I hate virtual art shows. They suck.
So two years ago when all the covid stuff started emerging, everyone started to realize how do-able life was through virtual/streaming/remote media. Kids were forced to go to school online (effectively doing away with snow days, that's gotta suck), people started working online from home, churches started streaming their services if they hadn't already been doing that, and galleries and art shows started this little thing called a virtual art show.
And it sucked. At least for me it did.
I don't know, maybe some artists found virtual/online art shows to be okay. But I hated them just like I hated everything else that was being replaced with its online version. But whatever, I understood at the time why we were doing it.
But here's my gripe: It's mid-2022 now, and I will confidently say that this covid business is over. It's done. It took me two years to finally come down with the virus, but I did. I got over it, and now I'm healthy again. And I know a lot of other people have been through it too. So I say the damage is done, and I think the worst of it is done and is behind us. I don't believe for one second that it will get worse than it already has been previously. So there is no reason that we cannot do live in-person things now. But believe it or not, there are still galleries and art organizations that refuse to host in-person shows! Still! Give me a break!
It's not just the mass fear that frustrates me. It's the nature of the virtual art show that frustrates me. Because unless you're a gallery that has been accustomed to having online shows for several years, and have had success with it, there is no way that you're going to be able to do it on the fly during a pandemic and be successful with it. And by successful, I mean being able to attract clients and collectors to your online show, and sell just as much if not more than you would an in-person show. And again, I get it... at the time in 2020 it was what galleries had to do. But we don't have to anymore!
And if you're an artist, it doesn't do you any good to enter these online shows. Because if the gallery or organization has little to no experience conducting online shows, how on earth can you expect to sell your work through said show? Or for that matter, even get a good amount of "exposure"? Because we all know how much good that does. I only wish exposure was currency. I would seriously love to see the website analytics for these online shows that I've entered. I want to know how much online traffic these virtual shows get.
I mean really, I kid you not... I have entered online art shows that EVEN I FORGOT that I was in! Because after you've done your part in posting the link to the show on your social media and told people to check it out (as if they couldn't just look at your painting on your social media feed), you then pretty much forget all about it. NO ONE is going to click on that link when they've already seen your painting on your social media or website! The only reason they would click on the link is if there is a way to buy the painting through that show's website.
Come to think of it, if you're an artist and you want to sell your work online, why would you even enter your work into a virtual show anyway when you'd probably have better luck selling your work on your own through your own website or social media? Seriously, putting your work in an online show just creates a third party... a middle man that doesn't even need to be there! And furthermore, that middle man is going to take a cut of your sale! I've honestly not sold very many paintings online in the past two years. But I've sold more than zero, which is exactly how many I've sold through online shows hosted by a gallery!
Obviously this is all just my opinion. But I really honestly just think virtual art shows are pointless. My ultimate goal is to sell, and if I'm going to do that online, I'd rather do it myself directly with clients and collectors than to have a middle man involved. I've heard art marketing people say that virtual art shows are the way of the future, but at the end of the day, I really believe people who are seriously interested in fine art are far more interested in seeing a physical piece of art in person with their own eyes. There is no comparison. And with that, I could rant about NFTs, but don't even get me started!
Anyway, if you'd like to see my ongoing virtual solo art show, just visit my website: https://www.ryandelgadoart.com
