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Why have a manager/agent?

For some reason, I keep bumping into this question today. For example, on the Art Biz blog, the following questions were asked of the art readership: Is there such a thing as a fine art representative or agent (not gallerist) that can do all the work for you? How are they paid? How do you […]

17th November 2009/by Studio Damoah

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What are your experiences of selling art prints? To print or not to print

I recently had an online conversation in one of my social networks about fine art prints. I put a request to the network for help with promoting my prints. I want to reach a wider audience than my 5000 or so opt in subscribers… the response I got back from one gentleman was to be […]

14th November 2009/by Studio Damoah

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Why have a manager/agent?

17th November 2009/by Studio Damoah

Media & links

What are your experiences of selling art prints? To print or not to print

14th November 2009/by Studio Damoah

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Why have a manager/agent?

For some reason, I keep bumping into this question today. For example, on the Art Biz blog, the following questions were asked of the art readership:

Is there such a thing as a fine art representative or agent (not gallerist) that can do all the work for you?
How are they paid?
How do you find them?

There were 7 responses, the last time I looked. All with interesting perspectives on the whole thing. One of the contributors Maria brophy, an artist agent herself (now just for her husband) advocates representing yourself.

I am not necessarily talking about agents herein this post though, as my experience is with managers, so it is important for me to define what I mean by an artist manager/representative and an agent. An agent deals with sales, chasing prospects, negotiating and closing deals. A manager can do many things ranging from helping to organize you and manage your time, helping to come up with and implement business ideas, negotiating, coaching and support. Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably which can be somewhat confusing.

My perspective:

Is there such a thing as a fine art representative or agent (not gallerist) that can do all the work for you?

Why the hell would anyone want somebody to do ALL of the work for them? If you give someone that much power over you, over your life, your career, well you are just asking for TROUBLE! Even if such a person existed, I for one would never want to hand over that much power. Apart from the obvious, there is something so satisfying about doing things for yourself, learning and growing, and the satisfaction of knowing that when you achieve a set goal, knowing that you did it YOURSELF.

Someone like Hazel Dooney does a fine job of representing herself. According to Barney Davey’s article on her in his blog “Art Print Issues”, (which kind of struck me as an ode to Miss Dooney, although who can blame him, I am becoming a bit obsessed with her myself…) she manages all of the sales and marketing side of her art, and she approaches the whole thing with an admirable passion and zeal that almost makes her destined to be super successful. She is widely respected and her work is very collectible. But not everyone has the kind of drive, tenacity and skill set required to do ALL of that. So what to do if you do not have all of those skills but you still want to make it alone? LEARN! Or get someone to help you or coach you, the Art Biz coach blog is an excellent source of information. Learn everything there is to learn about art BUSINESS (no its not a dirty word!), learn about sales and the marketing of art. I am learning new things every day and it is all adding up. I will post as I go and pass on information and resources…. Ask Maria Brophy about hiring an art consultant to get you past the hard bits if you think it would help. Apparently, it is cheaper than hiring a manager..

My background is in biology, business and sales, so I understand sales and marketing. I rather like the business side of things, it excites me (there is nothing like the feeling of selling a painting seeing your baby turned into cold hard cash), although, when you are in the early stages of your career like I am (almost 4 years in whoop whoop!), trust me, it is one thing selling other peoples products and another thing entirely selling your own work that you have put your heart and soul into.

I started out with a business manager, lost him, kept going and building with the help of close friends and family and have now come full circle back to having a manager, my very own version of Frank Dunphy! I do not feel like I MUST HAVE A MANAGER. I certainly do not rely on him to do everything. I deal with sales invoices from my art prints, getting them printed, stamped, signed and posted is all down to me. I do the internet marketing myself from home and WE work as a team, WE brainstorm marketing and sales ideas. He is (his words!) my bull dog in meetings and he makes sure that no one takes advantage of me. As an artist who just wants to sell work, it can be tempting to just take what is offered even when that may not make the most sense from a business point of view and may not be in your best interests. The manager is able to look at things with a cold sharp eye, without the emotional attachment, make smart judgments and pick up on things that you might otherwise miss.

Communication and team work is key. Also, if you think that having a manager would make things easy, think again! I am working so much harder now than I was before (and I thought I used to work hard then), and more efficiently thanks to my manager. I work at least 13 hours EVERY DAY (a little less on the weekends admittedly). It is brilliant and satisfying to wake up and be so focused on the goals for that day, and even better that I have someone there cheering me on and giving input. I speak to my manager EVERY DAY. WE are on our way to something bigger and better than where WE are now and I simply would not want to be without him, he has accelerated my progress exponentially! We are building every day. Although if I had to, I know that I could go it alone, as I have done it before.

My conclusion to that question is that it is my opinion that to have a manager by your side to help, assist and advise, to back you up with extra knowledge like copywrite law etc is good. It is a bonus though, not a necessity. Hazel Dooney is living proof that you can do it alone if you have the guts, the determination, the contacts, the networking skills, and so on… It is not easy, but it is not impossible.

How are they paid?
Our agreement is a percentage of sales. Mr Hirst and many other artists do the same thing. According to Maria Brophy, you can end up paying up to 50% of sales (that would be an agent who is involved in selling and closing deals also. You would have to define the nature of the position of your agent/manager before signing anything)! 50%!! Well what happens when you sell through a gallery and they take 30 -70% on top of that, then you end up with peanuts?? Hell no! Not necessary. Take control. Salaried managers/agents can charge up tp $5000!! Crazy money unless you are doing really really well.

How do you find them?

Well it could be anyone. Maria Brophy manages her husband who is an artist and they are doing very well from that arrangement. My manager came to me by chance. We have known each other for some time, and he is someone who I have turned to for business advice from time to time over the years. One day, he just suggested that I could probably benefit from having someone help me. We arranged a meeting and agreed on terms and it went from there. That was just this summer and he has been brilliant. He has done artist management before and has lots of experience with intellectual property and dealing with litigations. He is a brilliant negotiator and is my strongest ally in meetings and a really good friend.

So your future manager (not slave!) could be closer than you think. I would not have a clue where to look for a professional manager who I did not know and why would I want to? Trust is so important just like in any relationship. Its like having a boyfriend but without the sex, it can get that intense.

Enough waffle, my point is this.

A manager is NOT a neccessity.
With a lot of hard work and discipline, you CAN do it alone, Just ask Hazel Dooney, it is good to have a support network of friends and family though.
Whilst I understand what Maria means in her blog when she states that: ” Unless the agent is super-connected, you may be better off paying a salary to a manager”…I don’t think that a salary to a manager is the only way to go although I accept that she has had far more experience than me in that field, I can only speak from my experience… For me, it is perfectly reasonable to have a percentage agreement in writing as long as everybody knows and understands the terms. There has to be TRUST. We do not all have the kind of money necessary to pay a manager a retainer or salary. Even Damien Hirst pays his manager 10% of profits.

My manager would not be working so hard with me if I were not putting in the effort that I am. Your manager if you have one or are looking for one is not there to wipe your backside. There is so much competition, you have to get good at doing the business side of things, unless of course you have a lucky break and are catapulted into stardom over night- in which case, you can afford to hire minions to do your “dirty work”. Highly unlikely for most of us. So work hard, learn the business side of things, manager or no manager and get to the top on your own terms alternatively, insist that only “men in suits deal with business” (yea, an artist actually said that to me!) and stay penniless painting in your studio where no one knows your name hoping that the golden hand of Saatchi will land upon your forehead and anoint you the new art star of the noughties! My opinion…

So what do you think? Go it alone or have a manager? Would you really want to have someone do everything for you?

Best

Adelaide

17th November 2009/by Studio Damoah

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What are your experiences of selling art prints? To print or not to print

Only very famous artists sell repros of their very expensive works successfully
The only ones making the money are the printers doing the printing for you
Because of the economy the target market can barely afford to put gas in their cars let alone buy a print.
Going big with prints may put off “monied clients” as they feel that prints “cheapen” your art and your name.

OK, now whilst I consider all of the above to be valid points, I had to answer back with the following to protect my position!

We have spent 2 years putting this together getting this right for the above valid reasons.
I am not a member of a publishing house, the art prints are solely owned by me and individually printed to order, so the printer does not make any money until I make a sale.
The art prints are sold exclusively from my website, I have full control.
The art prints are all personally signed and numbered by me or a member of my team (they do not sign, just number with a stamp).
I discussed this at length with my business manager (my very own version of Frank Dunphy!) and they are specifically targeted to a segment of the market who could not afford many thousands of pounds to buy an original but could afford to spend the equivalent of a tank of gas on an art print from one of my collections.
I have been receiving requests for prints from followers of my work since my début exhibition in 2006.
I have answered their need and am now trying to expand my reach beyond my regular followers in order to keep making money to survive.
This business model has enabled me to approach two different segments of the market place with my offering.
The art prints are not produced in huge numbers, and the printing method is of a high quality
I have also spoken to my collectors and they assured me they are fine with this as long as the numbers of each one are limited which is the case.
Selling art prints also allows me to support a charity that I work with- the NCDV. The collection that they commissioned me to paint is also available in the same format and the profitable portion of the sale goes to them.

OK so there you have it. In actual fact, I personally do not agree that prints devalue your work. Especially if they are of a decent quality. They can in my opinion work in your favour by making your work accessible to a lot more people , making you as an artist more popular to people that otherwise would not necessarily have access to your work.

Jack Vettriano art prints adorn the walls of many thousands of homes and establishments globally. Although for most of his career he has been shunned by the “art establishment” he is still one of the most well known artists of the modern era. His originals have sold for up to £750,000. He makes millions from selling his prints world wide. Obviously he is a famous artist now, but even Jack Vettriano started somewhere.

So what do you think? What are your experiences of selling prints if you are an artist?

Best

Adelaide

14th November 2009/by Studio Damoah

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Why have a manager/agent?

What are your experiences of selling art prints? To print or not to print

Why have a manager/agent?

What are your experiences of selling art prints? To print or not to print

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Why have a manager/agent?

What are your experiences of selling art prints? To print or not to print

Adelaide Damoah

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