Setting up an exhibition

I am going to set up my first exhibition.  When thinking about doing this a number of questions come to mind;

• Do I do it myself or do I join someone else’s?
• What kind of exhibition do I want?
• Who else should be involved?
• Where do I want it?
• When should it be?
• Should I actually look to sell anything?

The only thing I am sure of at the moment is that other people should exhibit along with me.  This is both because I am not sure I have enough work to show and also (and more significantly) this being my first exhibition I am much too self-conscious to go it alone. 
So today I am going to think about the following question: What kind of exhibition do I want?
It seems to me there are the following types:

1. The Café;
2. The Student;
3. The Amateur;
4. The Semi Pro;
5. The Group;
6. The Trendy;
7. The Kooky; and
8. The Pop-up.

1. The Café
This is the easiest in many ways and just consists of persuading a café to put your and others work up for a bit and having a semi-official launch day where you sit around hopefully under your work while people drift in and out. 
2. The Student
This is not really about selling the work but more about showing people what you can do.  Often in a sparse white space with only one or two pieces per artist.  There is a degree of earnestness about it and often ornate, but barely legible business cards to take.  The artist themselves will often not be in attendance and if they are, they will be amazed to find that you, a non-family member, have come to the exhibition.  The room will be sparse and probably white. The images on the top right is a perfect example and is from a recent exhibition at Central Saint Martins
3. The Amateur
The aim of the exhibition is not to sell but just to show off.  The best example of these I ever went to was at the Gallery behind the library on Stoke Newington Church Street.  The art was quite good and when enquired of the artist how much one piece was she gave me an arch look and said “I don’t know really, I wasn’t thinking of selling and isn’t it a bit big?”   I think I had committed some kind of faux pas by attending in the first place without a previous formal introduction.
4. The Semi Pro
Lots of booze, lots of people you know with the possibility of passing strangers.  The aim here is to sell but mainly just to exhibit.  Much excitement greats a sale.  The hope here is not so much sales but that you will be discovered. It probably only lasts a couple of days.
5. The Group.
There must be at least 4 artists, preferably in a space that is slightly too small for them.  The artist hovers hungrily near their work, trying almost by shear will to get you to come over.  If you do by something the person who sells it to you will inevitably be not the artist but a friend covering because Jocasta has just popped out, or more embarrassingly, one of the other artists whose work you have spurned.
6. The Trendy
Lots of pieces, at least two artists, probably in a basement or bar with music, drink, djs and possibly poetry or dance or heavens preserve us, video art.  The music will be obscure and prosaic and there will be at least one man there with improbable hair.  It will be fun but you won’t sell much and no one serious will come.
7. The Kooky
A bit like the trendy but with quieter music both in terms of volume and genre.  The venue will also be somewhere improbable like a dress shop or a house boat.  Allot of people who said they will come won’t just because they can’t find it.
8. The Pop-up
You just role up somewhere and set up your stuff in a hastily arranged display.  The key here is the geographical setting.  You can either go for Brompton Road or Shoreditch.  Either way it will rain and it will be a desperate and lonely time.
 
I think I will go for the Semi Pro.