’d like to present and when.  As of this post I’ve got every month available except October. I look forward to hearing your ideas!