Do you know the Advantages and Disadvantages of Gallery vs. Self-Representation?

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Hi Artists, As an entrepreneur and artist, my journey for the past 25 years varied between selling through galleries and representing myself.

There are pros and cons for each spectrum, and here are my finds. I implore you to do your research and decide which of these two suits you better.  Below are my Research.

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Traditional Gallery Representation
ADVANTAGES
- Traditional galleries have well-established clients.
- Their mailing list is extensive.
- These Gallery Spaces are usually in a high-traffic location giving you great exposure for your art.
- The galleries do all the promotion, selling, and shipping of your art.
- If you are loyal to the galleries and sell well, you can grow with the gallery. Eventually prompting higher     prices for your creations to match demand.
- You will have time for your art creations.

DISADVANTAGES
- Traditional galleries only represent art that has sold well. Their art repertoire is limited, making it difficult for new artists to get a break. 
- Most traditional galleries take 50-60% of sales.
- There is no guarantee that they will sell your work.
- They do not share their customer's information with you that has purchased your work, which means you are dependent on them, and your subscriber list will suffer as a result.
- If something happens to the gallery, such as bankruptcies, you may not get paid for sold work, even if contracts are signed, making you vulnerable to their business practices.
- They are not always good with payments.
- They have rules that make it difficult for you to self-promote and sell art.
- They set the rules for your business and practically own, and operate your business.
- Galleries go out of business at an alarming rate, especially when the economy is poor, making it vulnerable for you. 
- The long-term risk might get greater as self-representation artists create competition and pressure on them.
-Your work may not all get displayed in the gallery, depending on gallery space, some of your art inventory may be sitting in their office, taking sales opportunities away from your art. 
- Some galleries will discount your work without consulting you, leaving you out of all sales decisions.

My Experience 
The above list was created by experience and research, those are the advantages and disadvantages of gallery representation. Below you will see the pros and cons of self-representation. 

I chose self-representation as an artist after having the restrictions and rules put on me by gallerists and bad experiences of payment failures and lost work. The limited freedom to grow my art business and my experiences with traditional galleries left me feeling like I have lost control of my art business hence my departure from gallery representation. 

From then on, I became a self-represented artist in charge of my destiny. For better or worse, based on my experience, I have made a great business out of my art. It doesn't mean that selling through galleries is not a good way to go. Remember, not all galleries are equal, there are reputable ones out there, you just have to do your due diligence because you do have options. Without further adieu, here are the list of advantages and disadvantages of self-representation.

Self-Representation Artist. 
ADVANTAGES
- You do not have to wait for approval from a traditional gallery.
- You get 100% of your proceeds.
- The online world has opened up new opportunities for artists to represent themselves and reach out to collectors.
- Art venues and markets also make it viable to self-promote your art.
- Self-promoting your art is a great way to step into the art world for beginner artists and well-established artists.
- You have the freedom to create the kind of work that you enjoy.
- You get to know your customers well.
- Your subscriber list grows with your business.
- You can sell your art with freedom of where and to whom. 
- Your business skills will improve consistently, which is a money-making asset that will always benefit you. 
- You are your boss, you set your own rules, and your destiny is in your own hands.
- You can make a good income and create passive income as you wish. 
- You get paid each time you sell something. Therefore you are never worried about payment.
- You can test your work by engaging with customers directly or by asking questions on Social Media.

DISADVANTAGES
- You have to divide your time between creating and marketing.
- If self-reliance and self-motivation are not your strength, then this might not be for you.
- You have to devote your time to brush up on your business skills consistently.
- To reach your buyers, you have to participate in art venues actively or own a gallery.
- You may not have an elite customer base.
- You may have to pay for advertisements.
- You may have to travel for exhibitions and shows.
- You have to ship your paintings, creating more work for yourself and less studio time.

Conclusions
Here are your options, artists!

The way I see it, if you are the kind of person that wants to make things happen for yourself and have an entrepreneurial streak, you would thrive and enjoy being a self-represented artist. 

But if you are an artist that has no interest in the business side of art, gallery representation suits you more. Just remember to do your due diligence before going with any gallery, read your contract carefully and make sure you understand and abide by their rules.

My Self-Representation Experience. 
As a self-representation artist, my art sales have improved. I love knowing everyone that has purchased my art. My entrepreneurial skill has grown tremendously, which is a lifetime money-generating asset. By being in control of my destiny, I have created a business that is scalable and sustainable.

Without a doubt, there is a lot of work involved in being an independent artist, but it is worthwhile because I have the freedom to create art and a business that feeds my entrepreneurial spirit.

What is your sentiment on this?
After reading this article, which is your preference? There are no right or wrong answers, just options, and choices. 

I wish you all the best in your art career. If you need help in your Art Business, come and join my free FB Group, where you will learn Marketing and Mindset skills weekly. Click here to join. 

And if you had experiences in either showing in a traditional gallery or representing yourself. Please share your thoughts below. If you have something negative to say about a gallery, please do not use their name.

With Creative Joy,
Ting