I'm sharing this email exchange I recently received and am very interested in hearing your opinions:
"...and the call for entries was over (in Miami). But I began a correspondence with the artist who put out the call.
Seems she is an ophthamologist's wife and wanted to turn the new office into a gallery.
Well, I thought that was a good idea, since my ophthamologist's office has very grim magnolias everywhere, from a local framed art warehouse. Horrible stuff.
I wrote a letter. They called, and it looks very good for me and my photography for just after New Years. So off I go to get some inventory and start matting and framing. I met with the assistant office manager today.
My work will be for sale with a donation to their favorite (and mine) charity, the local no-kill humane society.
We win all the way around, and I will be rotating my photographs - first in the main waiting room, then in the hallways and examining rooms."
May Lattanzio
Freelance Writer/Poet/Photographer
Author: Waltz on the Wild Side - An Animal Lover's Journal
www.thelensflare.com/u_may.php
My partner in all things web read May's email and said: "Excellent blog post story here!"
My response: "I don't think so. The artist does a lot of work, nothing gets sold and the only person who benefits is the opthamologist's office who gets free work. Michael does this all of the time...maybe a sale now and then, but most of the people I know are too busy making, working and marketing to spend time doing this, let alone letting their work molder in someone else's office."
His response: "Yes. Your reaction is even more interesting. Good pitfall for newbies to avoid. I was wondering how she made money out of this and figured she must not need to..."
Your turn. What do you think of this as a way to market your work?
I once had an art group. We were local artists. We found a local coffee shop who wanted us to display our work. We sold work, but it did get a lot of 'local' exposure. The local nursing home wanted to do the same thing for us, but as mentioned above, it wasn't the same kind of venue. We have since disbanned, but looking into local businesses for exposure is a viable option if you can be sure your work is secure and displayed favorably.
You have to pick and choose very carefully and do it for the right reasons. I have showed in these types of venues and it has never been very successful, as far as sales goes. And the really annoying part is that the folks offering the spaces usually think they are doing YOU a favor. And, yes, they often want to decorate their offices/stores without buying art. Which also annoys me.
Now, I only do it only if I have other goals -- such as PR, it's my hometown, it’s my favorite charity, I owe the person a favor or I want a favor owed me.
For the future, when I am offered these “opportunities,” I am thinking about assembling a package that outlines my expectations which includes a stipend or a piece purchased. This way, if I decide to do it but “forgive” the stipend, there is a value attached to it.
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Now, I only do it only if I have other goals -- such as PR, it's my hometown, it’s my favorite charity, I owe the person a favor or I want a favor owed me.
For the future, when I am offered these “opportunities,” I am thinking about assembling a package that outlines my expectations which includes a stipend or a piece purchased. This way, if I decide to do it but “forgive” the stipend, there is a value attached to it.