Don't bite the hand that feeds you...

I was talking to a gallerist friend recently about how things have been going for her gallery. The art market has been having a lot of issues lately, and so galleries and artists have to work a lot harder to sell, but aren't necessarily seeing the strong profits for their hard work. Summers are especially difficult. 

Side note:
Artlogic just put out the below report using data
​collected from fine art galleries around the world.

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Read Now...

In our conversation, she told me about an artist that called her to get an update on how things were going. That call started out as a friendly inquiry but quickly turned into the artist berating her and questioning if she's actually doing anything for them. They were jealous to see that sales for other artists were happening, but none, lately, for them. Eventually it led to the threat, "Maybe I should just come get my work."

I've experienced this before. It's not a good feeling.

​Being an employee of a gallery you have more than just the gallery owner/boss to keep happy. You have artists as well. And, being the employee, you have to keep in mind how you handle a call like this, because you are speaking on behalf of the gallery and its owner, not just yourself.

In my early years, I would have placated and said what the artist wanted to hear - "we're working really hard for you... we don't want you to leave... how about I boost your art in our social media this week and in an email..." Anything to make sure they feel good and are happy at the end of the call.

​Now that I am my own boss and my goal is to help artists with the business behind their art, I'm going to use my platform to tell you this:

Always appreciate the people
​in your galleries.

Chances are they're just as disappointed and ever stressed about the lack of sales for you. 

Don't call and make them feel worse. Don't call and threaten to leave. 

For one, it's just nasty to do to another person. More specifically, though, you are the one to suffer more. Being ugly to your gallery's staff, the people that are selling your work, will only make them lose the drive and interest in you and selling on your behalf. Sure, it's totally in your right to be concerned and reach out. But... be nice. Ask how you can help. Ask if there's something different you need to do, together, to improve your sales. 

My advice to my gallerist friend? Call the artist back and tell them that it's best to part ways and come pick up their work. Their not going to be happy, and the gallery needs to focus their energy on the other artists that appreciate the hard work the gallery does for them ever day.

My advice to artists is simple:

Don't be a diva.
Don't be mean.
Don't burn bridges. 
​
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.