It takes commitment.

I have learned what not to do, because as an Artist I never did this but after years in Galleries I wish I had, it was a weak skill that determined the height of my success.
Question, “From your last exhibition or showing, what was the worst part?”
Now you cannot criticize anyone or anything, this is all about you.
I don't want to hear about the terrible Gallery, terrible economy or the terrible public who just didn't appreciate your work.
No, no blame on anything, just talking about you.
What could you have done better?

As a gallery person I now sit on the other side of the table that I sat on for many, many years and it is very clear to me now what I didn't do and what I really should have done, which may have had a different outcome to my art career.
For example.
Many Artists have a one person show or are part of group shows.
They spend a lot of money on materials, frames and they put in so much time doing the work, their most precious commodity. They pay for food and wine at the opening, this a big investment in their career.
Then many Artists at their opening night are too shy to greet all the visitors who have gone out of their way to come and look at their paintings, so often they sit in a corner and only talk to their friends.
After the opening night we usually only see the Artist a couple of times before the end of the show and that is to see if there are any sales, then they go again.
At the end of the show, they find out that they have few or no sales and then they criticize and complain about how terrible the Gallery is and the Art Market is dead and people do not appreciate and understand their Art.
It is always a blame game and I was also guilty of that.

So what do I think a successful Artist should do, knowing what I know now?
Lets start from the pain part, no sales and a lot of money and time invested into a failed show.
That's not good, that hurts, believe me I have been there, ouch!
Now if you knew that doing all that work would produce a failed exhibition, surely you would do it differently from the beginning?

Artist you need to push yourself so hard on the Internet through Facebook, Twitter, emails, you have only one shot at an opening night so give it your best.
Blog about your opening weeks before, talk about the paintings that will be available and video them and then send it to all your friends and collectors also put it up on Facebook.
Make videos before the opening night showing the hanging process in the gallery of your work and talk about it, engage people in the process up until opening night.
Be interesting.

So we are at the opening night.
Now I am presuming that the Gallery or group has promoted you well and have competent staff and now people are coming into your opening.
Artist please appreciate that the people who are coming to your show have given up their precious time to come and look at your paintings.
Show your appreciation by going up and speaking to every guest, yes every guest, who has complemented you by coming to your opening.
Ignore your friends unless they are buying.
Talk to strangers about your work and try to say more than “yes” and “no”.
Appreciate that people are coming to see your work and that you are the center of attention, no place for the brooding, misunderstood Artist.
If the Gallery introduces you to someone, that is an invitation to tell your story, because this opening night is your night and you cannot have two opening nights.
On opening night go live on Facebook.
Now after the opening night, be at the Gallery every day you possibly can, even paint in`the Gallery and video it, people love to watch the Artist work.
Most important that you be there every weekend from opening to close.
Now why do this?
You have invested a serious amount of money into this show, so why not give it your best for the full length of the show?
This is your money, do not just leave it to others who do not care as much about your work as you do.
Tell people through social media that you will be there at the gallery every weekend of your show and to come and meet you.
It takes total commitment and you will reach new people.

So often as Artists we forget how much it all costs in time, money, effort and we trust others with our future and allow them to control the situation and then when nothing sells we are terribly hurt and complain.
If you are going to put this much investment into your exhibition then get in and put all the effort and work you can into being there with your exhibition, so that when customers do come in you can interact with them, promoting and selling yourself.
This is your career and your money, you be responsible.
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