Andi Fasimpaur on sat 29 dec 01
At 12:26 AM 12/29/01 -0500, Marie Gibbons wrote:
>Unfortunately, at least here in Colorado 50/50 is the common number...
>occassionally you find a 60/40 and those are wonderful to run into, but most
>often the standard is 50/50. I have come to terms with it as long as the
>gallery is working for their 50%. showing your work well, knowledgeable
>about you and your work, keeps good hours, does what they say they will do,
>promotes business to their shop... simple things, but you would be suprised
>how many don't do these things.
>
>marie gibbons
>www.oooladies.com
There are countless reasons why I don't care for consignment
arrangements... I've been burnt too often, the gallery simply doesn't
care, they don't promote the work, they're just interested in stuff to
fill their shelves... I've had work returned to me by consignment
galleries that was simply dumped into a box, work that was damaged
by this rough handling... some work stolen... if the work is going to be
so ill treated, so poorly represented, why bother?
Selling work to wholesale clients at wholesale prices makes sense,
they're willing to take a chance on your work, they're willing to make
a commitment. Tying up stock in a consignment arrangement doesn't
make any sense at all unless there is some benefit for the artisan.
I'm currently talking to two galleries about my work, both consignment
galleries. How that work will be represented is one of the things on
the table. One of those galleries will be taking a 25% commission,
the second will be taking 30%. I expect to work closely with both,
to provide them with suggestions for the best display of my work, and
to provide them with information about my processes, my background
and my philosophies...
Consignment relationships are not "Drop and Forget" arrangements,
the artist has to remain involved with the work the entire time it is
in the gallery. The artist takes all the risks with consignment. The
artist commits work which they could sell outright to wholesale
customers at the same price or to the public at retail prices, without
the additional stress of consignment contracts, etc...
I'm afraid that from my perspective, consignment is only "worth it" if
it comes with some really great exposure (one of the galleries I'm
talking to is in a downtown building leased primarily by high income
professionals, it is surrounded by some of the oldest, most successful
businesses in our area... the other is in an affluent suburb where many
of my repeat customers live... the walk-in traffic alone should be a huge
asset, and the ability to point customers in the direction of a retail
outlet for finished pieces will mean that I won't have to invest time in
shows which take me out of the studio and away from production...)
50/50 consignment doesn't make sense to me, I have difficulty
believing that it is in the best interest of the artist... having seen a
number of galleries go out of business, and seen the artists whose
work was represented get screwed in the process, I'm afraid I just
wouldn't consider that type of arrangement.
Blessings,
Andi.
Marie Gibbons on sat 29 dec 01
In a message dated 12/29/01 2:56:32 PM Pacific Standard Time,
clayartist@MYSTICSPIRAL.COM writes:
> 50/50 consignment doesn't make sense to me, I have difficulty
> believing that it is in the best interest of the artist... having seen a
> number of galleries go out of business, and seen the artists whose
> work was represented get screwed in the process, I'm afraid I just
> wouldn't consider that type of arrangement.
>
>
Anji makes good sense with what she is saying... however, when trying to only
wholesale works I think this is more of a possibility if your doing
functional wares. I have never had much luck wholesaling one of a kind
sculpture work.
So for me this means making as good a choice as i can... looking into a
gallery, talking to other artists who have dealt with that gallery, visiting
often while you have work there. If it is out of town, I try to have pre
determined times that the work is there, ie 3 months and then the work is
back to me. We all have to just be smart about what we do, and not feel like
we should jump and show work anywhere that asks... we are doing them a favor
by fronting work out to fill their space, however they are also doing us a
favor by showing our work, paying rent on a space, staffing the gallery with
hopefully caring and knowledgable employees, paying the electric bill,
etc.... giving us time to create.
marie gibbons
www.oooladies.com
marie gibbons
www.oooladies.com
Marie Gibbons on sat 29 dec 01
correction, I said Anji said, and i meant Andi
Anji Henderson on mon 31 dec 01
Thanks for the kind words Marie, and what a nice
person to compare me with ... But alas, the words came
from Andi Fasimpaur ... :)
Anji
--- Marie Gibbons wrote:
> In a message dated 12/29/01 2:56:32 PM Pacific
> Standard Time,
> clayartist@MYSTICSPIRAL.COM writes:
>
> > 50/50 consignment doesn't make sense to me, I have
> difficulty
> > believing that it is in the best interest of the
> artist... having seen a
> > number of galleries go out of business, and seen
> the artists whose
> > work was represented get screwed in the process,
> I'm afraid I just
> > wouldn't consider that type of arrangement.
> >
> >
>
> Anji makes good sense with what she is saying...
> however, when trying to only
> wholesale works I think this is more of a
> possibility if your doing
> functional wares. I have never had much luck
> wholesaling one of a kind
> sculpture work.>>>>>>>>>>>>>> marie gibbons
> www.oooladies.com
=====
Good art does not have to match your sofa!!
-Fred Babb
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