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where there’s smoke there’s forum fire

1. 

   bjrichus
   

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   We all know about the old "vanity publishing" industry for traditional authors of books and now we can all get our own art books printed almost anywhere these days, but what does the assembled group think of what to me seems to be a variation of this in art galleries?

   This year, I decided to try and push my work a little bit harder in the more bricks and mortar art world and am meeting some success in getting attention from agents and galleries but in the mix too are the blatant vanity galleries. They give the same line each time: "We ONLY charge $285 for a month of 8'x8' wall space" along with a load of blurb about how many more views my work will get in THEIR location, not anywhere else... It's almost like there are the same half dozen in my area and each time a print of mine goes up anywhere, I get the SAME set of emails and business cards from these guys. From the "Is HDR passe" thread, I have two prints on a significant local gallery wall right now and within 24 hours of opening all the same guys had made contact.

   I know these guys have always been about and that it is the agents job to get your work displayed, but not being an agent myself, I don't know how pervasive these guys are. Does anyone here have any input or links to online articles about this? Would save me from having to trawl through Google search results for half a day as I am really busy right now? Am I making a fuss feeling a bit ticked off at what is really a 'normal' way the art world does business?

   Posted 9 months ago #
2. 

   spraynpray
   

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   Am I making a fuss feeling a bit ticked off at what is really a 'normal' way the art world does business?

   It is the way of the world in all areas now I am sad to say.

   Posted 9 months ago #
3. 

   msmoto
   

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   I am not certain this is what the thread is about exactly, but I am commenting on the phenomenon of the photo "galleries" on the web, apparently for the advertised purpose of helping photographers to sell their wares, yet the numbers of photos, methodology of the business practices, and the apparent computer driven interactions all seem to be almost the antithesis of what photography as an art form is really about.

   I have been on at least three of these, and what I have found is it is like a Facebook, Twitter, or uTube, where one attempts to create a large number of artificial friends, none of whom know anything about anyone else, only the images which are posted. And if you go around and "kiss" folks xxx, then you become popular and have high ratings on the photos. Some of the crap on these galleries is best decried by my old mentor Gerhard Bakker in the 1960's...."tried so hard to be different, they forgot to be good."

   One of the real delights about NRF is we seem to at the present maintain a decorum and respect for each other which clearly places NRF above the majority of forums or galleries on the internet. This is the direct result of how the Admin has set it up, thank you Admin!

   And the other vanity galleries are IMO primarily for the purpose of creating dollars for the owners, and not for the real purpose of having genuine human participation and interchange on a meaningful level.

   Selling photos is probably about doing some leg work and going out and talking to people, sharing creative concepts. Not about shot gunning the web and seeing who grabs the stuff.

   From the "old school" I have spoken....ha, ha, ha.....

   Posted 9 months ago #
4. 

   SkintBrit
   

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   Don't be fooled by their holier than thou attitude bjrichus, they're in same business as everyone else, they're selling wall space. The fact that they're contacting you shows how tough they're finding business at the moment also, and how now, more than ever, the customer is king!

   Posted 9 months ago #
5. 

   sevencrossing
   

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   In the UK we have "The Artists' Yearbook"
   it give a guide to getting your work in Galleries and how agents work
   It is not uncommon for Galleries to refuse to display photographs
   but If you work of a high enough standard and will sell, they can be persuaded to change their mind

   Posted 9 months ago #
6. 

   bjrichus
   

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   SkintBrit said:
   Don't be fooled by their holier than thou attitude bjrichus, they're in same business as everyone else, they're selling wall space. The fact that they're contacting you shows how tough they're finding business at the moment also, and how now, more than ever, the customer is king!

   I know they are there to sell, and the classic view is that are there to sell artworks to collectors. that they now have to sell wall space to the artists is the sad reflection on the times we are in.

   Posted 9 months ago #
7. 

   SkintBrit
   

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   bjrichus said:
   I know they are there to sell, and the classic view is that are there to sell artworks to collectors. that they now have to sell wall space to the artists is the sad reflection on the times we are in.

   It's definitely a reflection of the times...........I'm not sure wether it's a sad reflection or not. For those with money and no debt, the world is now well and truly your oyster, also those galleries who are CHASING YOU, would not normally need to, therefore these times are giving artists who would otherwise be snubbed, an opportunity to shine. There are winners and losers in every situation.......seems to me this is your time?

   Posted 9 months ago #
8. 

   Bland
   

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   bjrichus.....I understand your pain but I think $285 is a resonable cost in getting the exposure you wish.

   I see alot of people putting their artistic work out on Facebook and it works well for them, Ian Guy being one of them. Their exposure can go viral and reap the rewards of exposure and sells.

   The reason I used Ian as an example is I feel he does it the best and with the most success.

   Even known photographer greats such as Dan Dry and Mark Rebilas use Facebook to promote their popularity and worth.

   Posted 9 months ago #
9. 

   TaoTeJared
   

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   Around me, many galleries are starting to try to pull in photographers as well. The problem I see is some snobbery is going in it as they are looking for the "Holga" type of photographers. Basically anything that looks more like a painting than a photo. I rarely see or hear photographers selling a piece unless it is wildlife. All the galleries around me also have extreme limits on what and the # that can be hung - usually 2-4 or maybe a 3x3 grouping that can be sold as a set.

   To me it is pure cost analysis. If it is $285/ month, that is $1,700 for 6 months. If you can sell enough photos for a profit after production, and it covers the monthly fees, I think it is a ok deal. If not, I don't see "exposure" in galleries leading to outside sales. That all depends on what your focus is of course but I prefer the older way where they only make money off of a hanging in the form of a commission. If they are charging "rent" then they are not making commissions, which means they are selling squat.

   I have seen many friends hang stuff, sell it and actually loose money on the whole deal when you bring in the cost of framing, printing, & commissions. Add rent to that? Ouch. That is where my bias comes from.

   Posted 9 months ago #
10. 

    bjrichus
    

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    TaoTeJared said:
    I have seen many friends hang stuff, sell it and actually loose money on the whole deal when you bring in the cost of framing, printing, & commissions. Add rent to that? Ouch. That is where my bias comes from.

    I'm with you 100%.

    Not worth it.

    Posted 9 months ago #

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