Should I avoid working with galleries because they take 50% commission and don't give me collector information?

Galleries are a revenue source, and any legal revenue source has value – the hardest thing is turning creative passion into a paying business. The issue isn’t galleries themselves, but rather the gatekeeper model where you don’t control the relationship. What’s more important long-term is knowing who your collectors are, because existing customers are your easiest source of future sales. The person who buys a small piece today might be buying high-end originals in five years as their income grows. If a gallery works for you, great, but prioritize building direct relationships with collectors through your own channels so you own those connections for life.

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Asked by synthesized from teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-11-08