Vanity Galleries - Scams?

I was recently emailed by the Agora Gallery in NYC inviting me to submit my portfolio for review, with possible exhibits and representation by the gallery in NY. Sounds intriguing, so I do some quick research and discover a Google search turns up numerous artists claiming that Agora is a scam. I don't know if they're a scam or not, but in reading their website I discover that they want an up-front fee of $3,500 just to be promoted, and in return you get a lowered commission (70% for the artist). I politely declined.

Interesting how photographers are now being 'targeted' by these galleries. I'm wondering if others have been solicited? It's a dog-eat-dog world out there!

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there!

Nah, it's a dog-eat-sheep world with photographers dressed in fleece.

Yeah, I heard from these people maybe 6 months ago.
My feeling is simple: If someone wants my work, THEY pay ME.
Sandy

Sandy, I don't expect them to pay me, but i do expect them to demonstrate real interest, a willingness to invest (be it time, work, money, its all an investment). Getting an unsolicited form email doesn't really invoke confidence in the sender's motives

Stan,

Yeah, I recently received the same invitation. I respectfully declined and actually received what appeared to be a personal response and mentioned upcoming juried competitions. Perhaps not a scam, but certainly a typical WW email campaign to attract viewers and potential participants. Easy decision for me, I don't have $3,500 to throw away.

Lon

p.s. be happy in knowing that your website got crawled.....

They must just be getting out West more, because Agora even solicited me about a year/year and a half ago. Not to burst anyone's bubble...

BTW, there is a whole long thread I started when it happened, with many opins on vanity galleries in general and Agora specifically. It's in here somewhere, just too lazy to look I guess at the moment, maybe I'll try in a bit. And I believe there was a second one asking the same question last year.

I've been getting Agora's 'invitations' off and on for several years now. I just trash them. They are an extreme example of how the gallery system frequently works now. They want you to fund the printing, framing & promotional costs. They will hang it on their walls and if any of it sells they take a large chunk of the money (30-50%) The other deal is where they hold contests with an entry fee. The fees pay all the costs including the prizes (if any) and if anything sells they keep a chunk of the money. The long and short is that the photographers/artists take all the risk and pay all the costs including the salaries of the gallery owners. Save your money for some real marketing.

Thanks folks!
Jim--sounds like good advice to me!
Bill--i just found a 2009 thread started by Verena & Georg Popp--Jim replied to that one as well as Guy Tal, also found the one you started--Holy Crow!!! --thanks.

You are welcome, being a relative newbie to photography, at first I was "holy spit!!", Chelsea... NYC... yowsa!! Then I did some research and actually made some calls... reality then set it, though I continue receiving solicitations too, which I also just ignore.