the gallery that strung you along, how long did you wait it out?
had a gallery "really excited" about my work for almost eight months. kept saying we're putting together a show for next season, hang tight. never happened. i finally just stopped emailing them and walked away. still not sure if i gave up too early or way too late.
what's the longest a gallery ever kept you dangling? and at what point did you cut it loose?
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Eight months is brutal, but I think you read it right in the end. I had a gallery keep me warm for about a year once. Always the same song: next season, we're just waiting on the board, hang in there. The moment I stopped reaching out, so did they. That told me everything.
The thing is, "excited" is cheap. Excitement that doesn't move toward a date, a contract, a commitment, that's not excitement, that's a holding pattern. They keep you on the shelf in case something better doesn't come along. It costs them nothing.
I don't think you gave up too early. I think you gave up at exactly the right time, which is the moment you noticed you were the one doing all the carrying. A gallery that wants your work doesn't leave you waiting eight months to find out. Walking away quietly was the right move too. No drama, just gone. Let them wonder.
"excited" is cheap, yeah. that's the part that got me too. it's flattering until you realize it's doing all the work a contract should be doing.
a year though. oof. "waiting on the board", the board never meets, does it. i think that's what finally broke the spell for me, the day i realized they'd never actually said anything. just a lot of warm noise.
you're probably right about giving up at the right time. doesn't feel like it yet though. still a little mad at myself for the eight months, honestly. like i should've known sooner.