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I have been approached at several of the shows I have done recently by gallery owners asking me about wholesale prices for putting my work in their gallery and additionally asked about selling my work on consignment. I know most want a sizable discount...which is somewhat understandable.

My 1st. question to anyone who does wholesale your work ...or send it to galleries on consignment is what type of positive and negative results have you experienced?

If you send it to a gallery on consignment what is a reasonable time to leave it in the gallery to be sold or when should you decide it is time to remove it?

 If it is an out-of-town gallery what expectations should you have from the gallery to ship it back to you if not sold in a reasonable amount of time?

What type of contracts/agreements should be expected between you and the gallery?

What is considered a fair and reasonable commission or wholesale discount?

I realize these are alot of questions, many of which might have possible been discussed before...but I haven'y been able to locate the discussions.

I appreciate your advice and help...

I was thrilled to do Amdur Productions, "The Inside Show" this past weekend. Only forty artists were chosen, ten of whom were jewelers. The air was rareified, let me tell you. But that is not what this post is about.
On Monday, I received an email from a lady (who shall remain nameless) telling me that anyone from "The Real Thing" show OR the "Inside Show" were being asked to join a limited engagement Co-Op of some artists at an abandoned Borders store across from the Woodfield Mall(very very exclusive high-end shopping mall). Thirty artists had climbed on board and they would love to have me with them.
They wanted $300 up front and 20% of every item sold. No contract. They had never run a Co-Op before but as she wrote:" it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do it."
No security...but you don't have to be there.(?)
She keeps repeating that they sold a vase for $4000.
I called two artists on the list of six she gave me. They haven't returned my calls.
Question: Am I being naive again and missing out on a great opportunity?
Or are my feet stuck to the floor for some other reason?
Help!

Just wanted to say I had a very interesting experience in Scottsdale, AZ just a week ago.   As I am about to set this up, I want to quick mention that this post is geared for those who sell both at art fairs as well as art galleries - say in the same time too.  But this may be entertaining to all those who don't fit into that category...  Now onto the set up...

It was my first time in AZ, mind you, with my husband.  I went because I wanted to experience the Grand Canyon, see Scottsdale (my mom's favorite place to visit), spend time with an old high school friend, check out the AZ Ren-fest (I have friends who work there and have a podcast hobby where I go to ren-faires and report on the experience I have there for other Rennies), and of course see what the art is like in and around Phoenix.  Mind you I am an East Coast gal from Baltimore.  I must reiterate - it is a pleasure trip, not having a show to do and kick back a few days while I was in the area.    An actual vacation which also happened to be  affordable as I stayed with friends (my friend from high school and his wife) who insisted on driving us everywhere (God bless old friends!!!). 

One of the many memorable places I got to visit while in AZ was Old towne Scottsdale.  Now I missed the Art in the Park Festival (not sure if that is what it was called), but City Fest. was going to happen the next day - if that means anything to anyone.  I have to say I felt like a fish out of water - granted most of the people there were 25+ my age.  I walked around some streets of Old Town with a real hunger to check out the galleries (the food was great too).   I wanted to know what was being displayed.  Was it all Southwest themed with Native American work or broader, tapping into some unique modern/contemporary art forms? The first gallery I entered was where I got my shock.  The gallery owner was a major A__hole.  The gallery, nice with plenty of Native American pottery and paintings.  However, I was followed the whole time by the gallery owner who BOASTED how he was the owner of the gallery for 25 years and NEVER forgets a face as he runs it by himself and never has taken a day off.  My friend from high school, who happens to be wheel chair bound - since childhood - in a motorized scooter, did not have a problem maneuvering around the busy displayed gallery, but the gallery owner was quite the vulture talking to us the whole time, trying to get my friend to use a different exit and tried to move  things around him (like paintings that were on the ground leaning up against a display) when it wasn't necessary.    I didn't know if I should stay in the gallery to piss the guy off or get out of there as quick as possible as I couldn't take the mightier than thou attitude.  My friend shrugs it off as - "that's gallery people for you", I said I have never been in a gallery where it is their point to watch every customer like a hawk, making them think they will damage property at every turn and not for any good reasons such as being anxious to help you at a moments notice with questions.  Where was the customer service there?  And for those who have never been this this huge gallery area, there must be 50 galleries - at least - vying for customers.   A lot of heavy competition in a not-so-bustling economy.  Which makes me think long and hard, why be a jerk and make customers feel like strangers and extremely uncomfortable?   I was glad first impressions didn't ruin the whole gallery walk as another one two doors down happened to be spacious and well organized specializing in Native American work.  The breath of fresh air is that this gallery owner was eager to please having public handicap accessible restrooms, friendly in that the owner mentioned a piece or two but backed off AND had a guest artist that day in the gallery demonstrating!  Night and day difference! Others offered refreshments like lemon water, friendly chit chat, and pieces of history about the area or the gallery OR the artists.

First question....  As artists, when entering a gallery just to look or purchase something, have you had similar weird vibes and said something?  I was tempted being an artist, but really felt it wasn't my place as some I just don't think you can get through to them.

Second question...  For those who sell both at art fairs and galleries - If you happen to do an art fair in or near the same town as a gallery that houses your work, do you make it a point to visit that gallery (as a secret shopper or not) and even promote it when at the show?  Or not?

Third and final question...  Also for those who sell both at art fairs and galleries.  Do you have struggles with gallery owners with their "attitude" in how they do business say over the phone coming across as nice and peachy, yet in person or with customers they are quite different?  When it comes to pricing your work do you have issues with gallery owners especially if you are selling at an art fair in town? 

Sorry for all the questions, but I haven't really seen this discussed much on here - granted it is artfairinsiders.com .  - Michelle, www.bythebaybotanicals.com