I guess admin can confirm if I should reveal the name of the website in question, but since they do sort of do legit business by posting images on their site so I don't feel like I should call them out for legal reasons. But my story reveals a bit more fishyness around this type of 'pay-to-post' online galleries and the legitimacy is up for debate. I think it's a comical story at the very least..quite rudiculous.

They are very good sales people and unfortunately all of their correspondence was on the phone...which is wise when they talk the talk and sell so well!

***

I had a message left on my machine, "We would like to show your art at the Art Expo New York!"

Of course I'm intrigued..they had my info b/c I had some art showing on their site, which I probably should have stayed away from to begin with but a few years back I figured any exposure couldn't help. I was a bit shocked about them showing at ArtExpo NY so I look up the expo site, their company is NOT listed as an exhibitor...hmm. But yeah, I was dying to know how much commission they were wanting, how much they were asking from me upfront (which anyone knows a legit gallery wouldn't ask for money upfront..but I was curious b/c it was the artexpo ny).

When I finally get the woman on the phone I totally drill her to sniff out the fromage & details (which I guess she can't withhold to pass as legit business ). They don't want me there in person, or my art in person either: she tells me that they have 2 plasma tvs (oh boi - note the sarcasm) at either side of the booth - which is in the food court area (Which is why they're not listed. What? She tells me this is good b/c everyone needs coffee at some point). And for $2000US I can put 6 images onto their high rez TVs that will loop during the show (she tells me this is a good option b/c a tiny booth alone is $3000 and they're giving opportunities to upcoming artists..blah blah) I inquire more and apparently there's 20 people per monitor and each image is held for 30 seconds. Holy smokes. So if they are actually going to NY for the show (which I am still skeptical about b/c there's no one to prove this, not even images from their booth last year to view.) quick math says they've made $80000 before walking in the door. I tell her the only way I would want to do it would be if I was there in person. She said they have that option too for $3000 but I was strongly feeling like she was trying to deter me from chosing that route...and going back to me spending $2000 for the TV. ("Oh the shipping, and the plane fare, and the accomodations...with the TV your presence is still there." she says). Why? Because they don't have actually have the option? They're in a foodcourt across the street??

I told her that was a lot of money and she said most artists put it on their creditcards and then pay the minimum amount up until the show when they make enough to pay it off fully. (So now she's encouraging credit card debt? And how do people sell art if it's only on a tv screen??) She also tells me some ginormous sale figure they did last year alone...which now I'm thinking of it and they charge around $200 to post artists, and they're website is PACKED so I bet they just make all their money by signing up artists.

I ended the call like a polite Canadian saying I wanted to think about it...yada yada.

I get a call a few days later asking if I've made my decision. I said I wanted to pass on their opportunity. Her incredible sales person voice sighs and starts laying on a massive, thick and juicy guilt trip of how I'm missing out on so much and she really doesn't want this to pass me by b/c I have so much potential - I COULD BE THE NEXT ANDY WARHOL! AND just for me!!! for only $1000 US I can show 3 images instead of 6. Holy crap. No, bye.

Yeah, I ended the call and promptly emailed the sales dept. asked for my images to be removed from their site...I don't want any legit galleries or buyers to come across my work there.

I guess all I can say is beware of the art sites that claim to be galleries and want money upfront to show your work. I still don't know how legit they are in terms of being at the show. I guess if anyone goes down to the ArtExpo NY, I would love to hear about these 50" plasma screens in the foodcourt. haha. Or even if they're there.

Thanx for reading.