Working in an art gallery

**Sepulverture** · June 16th, 2007, 01:51 AM

I'm currently an advertising director for ADT home security, but the pay is relatively inconsistent so I've been looking for a second job. During my search I ended up talking to an art gallery for a position in sales. The atmosphere is casual, the pay is decent, they play loud good music, and I will sell fine art full time so I WANT this job. The question is how does one prepare for an interview for an art gallery? I know that every place will tend to be different, but the question still stands. How should I write my resume? I thought it would be neat to make an sp for the cover page with the title and whatnot (after reading that resumes with unique and interesting cover pages are almost always more likely to get picked than resumes with plain jane black and white color pages... also, it's an art gallery I guess my thought is that if I show I'm genuinely interested in what I'm selling then I'd have a better shot at getting the job).

Please. Any advice or thoughts anyone here might have would be fantastic.

**Qitsune** · June 16th, 2007, 06:15 PM

I'm not sure that the "good artist=good art salesperson" equation is sound. Knowledge of the fine art field would be good and actually sales or PR or customer service experience. The last thing you want is to look like an artists who works in a gallery because he's unsuccesful as an artist.

**Rhynome** · June 16th, 2007, 06:18 PM

Hm, selling, you have to tell them that they want the product, that it's a fashionable one. They don't actually care about the art a lot of them, they just care about the conspicuous consumerism. Well, that's what the British Aristocracy's taught me, at least.

As for preparing for the interview, not a clue in hell, just show that you'll be able to sell art, I suppose. That's what they want. Though still express an interest/history in art, maybe someone wants some honesty somewhere.

**Sepulverture** · June 17th, 2007, 02:19 AM

Thanks for the responses, kind of re-enforced some thoughts that I was having, although I should say that I have a lot of experience in sales, so that part I'm pretty confident in. I'm still just wondering how I should go about presenting myself as a guy who is pretty good in sales and also has a genuine interest in the product, but not come off as gloating, or playing myself up. Good point though about not wanting to come off as just wanting to work there because I'm a failed artist or something.

**Qitsune** · June 17th, 2007, 08:06 AM

Well, I come from a video game background and I have both lived and read about the nightmare that is a game-producer-who-is-actually-a-failed-game-designer/programmer/artist. So when I read How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist : Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul, I could quite relate when they talk about what it takes to be a gallery manager/staff. They give advice to the artist; how to choose a gallery, if you are in the position to choose, and what to avoid at all cost if you are stucked. If you can easily get your hands on the book, I'd advise you to read that section before the interview. They particularly warn about the gallery owner who's a failed artist.

**Sepulverture** · June 17th, 2007, 01:35 PM

Thanks a ton for the advice Qitsune. This interview is tomorrow morning, so I doubt I'll be able to finish my resume and whatnot and read the passage by then, but I will drop by the closest barns and noble in the morning before I go there and see if the book is at least on the shelves.

**AmishCommy** · June 18th, 2007, 05:29 PM

I've been working in galleries since 2002 and all of them want a good, personable salesperson that knows what they are talking about and has genuine interest in the product they are selling. Yourself, being a salesman, you should be able to sell yourself to the gallery. Don't go crazy glitering up your resume. print it on nice paper and keep it short and to the point. If you already have an interview with them then the resume is just there to reinforce that you're qualified. The resume won't get you the job, you will.
Galleries are dependent on their salespersons more than anyone else. you put them at ease and convince them to give you a chance and then your merits will prove whether you're the right fit for them or not.

**Sepulverture** · June 19th, 2007, 12:29 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys. I had my interview today, and I guess the self portrait cover page was a good idea after all, i did it and added it to the front page along with info like contact information, and whatnot, and when i handed it to the interviewer he seemed to be pleased and his facial expression showed a lot of interest. When all was said and done I only ended up talking to the man for about 5 minutes and he asked me to come back to participate in an observation type day, stating that the purpose of it was to decide if I want to work there. I guess this implies that I'm hired if I end up liking what I see at the observation. We'll see, and hope! The whole place looks like it will be a blast to work in (plus decent wages are nice too).

Thanks again for the feedback and advice guys (and girl).