What's the polite brush-off line you keep falling for? I've heard "let's reconnect in the spring" three times now
I keep a running list of the ones that sound like a yes but aren't. current champion: "this isn't the right fit for the program, but please keep us in mind." keep you in mind, cool, for what.
second place goes to any variation of "we're full through next year." said in march. in march.
my own worst was a small space that asked me to send a "short proposal" and then a second one and then a floor plan, and then went quiet for five months before a group email about their new season. I sent a follow up, got "so sorry, buried!" and never heard another word.
what's the line that keeps getting you? and has anyone actually had one of those turn into a real show later, or is it always just a soft no with extra steps.
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Mm, "so sorry, buried" is the one that gets me. Buried under what, honey.
I don't chase galleries much, my people mostly found me. But I've had that "keep us in mind" line twice now and I still don't know what it means. Mind for what, exactly. It's the kindness in the voice that makes it sting, like they doing you a favor while they shut the door.
The proposal one though, sending you back for a second one and a floor plan, that's not a brush off, that's using you for free homework. Five months quiet and then a cheerful group email about the new season. I'd of had a few words.
The Lord gives me patience but He also gave me a mouth, so I try to keep the two in balance. You keep your list, baby, at least it's funny.
Outlets. Baby, you labeled the outlets. That's love and labor they didn't deserve, and I hope you kept a copy of that floor plan for yourself, cause it sounds like a good room.
See, that's what I tell my granddaughter when she gets quiet about her work. You can't make somebody want you. You can lay the whole quilt out on the table, every seam true, and they still walk past it to the one folded in the window. Don't mean your seams wrong. Means they wasn't looking.
Keep the ones that ask twice on your list, honey. That list is a gift. You'll know the real door when it opens cause nobody's gonna make you measure a room first.
I did keep the floor plan. it's still in a folder called "maybe" which tells you everything about my optimism levels.
and yeah, the labelled outlets were the tell that I wanted it more than they did. never doing that again, or at least telling myself that.
the quilt thing sticks with me. walking past the true one to the one in the window, that's the whole racket in one line.
"free homework" is exactly it. I did the floor plan. measured the whole room, sent the jpg, even labeled the outlets. outlets. for a show that never happened.
as for "keep us in mind" I've decided it just means "you were pleasant and I want this email to end." no mind involved.
you're right about the kindness though. I'd take a flat no over the soft maybe any day. at least a no lets you go make something.