I understand that I have to be consistant with my pricing to establish value and credibility.
I have had reasonable success showing in non-conventional venues like salons and sandwich shops. My problem is that one shop might not charge commission at all, while another might charge 20%, and another might charge 50%. That makes a dramatic difference in the bottom line.
I have always been told to keep your prices consistent no matter the venue. That way you set a price point so that no matter where your work sells it is the same. That way the galleries you are in won't feel that they are being undercut. If you sell direct instead of through a gallery, think of it as paying yourself for the marketing. That is basically what the commission you are paying is for.
I've held my prices or reduced them slightly. I also bargain with people to get the sale. I need the money. ALso, if someone wants a painting but can't afford it, I always offer to paint a smaller one for less. I've gotten a lot of sales that way.
I guess my objective is survival.
-------------------------------------------------------------- Alison Vernon: Palette Knife Artist
The other comments are right...keep your prices consistent no matter what the venue. Build the commission price into your retail price. If you sell the piece yourself then you get that commission...so the net will fluctuate depending on your venue.
I am a photographer that agrees with the comments made by others - keep your prices consistent. I can speak form experience; I got my self in trouble with a gallery because I lowered my prices when another gallery did not charge the same commission.The first gallery was questioned by a customer as to why the price of a print they purchased was lower at another gallery they visited.To keep the peace (and my work in the gallery) I gave some money back to the customer that purchased the print from the first gallery (not something I want to do again). It is not worth damaging the relationship you have with your galleries, and if your work is worth $XXX in one venue then it is worth $XXX in all venues.
