The problem of being unknown.

The Artist sold nothing, this was his big one man show in a large gallery in the big city.

No sales, he just looked so hurt, collected his paintings and prepared to leave.

The Gallery staff looked at me, they are all young, I said, “You have to taste failure to understand how devastating it is, this Artist is hurt enough without us adding to his pain by asking him to pay a hanging fee, he is a nice guy, lets understand, sometimes its not always about business

.”

Before he left he asked me what he had done wrong?

I said, “Nothing about your art, it is good.

The problem is you are unknown, the curse of the Artist.”

I told him to go home and build a following in his own city before he tries again in a big city like Manila and get a presence on line where people can get to know you, its all about getting peoples attention.

This really is an example of what happens so often, big dreams not quite thought out properly and it leads to rejection and disappointment and that horrible word, failure.

I do not want to see this happen to any Artist, the art business is hard enough without this kind of devastation. I know what it feels like to fail and I hope that this Artist can pull through this.

Lessons to be learned from this show?

+ Do not try to have a large one man show where you are unknown, it is a difficult ask.

+ Build your personal following before you attempt that big show in the big Gallery.

Always remember, “if you are unknown, then you are unknown.”

+I talk so much about Facebook, emails, blogs, story telling, videos and just meeting people and making strangers into collectors and then friends, you have to do it.

+ Galleries are not miracle workers and yes they have collectors who like to see most shows but if they do not know you, as I said its a difficult task to get them to buy, you have to get attention, you have to get known, that is your responsibility.

Artists take care of yourself, this can be a brutal business as I just described.

Make sure you have network around you of loving caring friends so when it all goes wrong, and in this industry it can very easily and quickly, you have caring people to talk to and share with, that love you.