pay to play

[Overread]

Things are more expensive to run these days - and with wages and living costs going up and everyone hunting for the same middle class life style things go up in price. Around here the auction houses now not only take a cut from every sale, but also charge a commission fee. So if you bid for something at £30 you'll also pay a % ontop of that as a fee to the auction house - who also take a cut of the £30 before giving the rest to the original owner.

That galleries are going for more vanity displays isn't all that shocking; I suspect that with the elements above coupled with massive market oversaturation its much harder to actually sell in the gallery. So they go for the artist - charge a fee for them so that the gallery can continue to profit even with reduced sales.

That said I dislike any established gallery/venue/etc... that expects the artist to not only pay to use the facilities, but also do their own marketing for the event. If you're a venue catering to a specific market segment then it should have the experience and resources and track record to have many more marketing avenues. When the venue won't advertise for what is its normal display content then it sounds like its purely vanity - at which point chances are you can rent somewhere cheaper and just put on your own show.

 

[rexbobcat]

I don't understand the point. Chances are you won't break even with the sale of work shown in the gallery. If you were so good that people who visit art galleries want to purchase your stuff... you probably woouldn't have to pay to even get your stuff into a gallery in the first place.

I guess it's something to "get your name out there," whatever that is worth. If a person has the money, more power to them.

 

[bribrius]

I don't understand the point. Chances are you won't break even with the sale of work shown in the gallery. If you were so good that people who visit art galleries want to purchase your stuff... you probably woouldn't have to pay to even get your stuff into a gallery in the first place.

I guess it's something to "get your name out there," whatever that is worth. If a person has the money, more power to them.

well. It isn't for everyone for sure. I neglected to put stuff in gallery once already. Now if joining the art association i guess i can show three pieces of wall art in one gallery per month and some in another. Really a good deal for the price it is peanuts to what the gallery in the article is charging per month and the association is a nonprofit yearly fee. But i am not really jumping to hang work here so........
For certain individuals that really want their name out there i guess they might do it. you know the ones that start websites and link all their facebooks and come up with business cards, attending all the art events and entering them, and all that jazz. some people are really jumping through hoops to get known. But that is part of the game perhaps getting known, selling yourself, advertising. Being public or a people person.... you know all those things some of us just are not. lol.

over my head i am just a guy that likes to take photos. i thought the original article was interesting which is why i posted it.

 

[dennybeall]

Is an Art Dealer someone that knows art or just someone that knows what is currently selling in their area? If I happen to be making art that's currently selling then it's good art in that area. Perhaps in another area I'd have to pay to display?

 

[vintagesnaps]

To find out how actual art/photography galleries function anyone interested could try looking up some like Soho Photo Gallery, Rayko Photo Center, LIghtbox Photographic Gallery; there should be info. on upcoming exhibits and calls to artists with the info. on how to submit etc.

There are shops that are or have galleries that are displaying arts & crafts to sell and what their process is to choose artwork is up to them as a business; they may not have a submission process and like anything, some are good quality and some aren't so much. I think it's necessary to check out anyplace you're considering and see what it actually is.

This pay to play seems to be run by someone who figured out how to make plenty of money off people, just like the photo 'rights grab' websites seem to have done.

 

[slackercruster]

This is how it is. Photography is produced in sickening amounts nowadays. Reality is you will pay and it will only be a an ego boost with little or no sales. Most photogs pay to play.