15 Things You Can Do to Get Represented by a Gallery

Daniel Miller, Gallery Director of the Duncan Miller Gallery and founder of YourDailyPhotograph.com, hosts a no-nonsense seminar for upcoming artists on developing their careers, understanding the business of selling their artwork and gaining gallery representation.

Lecture Topics Include:

• What does sell online, and what does not and why

• Are you currently represented, but feel under-represented by a gallery?

• Should I forget about galleries and just sell online?

• The latest from Facebook and Instagram

• Harness the power of the collectors you didn’t know were around you

• Why you need to attend gallery events, and what to look for in a gallery

• Museums actually need your work (if it’s good)

• Why you really want to be ready for a portfolio review with a gallery director

• What it actually cost us to launch a recent artist’s career

• A few unusual ways to support the system that you want to support you

• Why you should make some of your editions in three or less

• Why artists shouldn’t drink the wine at gallery events

Seminar outline:

Understand the business of selling artwork

• What artists should know about how galleries are run. Consignments vs cash sales to galleries, how money and pricing works, payments. Understand what a good gallery does to earn their profit.

• Galleries are like museums
Once you’re in a good one, the others come along a lot easier.

• Be careful where you display your works
Coffee shops, too many group shows, etc are often not the best approach. Overexposure is your enemy.

Develop yourself

• One of your most important tools as an upcoming artist is your resume/CV. Work on it every day. We’ll share the specific content galleries look for in your CV.

• Social media
Facebook fan pages are free. Make yours today, and add to it every few days. Tips to maximize this. Don’t promote your personal page, promote your fan page.

• Web site vs. Facebook page
Are web sites becoming less-relevant? Learn four reasons why you might want to replace your web site with a Facebook page.

• Anyone can make one book. Show your maturity and your editing ability and make books a part of your new reality. We’ll cover what should be in the book, and what is the purpose of having one.

• Get published
Get your images published in print and on web sites. Learn the tips to make this happen. Publishing credits are a strong positive for your resume and career.

• Understand how to get media coverage
Without stories to tell, there would be no press.

Your work

• Don’t present your work unless it is ready
You only have one first impression and you really need to make it count.

• Where to get started showing your work
Photo fairs, portfolio reviews, group shows, alternate gallery space, etc.

• The technical quality of your work
How to prepare your work for showing and for display.

Be careful how you interact with galleries (don’t waste their time)

• Study the galleries you are considering carefully
You need to really study the type of work a gallery sells before you consider them as a possibility to represent you.

• Self promotion to galleries
Postcards, emails, letters, CDs, books, etc. What to send, when to send and why to send.

• Don’t be an idiot (very important)
How to interact with art dealers in public, in their galleries, during receptions and at art fairs.

• Gallery owners talk
Yes, we often compare details on artists and work (good details and bad ones).

• Follow up and do what you say
Too many artists think they can be irresponsible and that’s okay. That doesn’t work so much anymore. Be good with your word, your reputation transcends every area of your life.