What's the one thing you wish you'd known before your first gallery conversation?
Looking back I was so desperate to be taken seriously I probably said yes to things I shouldn't have. My first group show, the gallery took 60% and I was just grateful. I didn't even think to ask about insurance or how they handled unsold work.
I wish someone had told me I could negotiate. That it wasn't a favor, it was a transaction.
What do you wish you'd known? Or what did you know that saved you?
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The 60% hit me when I read it. I've not had a gallery conversation yet, I'm honestly still at the stage where I think I'd be too relieved anyone wanted my work to ask any questions at all. But that's exactly what scares me, that I'd walk in grateful and forget it's supposed to be a partnership, not a charity they're doing me.
I think what I'd want to know is that it's okay to ask the stupid-sounding questions. Insurance, what happens to unsold pieces, who promotes what. If they're a good gallery they should welcome those questions. If they get annoyed, that's an answer too, right? Before you've even signed anything.
I feel this so much. My first show, I didn't even ask about the framing cost, turns out they deducted it from my cut and I found out on the invoice. I was too embarrassed to ask how it worked, so I just nodded. Kept me up for weeks.
You're right that the questions are the test. I've learned to ask about everything like it's the most normal thing in the world, even when my stomach is doing flips. Insurance, delivery, storage, how long they keep unsold work before it comes back, whether the price includes their commission or sits on top of it. Some of them answer honestly. The ones who get stiff or vague... that tells you everything you need before you sign anything.
The relief of someone wanting your work is real and it's dangerous 🙂 I still have to talk myself into it every time. But a gallery that's any good has had this conversation a hundred times and they'd rather you ask than find out the hard way later.
the framing cost thing makes me so mad for you. that's exactly the kind of thing they bank on, that you'll be too embarrassed to ask. and you're right, it's the test. the ones who get annoyed are telling you everything you need to know before you sign anything.
also seven months is long. i'd want a number in writing before i hand work over, even if it's a shitty number so it's not a surprise later. some things i've learned the hard way and some i'd rather you not have to.
the annoyed-is-an-answer thing is exactly right. that's the thing nobody tells you. a good gallery will walk you through the boring stuff without you even having to ask because they want you comfortable. if they act like you're being difficult for asking about insurance, that's all you need to know about them.
and yeah i get the "too relieved to ask" thing. that first conversation i was just trying to act like i belonged in the room. walked out and couldn't even remember what we'd agreed on. i had to call back and ask them to send it in writing, which was mortifying but honestly built more trust than pretending i'd absorbed it.
ask the stupid questions. even the ones that feel obvious. if they're good people you'll look curious, not dumb. and if they're not good people, better to find out before you hand them your work than after.