thesis show costs

now that it's all over, i thought it might be helpful to make a "shopping list" for the semester you're having your BFA thesis show. here's everything i bought:

1 box of 25 sheets of 17x22" epson ultra premium photo paper luster--$73.56 (denver pro photo)
1 test/spare frame and 10 frames, 22x28", white wood, plexiglas, hanging hardware, and shipping--$307.59 (amazon.com--craig frames inc.)
11 sheets 32x40" crescent board--$91.12 (meininger)
11 windows cut in mat board--$29.66 (frame de art)
photo corners--$21.09 (meininger)
250 postcards, uploaded photo front, uploaded photo back, and shipping--$51.71 (vistaprint)
avery mailing labels--$13.45 (office max)
100 postcard stamps--$29.00
avery CD labels--$4.86 (walmart)

$622.04 TOTAL

i think it's smart to have about a $100 buffer, too, in case things don't work out the way you thought they would, you need to rush order something, or, like me, you think you can cut mats well but actually cannot and need to buy 11 more sheets of mat board. for that last reason, i absolutely recommend having frame de art on broadway in englewood cut your mats if you have any doubt whatsoever in your skills. frame de art charges $2.50 per window, any size. they have a computer mat cutter so the beveled edges look perfect and they are such a great, small, local company. their competitor, fastframe of lodo, charges $8 per window.
also keep in mind that since the group of graduating BFA candidates was so small this year, i was able to have ten pieces in the show but, obviously, you'll have to spend less if you're presenting less pieces.
another note--to get lower prices on vistaprint postcards, google "vistaprint postcards" as opposed to searching their site.
(if you have any questions about specifics here, feel free to email me.)

thanks for a great semester. i really enjoyed looking at and talking about everyone's images, and i think all the work in the show looked great. good luck! :)