Represented by a Gallery...

[johnastovall]

I've shown my Portfolio to a local Fine Art Gallery which cares photographers. They currently only carry two photographers but wants to carry my work. Everything has to be framed and matted he suggest pre-made frames and have a local shop do the matte and glass. He doesn't want Classic photography framing (white matte small black frame but rather a package which someone will take home and hang up.

The money deal is I pay 60 dollars a month (minumiam 3 months) for space, I price and he takes 15% commision on all sales. He's been here for 3 years and appears to not just be on the art side but know the business part. He's a former Cruise ship Purser who started painting while on cruises.

What does this sound like? Anyone worked with this sort of deal before?

[ShutteredEye]

I haven't a clue about this sort of thing....

....but congrats!

[PIC]

Most Galleries will want a 10 - 50 % commission depending who you are.
They don't charge for space and don't dictate frame matt.
Co Ops charge for space and dont dictate anything.
Most Galleries do their own Frame and Matt.
If a customer offers 80 % or anything else less than posted price
- the gallery gets their same cut and the artist eats the discount.
Few art is sold at list price - so plan to eat it and pay rent with frame costs.

The only artists that make out well are the ones that own their own gallery !!

EL

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

He doesn't want Classic photography framing ... but rather a package which someone will take home and hang up.

He's not selling art, he's selling wall decor.

[snidow]

Like Eric said, most galleries do not change for wall space that's what their commission is for. This might be a new trend but I would be a little wary of it. If possible I would check with other galleries to see what their normal standard process is. Although he is taking less commission then most, lately it's more like 40% commission. So, it might work out in the long run, with know you have to front $180.00 up front I would take it as a gamble of that money. You may or may not get it back in sales.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

He's not selling art, he's selling wall decor.

The dollars spend the same.

[CaptainTom]

questions

is he selling anything ??

how well do the other photogs work sell?

comments

he's not going to get rich on your $60.
I know your work has a local flavor, and would be desirable locally.
If you set the price, you can build in the commission and overhead.
The low commission vs. wall space charge would leave me to believe he may not
be as eager to sell your work as you might like. If commission were 40% and no wall charge, he would want to make his money by selling.

[PIC]

Per Gallery Owners in Santa Fe {3rd largest selling behind Paris and New York} ...
Sales are now like 40 % of what they were at all time high of early 90's.
Photo sales are worst ...
due to te 10 - 20 X increase in all levels of photographers with the digital revolution.
It is now fashionable to do your own and now with digital frames will even increase that.
I own part Photo Gallery and Hand Blown Glass Gallery in Europe.
Glass Clowns rule !!
Thinking of taking down the photo section and putting up something else.
The deal above is pro gallery and is in its intrests in way of expected declining sales.
This is an increasing trend at Gallieries.
The other week a girl came to my home and was selling her drawings and paintings door2door.
I asked why - knowing the answer - and she said Galleries take all the money and too much competion and low $$$ with web based suites.
You can not make out well or even breakeven without controling the gallery.
Many will up their % or fee more if and when they think they can make more w you or another.
This is why there is such a high turn over w galleries that are not own by the artist.
Midldemen always make out best no matter what they deal in and expect photo to get bad.
Good Luck ... I wish the market was better myself ...

EL

[jeffkohn]

$60 for 3 months might not be so bad, but $180 is a different story. I would want to talk to the other photogs currently represented to see what kind of sales they're getting. By the time you take out the rental, commision, and framing costs you might have to sell quite a few prints a month to make any profit.