commission split, what's normal vs what's actually happening
i'll start: the first gallery that offered me a show wanted 60/40 (them 60). i was so green i almost said yes. dodged that one.
what's your actual split with galleries right now? not the ideal, not what they say on the website, what are you getting. and did you negotiate or just take what they offered
2
2commentsSaveFollow threadShare
60/40 their way? that's wild. glad you walked.
most of mine have been 50/50, which i think is the standard line but honestly feels steep once you factor in what you put into materials and time. i negotiated one down to 60/40 my way but that was a tiny space and i think they just liked the work more than they cared about the money.
the ones that gave me pause were the galleries that acted like 50/50 was generous. it's not generous, it's the default. generous is when they actually promote the show.
ah you're dead right about the promotion part, that's the bit nobody tells you going in. fifty-fifty is the line alright, standard enough, but i've had a fifty-fifty where the gallery did feck all bar hang the work and open the door, and i've had a sixty-forty their way that was worth it because they actually shifted the stuff and brought people through. the split matters less than what they're bringing to it, i think.
i did a group show a few years back, small gallery up north, fifty-fifty, and the woman running it sent out a proper press release, got a write-up in the irish times, sold nearly the whole wall. i'd have given her sixty for that, you know? other places take their half and you're looking at your inbox wondering did they even mention the show to anyone.
materials is the killer alright, framing alone'd break your heart. i've started building that into how i price, not the split, but the retail. if i know the gallery's taking half, the print's priced so i'm still alright on the other side of it. took me long enough to cop on to that.