I've been wait-listed for two shows on Zapp ... I feel that jewelry makers are at a disadvantage because there are so many, and if a show promoter is worth his salt, he's limiting how many jewelry people he has.
I know it's also the photos, which I take myself and aren't half bad, but the graded background is a great idea ... I have one, just tend to use the white or black end, not the middle.
Thanks for this informative thread. If you want more information about shows, vendors opinions & experience, and promoters views, try joining the National Association of Independent Artists. Their forum is members only, but the information I've obtained there has been very valuable.
http://www.naia-artists.org/
Nolly