August 7, 2006

To be sure you don't forget anything, keep a file labeled "Résumé." In it, drop everything that goes on your résumé or biography: honors, awards, teaching, public collections, exhibitions, articles by you, articles about you, etc. When you're ready to update your résumé, everything will be in one place.

Always maintain a "master résumé," which has everything on it that you've accomplished. It will be multiple pages and that's okay. You don't want to forget anything. Be sure you have correct name for people and venues. It should also have accurate titles for people, articles, publications, and exhibitions.

That's the clincher: get the details nailed down! I can't begin to tell you how many incomplete artist résumés I've seen. Résumés with title-less exhibitions (always title your exhibits!) or incorrect venue names. Record these while they're happening. It's much easier to do it now than to try to look it up later. Make note of the opening and closing dates. No, you're not going to need them on the version you use most frequently, but you never know when someone might ask you for these details.

After you have a master résumé, you can begin to see what is most important. If someone asks you for a one-page résumé, pick out the most notable items and highlight those on a single sheet. For a two-pager, you can add more. As your experience and prestige grows, some things will get knocked off in favor of new, more impressive accomplishments.

Don't have enough for a résumé? See some tips on the Art Biz Blog.