As a follow up to yesterday's podcast about starting a gallery, I want to say that I hope the discussion didn't discourage anyone who dreams of having their own gallery because it absolutely can work and has provided many people (including me) with a generous income and wonderful livelihood. There are lots of decisions to be made before you start a gallery and taking the time to figure it all out before hand can save you a lot of money and headaches. The number one thing I would have done differently when I started my gallery in 2000 is to hire a consultant. I could have learned from their mistakes and victories what it took me the first year to figure out. (and I already had a strong background in successful art and retail. ) I know not everyone can afford a consultant so I wrote an e-guide on how to start your own art gallery or craft cooperative with little or no startup cash.
There are so many different models for a gallery. Each has it's prose and cons and it's important to figure out which version is the best fit for you. If you're not sure you're ready to make a long term comittment, one low-risk way to test the waters is a pop-up shop which is a great way to try it out without a huge commitment. I’m working on a new e-guide on how to start a successful pop-up shop and I’ll include that for any of your listeners who purchase “Start Your Own Gallery”. http://www.craftbizblog.com/dream-starting-gallery-coop/
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Sounds interesting and I especially love the idea of trying it out with a "Pop-Up" first. I have sold things in galleries but there's usually a booth and/or space rental fee plus a percentage of what you sell it for which makes me think that owning my own gallery would be delicious. Thanks...
I know that should be "pros" not "prose" but don't know how to edit.