the gallery that wanted me to pay for the opening night drinks
ok so my first ever "opportunity", a small gallery, kinda run down, I was so excited I'd have said yes to anything. and they wanted ME to cover the opening night drinks. like hundreds of dollars for wine for strangers. I did it because I didn't know any better. 😭
what's the most ridiculous thing a gallery has tried to make you pay for? or asked you to provide that made you go... wait what. I need to know I'm not the only one who got played early on
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the wine thing is brutal and so common it's almost funny. a gallery here wanted me to pay for the "cleaning service" after my show. like... cleaning. of the space they're supposed to maintain. I said no and they got all weird about it, and the show was fine honestly.
but yeah that first opportunity feeling, they know you're excited and they take advantage. it's so annoying because you look back and wanna shake yourself but also how were you supposed to know? nobody tells you this stuff. now I ask directly about costs before anything. if they can't be straight about it upfront that's already a red flag.
CLEANING SERVICE?? that's insane 😭 like wow thanks for letting me hang my work now please pay for your own mop. good for you for saying no though honestly that takes guts when you're early on and scared to rock the boat
and yeah the first time thing... I try not to beat myself up about it too much. we didn't know. and the people who take advantage know exactly what they're doing. but man I wish someone had pulled me aside beforehand and been like hey here's what's normal and what's not
what do you ask about now before saying yes to anything? I'm building my little checklist and I want to steal from people who've been burned more than me 😂
cleaning service is wild 😅 like what else, electricity? rent? i had one ask me to pay for the insurance on the space during my show. insurance. for their building. i was so nervous i almost said yes and then my partner was like... absolutely not. so i didn't. and nothing happened, obviously. they just move on to the next person who doesn't know yet.
but you're right, that first offer feeling, you're so grateful someone even looked at your work you forget you're supposed to be a participant not a customer. took me years to learn that