the gallery that wanted me to frame everything myself, what's your worst "extra cost" surprise?
first gallery show I ever did, lovely space, grand people, and then the contract lands and buried in it, "artist responsible for all framing." Not just the work, every single frame, to their spec. Cost me nearly a grand before I'd sold a thing. I was young and chuffed to be there so I just said grand and ate it. Wouldn't do that now.
What's the one that got you? The hidden cost, the surprise expense, the thing they slid into the small print that you only spotted after you'd signed. I know someone's got a better one than mine.
3
4commentsSaveFollow threadShare
oh man, the framing thing got me too but in a different way, a gallery wanted me to use specific archival frames from their "preferred supplier" which was basically their mate who charged triple. i was so excited i just nodded along like an idiot.
my worst one though was the opening night they expected ME to cover the catering for. like... 80 people, wine, little food things. i was 24 and broke and already paying for materials. i did it because i was terrified of looking unprofessional. ended up making like £60 from the whole show.
the whole thing left such a bad taste honestly. still makes me angry thinking about it. these places bank on us being too grateful to push back. glad you wouldn't take that now, none of us should.
ah sure the catering one is a new low altogether. they really looked at a broke 24-year-old and said "you're feeding eighty people, best of luck." the cheek of it. i'd have told them i'd bring a bag of crisps and a bottle of own-brand lemonade and call it a day.
the "preferred supplier" thing boils my blood too. that's not a framing requirement, that's your mate's side hustle dressed up as a professional standard. you wonder how many young artists they've rinsed that way. glad you got out the far side of it anyway. there's no shame in saying no to that carry-on, it took me years to learn it.