Do you ever offer free work to your collectors?

[travelbud838]

I have a collector who buys up all my "Demonic horse sculptures" He loves them! Another guy buys all my Buffalo-man-transformation pieces. As an insentive, I've been giving these frequent buyers a free piece from time to time. I have no regretts as these two fine people pay my bills. However, I've been wondering if others do this too? It seems natural to me, but there is that fine line of not wanting to make your work seem "cheap."

Anyone else give away their work from time to time?

[ahirschman]

Business is Business. Keep your customers happy. Most galleries end up giving a discount of some type, so you can think of that free piece as your discount.

I have given small pieces when customers buy a couple of large ones.

Ari.

[StevenW]

Ya mean we're supposed to get paid for this? :)

[marblecutter]

The Psychology of giving.
People will appreciate more what they buy than what is received as gift.
Especially if they buy what they like and are given things that get less sentimental value.
There are exceptions when an artist is famous. A sculpture form an unknown
artist given as gift is as good as a door stop. On the Antiques Road Show
one can see examples of people who took for granted certain sculptures.
The instant a formidable value is placed on an item, the the level of appreciation rises accordingly.

[evaldart]

I've given things, sometimes big ones, and I've traded alot (the only way I know how to get nice, unusual things).
I have so much work around. Some of it is givable and some is not. And that changes often.

[craigktx]

i traded a piece for some wood just the other day.
it does depend on how they except the free ones.

[Blacksun]

Sure, I'll throw in a free piece every once in a while for long term collectors...have given them small works that they have turned around & given as gifts, that resulted in new sales form the giftees.. I've even given away pieces to people that were very appreciative of the work, but could not afford it. I have bartered the workfor a lot of things...other art, studio rent, vacations, tires for the Jeep.... And donations for charity auctions of course... I donated a $2000 piece to a symphony fundraiser that has netted me 3 commissions, a party where I got to press the flesh & hand out cards, and an 8 milion dollar house listing for my real estate business. It doesn't seem to affect the price of the work... It's all advertising.

[desertrock]

I've given away a few small works to charity auctions. 5 pieces for xmas gifts.
I gifted a fountain to a good neighbor who, without pretense, repeatedly complimented it.
I've put a piece in a charity auction with a low starting bid with a commission return and the difference, above and beyond that, going to the charity.
I've never traded, good idea.

Mark

[ironman]

Hi, If you want my answer to this question just send a check for $199.95 to Ironman c/o Jeff...................... LOL