The gallery that offered representation but wanted us to pay for the framing
just got offered representation from a gallery that i've admired for ages. feels huge. but then they hit me with the 'artist pays for framing' clause. i've never encountered that. what's the weirdest or most surprising thing you've been asked to pay for by a gallery, or a condition that just made you go 'huh?' mine's the framing, obvs. feels like a bit of a red flag, no?
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Framing's not the reddest flag in the world, some smaller galleries genuinely can't front it and it's been a negotiation point for decades. But it tells you something about where you sit in their priorities. The question I'd ask is: what else are they expecting you to absorb? Shipping, opening drinks, the postcards, their cut on sales you bring in yourself. The framing thing alone I'd probably eat if I really wanted the space. But I'd want to see the whole list before I said yes.
yeah, that's fair. i think i'm just wary because it came out of nowhere, they were so glowing about everything else and then that landed and it just... shifted the tone. makes me wonder what else they'd slide in later.
they haven't mentioned shipping or opening costs yet. you're right, i need to see the full picture before i decide. did you ever walk away from one over something like that?