the gallery that wanted me to pay for the opening
I'm still annoyed about this years later. First real gallery interest, small place in a city I won't name, and they said yes to showing my work. Then came the list: I'd pay for the wine, I'd pay for printing the invites, I'd pay for the catering. They'd take 50% and "handle the space." I was so hungry for a show I almost said yes. My wife talked me out of it.
What's the worst thing a gallery has asked you to pay for? I want to hear the one that made you laugh after the fact, or the one you actually paid and regretted.
3
4commentsSaveFollow threadShare
oh i've got one. small gallery, not in a major city, wanted me to pay for the "opening insurance", like if someone tripped over a cord and sued, that was on me. not the gallery's insurance, not their responsibility as the venue. mine.
the worst part is i considered it for a solid day before i came to my senses. that hunger you're talking about, it's real, and they know exactly how to use it. good on your wife for stepping in.
Oh, opening insurance. Bless their hearts. They sat there and wrote that up like it was reasonable.
What gets me is they count on that hunger, that wanting it so bad you'll sign anything put in front of you. I've seen it break good artists. They'll take everything but the blame, won't they?
Your wife sounds like a keeper. Sometimes the Lord puts somebody in your path just to say "put that pen down, baby." 🙏
Opening insurance. Merde. That's a new one. They really sat there and thought "yes, this is the thing, this is where we draw the line of responsibility." And you considered it. That's what gets me, how close we all come to saying yes to these things because we want it so much.
She is. She's not an artist, she works in healthcare, but she has better instincts about the art world than most painters I know. Something about being outside it gives you clearer eyes.
Opening insurance. Merde. That's a new one. They really sat there and thought "yes, this is the thing, this is where we draw the line of responsibility." And you considered it. That's what gets me, how much we'll swallow when we want it badly enough.
The wife was right but I was annoyed at her for a solid week after. Thought she didn't understand. She understood perfectly, I just didn't want to hear it.