Why is relying on third parties so risky for artists?

Third party channels can disappear or change at any time, and you have no control. Years ago, artists sold well on Etsy until algorithm changes killed their traffic. Fine Art America’s bestseller section drove sales until artists fell out of it. Offline galleries can stop carrying your work. Art shows and festivals can be canceled, as happened during the pandemic lockdowns. When you rely on third parties, you’re building on sand—eventually the rug gets pulled out. The pandemic made this crystal clear when artists relying on galleries and shows lost their income overnight, while those selling direct kept going strong.

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Asked by general teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-06-18