Hanging My Art In A Restaurant Concerns.

You should sign a consignment agreement with the owners and include a provision for this situation.

ou should be more than kind of concerned. The answer is yes, all contents are seized. been there.
I would never suggest hanging art anywhere unless the location provides you with full replacement insurance. It's not just a lock out that should concern you...there is bad weather and burglery to name just two.

you should have a contract of some kind so there is something written on paper. it should cover theft, damage, closing, etc. places of business do this to get free art on their walls, but i doubt they think they are responsible for what happens to the things if something were to happen.

---Mike Savad

I have hung in a few restaurants that were taken over and I usually would get a call a day before to get my work before the doors close, I have hung in over a dozen and never any problems, good luck :) exposure is exposure nothing better than a captive audience sitting for an hour eating and enjoying your work

I hang work in three restraurants and do quite well, usuall sell severalpieces a month. They only charge 20% and they collect the money and pay the sales tax. We have a written agreemnet but there is no insurance. Figure that is a risk I am willing to take.

If you can show ownership of the paintings then they shouldn't be included in the auction when they sell off the equipment, furniture etc.

You should be concerned. When a business is seized or suddenly goes bankrupt and closes the doors, everything in there is treated as an asset. Unless the owner is your BFF and loves you dearly it's unlikely that your property will be returned. Had a situation years ago where I lost almost a thousand dollars of work in a similar situation. The most irritating part was that the owners of the business had already planned a liquidation before they accepted my work. If they like your art, they should purchase all that they want to display. All up to you. Good luck.

Anna other concerns should be addressed as well. It's very rare that anyone has any level of success selling wall decor at restaurants. Not saying it's impossible...but restaurants are known for asking, if not begging artist to hang their art/fine art photographs for FREE to decorate their establishment. The vast amount of restaurant employees could really give a hoot about the artwork as they cater to needy clients.

Do they have any prior experience making sales of fine art? Just a few questions you should inquire about in addition to the risk you already bring up.

Is that likely to happen? If it is - I wouldn't hang even my hat on the hook - and I don't have a hat. How long are you thinking of leaving your art on their walls anyhow - the idea is to sell them or at least get a referral - and shouldn't you change them out every so often?

I hung my art in a consignment art gallery sort of place - it burnt down - no - my work was not covered by their insurance - or mine. About $2,000 in my cost inventory - not what I would have gotten if they had sold - and I did sell several before the fire - it was a good venue at the time and about the only game in town. I did get to write it off my taxes because I had an inventory sheet with sizes and price that the owner and I had initialed.

Why I love showing my work in restaurants and other alternative venues:

* It's a huge boost to building name and work recognition in the local community.

* Most venues don't ask for commission. It's a fair trade - I decorate their space, they handle the sales.

* I always have a place to send people to see my work, up close and personal. That's a real plus for me, as I have no studio space.
I've met several people, here on FAA, who remember seeing my work hanging in some local venue. :-)

* You never know who'll walk in the door and notice your art. Because of showing in unconventional venues, I've not only made sales,
but have been invited to participate in exhibitions -- including my first gallery shows. I've booked speaking engagements and training sessions.
I've met some enthusiastic local patrons, who support my work as repeat buyers, and recommend me to their friends and family.

* It's a great way to build a mailing list, and to direct traffic to my website(s).

* In ten years, I've never lost a print to theft or damage -- or unexpected business problems/closure. (Hang securely, and always use shatter-proof Plexiglas / acrylic. Some establishments actually require plexi instead of glass.

* Restaurants will often feed and water their favorite, starving artist. ;-)

* Salons will often cut and style the neglected hair of their favorite, starving artist. ;-)

After seven years of showing almost constantly, I'm currently not showing anywhere in the real world. My business is feeling the pinch.

Choose your venue carefully. If your work seems a good fit, and you can come to a solid agreement with management, I say go for it. Stay in touch with the venue, and stay visible. IMO, it's a great way to build local credibility as a working artist!

Anna, I think you are too serious altogether, I mean what would happen if there was a massive earthquake or a Meteorite shower in the neighborhood, what would you do then.
Take a deep breath and draw up a small simple contract and get them to sign it,

,,,,,,,,,,Conor

Indeed, Conor!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

nowadays you're taking a chance with restaurants regardless, unless they are franchised ones. Perhaps banks or medical centers would be a safer choice.

For the first time in 30 years I have some of my work on display - as art photography - in the September Gallery Exhibit at the Art League of Ocean City (Maryland). I signed an "Exhibit Entry Form" releasing them from all responsibility for loss or damage. Oh, yes, and that they will handle any sale and retain a 30% commission. It is, however, a modern, secure building that has a lot of local and tourist traffic. Many of those tourists have (expensive) condos and vacation homes in the area that need wall decor.

Tomorrow I will attend an Opening Reception for the September Exhibit that, I understand, will attract quite a crowd. I am risking that someone may spill wine on the walls. LOL

There is another (maybe better known) Art League at the neighboring resort town of Rehoboth Beach (Delaware). I am considering joining there so I have the opportunity to show at some of their events.

I am also getting a few pieces ready to try the restaurant scene at the end of this month. It should be good to be seen for the 4th quarter by a "yuppie set" of diners and drinkers. I may also be trying a nail salon in our resort area later this fall. I would love to have a few pieces in there for the weeks leading up to Christmas. :)

~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com

I am hanging a bunch of work today at a restaurant today as part of an "art walk" sponsored by the downtown association. The good thing about this is that it is in downtown South Bend, IN and this Saturday is the last scheduled meeting between Notre Dame and Michigan. The city is going to be PACKED with people coming in for the game.


I do have to wonder if the art is an "asset" of the restaurant since they didn't purchase it. Even if it is not, I am sure it will be a pain to get back.

Bill, check out the day spas in your area. Their clients tend to have substantial amounts of disposable income. ;-)

For those of you that are based in the Boston area there is a site that you can post and submit your work to, On the site there is a list of businesses that that will let you hang your work in and sell. You pick the business and wait for an opening. The site is, http://www.artvenue.com

Good luck with it.
Conor

A concern I would have would be whether some kid would engage in a little graffiti on the work...Make sure it is hung high enough to offset that possibility.

I had my painting end up behind locked doors a few years ago, of a landlord who hadn't been paid.
I got the contact info of the landlord from the letter he plastered on the door and ending up meeting him one night so I could get the works back.
Landlords don't want the contents of the place they're repossessing, they want it gone, so there's a good chance you'll get it back - if you're nice, polite and understanding of the situation.
Another time, I had a painting stolen STOLEN! Right off the wall. Crazy that. :D

Sometimes we as artists and photographers need to ask ourselves if the good outweighs the bad. Sure, there could be a fire or a flood to the place. Someone could walk out with it, use a Sharpie on it or smash the glass. The owner could forget to pay the landlord who closes the place down or maybe five people total ever visit the place to begin with. Even if all of these things happen, you still may get your art back and it may be saved.

But you may also sell one or ten or fifty pieces. Someone could see your work and ask that it be hung in their gallery. A TV producer could come in and see it and want to hang it up in the scene of a homicide on "Criminal Minds." (That's what I'm hoping for in my case anyway.)

I think sometimes we worry too much about the what if's that probably never will and not enough about the "ah, hell, might as well."

Restaurants are not the only establishments that suffer catastrophic incidences. Follow me on this, interesting:

A few years back by word of mouth I was convinced to visit a Cornwall Ct "Art Gallery" by a guy I inquired about to do my matting and framing for prints on paper. In short, the gallery owner was going through my prints I dropped off to him for mounting and was interested in representing me. I met up with her at the little gallery, located in the lower level of a less visited touristic gift shop. She seemed a bit eccentric for my taste, side stepped most of my questions about her sales record...and not very convincing about how she was going to market my work..(website? Magazine advertisement?)

Fast forward, we arrange to meet on a Saturday during her "regular business hours". I'm waiting, for an hour and 30 minutes and she does not show. No cell phone call. I happen to go upstairs to the gift shop to inquire and find out the gift shop owner is actually the landlord :)) I explained my concerns, and sure enough she opened up about the Art Gallery owner. Turns out the gallery owner is no more than an eccentric art lover, maybe appears at her gallery 4 times a month for a few hours. The gallery is merely a personal collection for her. Sales were infrequent at best. When the gallery owner finally shows she recognizes my vehicle and assumes I drifted to the shop upstairs. She storms up, tells her "landlord" your not stealing any of my artist away and guides me down to her dungeon.

She tells me she was tied up with business phone calls (who was I to doubt) and was eager to paw through my matted prints. She priced them and paced in bins. Over the next few weekends I would stop in frequently between photo sessions. She was open only 40% of the time at best. If she was there, I would sit and chat with her and mostly wanted to see the traffic flow and how she handles the clientele. Once one of her painters called while I was present. I admired her work, she painted northwestern CT down town scenes. I could EASILY overhear her tone of concern on the phone as she told the gallery owner "you are NEVER ever there!!" "How can you sell my originals if your not open?"

I decided not to stop in over the next 3 or 4 weeks and let things work themselves out. I convinced myself, all the cliche' phrases I've been reading in post above: "might as well" "nothing ventured, nothing gained". So one afternoon I decided to make a surprise visit. No lights on at all, nothing in the windows....I jump out of my vehicle and run down to the window and I see bare walls and half empty bins. A few paintings leaning against the walls on the carpet, I saw my card rack in a back room empty. I was pretty shocked, and visited the landlord upstairs. Once again, I got an ear full of fascinating information. Turns out the gallery owner slid out at night, removing what she could. The landlords husband agreed to unlock the store for me since his wife already knew me thank goodness from a prior visit. Luckily, the few prints I DID drop off were still there! We found a handful of my greeting cards and my rack was intact.

Moral of the story, anything can happen. It's your time and your investment. Research, ask questions and get signed agreements. Don't be a stranger! When/If you gain a great relationship with an establishment work like hell to maintain that relationship :)

I sold a painting each month at the local"Coffee Shop"for years nothing in writing ...no damage...owner just wanted me to buy a cup of coffee every now
and then. I ended up meeting all my clients there for commission work.
But, I have a painting in a western shop in Tombstone, AZ...trying to get a hold of them for over a year now...no luck
I should of went down there before moving out of State......That was my only bad experience.

If you are paralyzed by fear of what could go wrong you will never experience all that goes right. I believe the benefits far exceed the risks and restaurants are one of the easiest venues to work. I have never had anything stolen or had trouble getting my work back when I wanted it. I realize it could happen and if it did the world is not coming to an end. Do your self a favor and display your work.

I am much attached to my work, so there is no way I would place it in a restaurant or bank or small gallery under any circumstances, and I have been asked. My work stays with me until I sell it and then it goes to the new owner, plus I would hate the task of keeping track of what sculpture is where and all that.Now if I were approached by some big name gallery or something I might consider.

@Thomas -- That's a crazy story! I'm glad you retrieved most of your work.

I'll add to what I wrote earlier:

Follow your instincts -- don't hand your work over:
- if you feel uncomfortable,
- if the owner/manager is hard to find or doesn't return your calls,
- if you've scoped out a venue and there's no foot traffic,
- if you haven't done your Internet homework,
- if you're escorted to a place you refer to as a 'dungeon', by an owner who seems a bit unstable! Yikes!

Selling art is business; common sense should prevail! ;-)