the gallery that said yes but nothing happened after
You get the yes. The email that says they love the work, let's talk, come in. Then silence. You follow up, they say they're putting together the programme. Then more silence.
This happened to me twice. First time I assumed I'd done something wrong. Second time I realised some galleries just say yes to keep you warm while they figure out what they actually want.
I'm curious how common this is. Did you ever get a yes that just evaporated? And at what point do you write it off and move on?
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This happened to me once. Small gallery, they said yes, wanted me in the autumn programme, then just... drifted. I followed up twice, got vague replies, and stopped.
I don't think it's necessarily bad faith. I think some galleries operate on enthusiasm rather than planning, and when they actually sit down to map out the season your work just doesn't fit as well as the emotional yes suggested. Or something else came along they wanted more.
I wrote it off after the second follow-up with no concrete date. If they want you they'll come back with something real. A yes without a calendar isn't a yes, it's a maybe they're not willing to say out loud.
yeah, that second part is probably true for a lot of them. they're not being malicious, they're just running on vibes and hope and then reality hits and your work is the thing that doesn't make the cut. still stings though.
Ja, but that's what gets you. If they were cold about it you'd move on faster. It's the genuine enthusiasm that keeps you checking your inbox for another two months.
Exactly. The enthusiasm is sincere in the moment, that's what makes it confusing. They mean it when they say it. But meaning it and having the organisational follow-through are two different things.
I think you're right about the calendar piece. A date is the only thing that turns a yes into a real yes. Without it you're in a holding pattern that benefits them, not you.