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pc1066
Posts:1
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| 02/11/2007 12:38 AM |
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| I've only recently started trying to get my work shown and so far have done so only in non-gallery space, like coffee shops. While searching the web recently I came across a site from a gallery in a nearby city requesting info from artists who would like to be considered by this gallery. The info requested was scant and I assumed they were just putting out a random call hoping to find new talent, but I was skeptical from the start. I filled out the form and a month later got a call from them to set up a time to meet. I had that meeting today and the experience was unfortunately not what I expected. Half way through the meeting, after gushing over my work, the gallery director pulls out a contract and he starts listing off all the costs I would need to cover, including printing costs for flyers and postcards, for setting up a web profile, and even for monthly rental of the wall space on which my work would be hung. I had always been unsure as to whether galleries were responsible for such costs (the space rental charge seems the most fishy) or whether the artist was, so I wasn't sure if this was kosher and I was just out of the loop. But it seems questionable to me, and frankly not a good investment - the total cost was over $500 to hang one piece for 2 months, and to have two pieces on their poorly designed website for a year - and there was 30% commission on top of that. He tried to sell these costs as getting my name out attached to a high profile gallery, but frankly the work on display was generally poor and I really couldn't imagine paying to have my work associated with that stuff.
I got the impression that most of the work on display would not make it into a gallery with even modest standards. I felt like a sixteen year old girl sitting in a modeling agency, being told she'll be the next big supermodel and then handed a list of costs for overpriced headshots, etc.
Is any aspect of this that is normal gallery procedure? Should I expect to be responsible for any costs when dealing with a gallery? I don't intend to be involved with this gallery but the experience has made me aware of my ignorance. |
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Jim
Posts:2268
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| 02/11/2007 12:45 PM |
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Thank you for posting this piece.
Your analogy to modeling was great. If there
is a way for someone to profit from someone elses
talent they'll find a way to do it. Unfortunately, unlike
you there are people out there that will fall for this scheme
and suffer the consequences. The more aware people are of
scams like this the less likely they are to fall for one.
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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All the best,
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com |
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Muckleskate
Posts:103
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| 02/21/2007 12:12 AM |
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No this is not the 'standard' gallery procedure. Before you even think of putting your work in a gallery, go there. I mean physically. It's the ONLY way you can truly judge correctly. First of all, will your type of art fit into the gallery? If it's primarily abstract art, paintings of lighthouses and flowers, no matter how well done, will not be greeted with great enthusiasm. And vice versa. Galleries are a business, they have to sell to stay in business.
Next, check out their whole procedure. Are they clean, uncluttered? How do they treat the artwork? How about potential clients? How are YOU treated? (You don't have mention why you're there, you could very well be a potential buyer.) If at all possible, talk to some of the artists who are presently hanging, Does the gallery pay commissions wthin a reasonable time? How do they return artwork that is not longer wanted? What is the commission split? A few galleries are still 60/40 but most are at least 50/50. Some of them are even going 70/30.
The gallery still has to cover rent, utilities, insurance and all the other expenses of running a business, so be prepared to cover some of your expenses, especially if you are going to be one of their featured artists. The less cut they take, the more you will be expected to help with costs of a reception (the more lavish, the more it will cost), printing up bios or tearsheets, etc. It is an expense, but it can be to your advantage to do this. If done wisely, you can have extras printed up to use in future endeavors.
By all means, be very wary of places that just want to rent wall space. That's how they make their rent, not by putting themselves out by selling your artwork. |
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Sandy
Signatures Gallery
Brookings Harbor, OR
www.signaturesgallery.com |
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Materese
Posts:123
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| 02/21/2007 9:36 AM |
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Everything Muckleskate said and more . . .
What's the reputation of the gallery? (again, go to any gallery before you consider submitting, see how they treat even you before you tell them you are an artist, be cognizant of how the place looks, etc., etc.) Owning a gallery is a high risk business, it's not uncommom for a gallery to open and then have to close within 1 to 2 years. How long have they been around?
I strongly suggest learning more about the gallery / artist relationship. If you've not been on ArtBiz.com, I'd like to recommend it. Alyson Stanfield knows her stuff - in fact tonight there's a telecon regarding the who, what, why, where and when's of gallery representation - it's either free or low cost (usually around $15 to participate) . She also has several books she recommends for educating yourself on this important step in develping as an artist. |
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Materese
http://www.ghostwoodstudio.com
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rcoomer
Posts:5
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| 04/03/2007 4:39 PM |
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I know exactly the gallery you are talking about. They have an interesting business model. They don't discuss their fees until the very end, and do so in a high pressure manor sort of like they are selling time shares.
The owner is pretty well know for his artwork, but that is pretty much the problem, the gallery is only big enough for him.
My first reaction was to say no, but I wanted to check out their business model and found it interesting. We have space in a large art center and we rent space to other artists. Not so much to make money, but to be able to afford to be in the space we have. It's much easier to do that by spreading out the costs between 5 or 6 artists, sort of like a co-op. BTW Check out the co-op almost across the street from that gallery. If I lived in the area, I would consider them.
I have work in several galleries, so I knew what they were doing wasn't the norm, but I have also been with struggling galleries that I liked and would have paid to help them survive. I wouldn't call them a fraud, but I would say you need to go in with your eyes wide open and realize what they are doing and how they work. I've spoke to quite a few of artists that have or do show there. Some do very well, most pretty much had the same opinion that I came to and ended their relationship. Realistically, if your work sells in their venue, they aren't really that expensive, but that's a big if. But their busines model doesn't allow for continued success, that should tell you something. I've got my money's worth in round about ways, so I wasn't that worried about the cost.
I was very disappointed in what they offered though and yes their website for the gallery is horrible. I went in not looking for sales, but I was expecting a little more from them marketing wise. They are hurting themselves as much as misleading artists.
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Robert Coomer
Fine Art Cave, Rural, Nature Photography
http://www.robertcoomer.com
http://www.cobegallery.com
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bjdavey
Posts:37
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| 04/06/2007 4:11 AM |
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I worked for a while at a very successful 30-year old gallery on Main Street in Scottsdale. Our artists got 50% and their only costs were for framing and shipping to the gallery. The gallery had a monthy rent of $5000 and could exhbit about 50 pieces at a time. That works out to $100 per month per piece to cover the rent. It's not cheap to run a successful gallery. That $100 didn't cover any costs of marketing, sales, utilities, phone, salaries, commissions, etc.
Still it sounds to me that your experience was with a vanity gallery as opposed to one where the owners really wanted to represent you and your work. It's a partnership to be sure if it is successful. I think you made a good decision to stay away. May I suggest if you are going to make long posts that you use carriage return (Enter button) to break up the type into more digestible sizes. |
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Reality is an illusion, albeit a persistent one - Albert Einstein |
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LMB
Posts:445
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| 04/06/2007 6:52 AM |
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All the above advice is quite good. I know personally of two Galleries that have gone out of business in my area in the last six months (I have had my art work in both at one time or another). This is a high tourist area, but seasonal. One was making its expenses, but the owner was an artist and found that running the business took away from their time to do their artwork. The other was also owned by an artist, but was not making their expenses. The going rate in this area (West Texas) is 30% to the Gallery. Being an artist is one thing, selling your artwork is a business.
Leon
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Http://www.artabus.com/leonbayless/
http://www.catchlightartgallery.com/leonbayless.htm
quand le coeur est dans un bon endroit tout est possible
when the heart is in a good place all is possible |
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Teina
Posts:1
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| 06/04/2007 6:44 AM |
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| I believe I know the gallery in question. I am an artist relatively new in getting my work 'out there'. I will have 2 paintings in this gallery for one month this summer. I questioned the practice of paying for wall space, postcards, brochure space, and web space. It remains to be seen if this gallery's advertisements for that particular month helps me. As a new artist, we often struggle finding venues to show our work and get the traffic we need to get out name out there. There is also a building with art studios in town and you can rent studio space to show your work in a once a month 'meet the artists' event. The artists pay for their studio space as well. It is also hard to get space as they are pretty booked. If anyone has any other ideas as to how 'new' artists can get their art out there, please pass it on. |
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Marian
Posts:183
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| 06/11/2007 9:57 PM |
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They aren't "one man" shows, but often local area clubs jury in their own members or sometimes they have a wider range of juried show. Most of the time if you are a member or an exhibiting member of a club, you can exhibit.
It's a beginning and it is a way to get people to know about your work. Frankly I haven't seen too many items sell in the more local shows, but in those clubs with a wider reputation, more things are sold.
Clubs do offer a way to share your work, however.. and that seems like a reachable and common goal for all of us. |
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Sometimes we paint to see more clearly or to feel more deeply.
Marian
www.marianfortunati.com
www.fortunatifineart.com |
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Llarian
Posts:44
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| 08/14/2007 11:15 AM |
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That is a vanity gallery and I would run,not walk, away from there!
First of all, honestly critique your work. Would you buy it if you saw it in a gallery or store for sale? Have any of your friends or acquaintances asked about buying anything? These are clues to see ifyou are really ready to be a pro.
As someone who has never been represented by a gallery but who has sold at lot of artwork over the years, here are some ideas for you:
1. public spaces- consider typical alternative spaces, such as restaurants, libraries, banks, office buildings, but don't forget atypical ones, such as hospitals. I have a friend that shows work in our local hospital and he gets tons of business. They take little commission, and don't care if he exhibits in alternate venues or sells through the internet or from his studio too.
2. local art clubs or guilds: many of these have smaller shows limited to local or regional artists and are easier to get accepted to than large national shows. Granted, art clubs dont have a great track record for moving tons of art, but you have to start somewhere.
3. consider having a show after hours in an alternative space, such as your bank, your doctor or dentist office, your vets office, or at your own office, for example. Even your home a friend's home can work.
4. Consider doing a "benefit" show for a charity.
5. If you paint a specific subject, get creative. I painted pets for a while, so I did a booth at horse shows, and showed my work in vet offices and tack shops.
6. You can try farmer's markets and art/craft fairs too, but make sure that you have some prints or other inexpensive things for people to buy.
7. try your local historical society if you do landscapes, your county or government buildings, etc. for any type of public art.
8. Develop a mailing list and send out newsletters every 3-4 months about you and your art to friends, family and business associates. Keep a list of all the people who have purchased from you too, including what they bought, how much they paid, etc. and keep a photo or slide of the art so you can show other potential clients.
9. If you like to paint en plein air, use it to your advantage- promote yourself with brochures and business cards, or have people sign a "guest book" |
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