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Saturday 22 November 2008

Your problems solved

Your problems solved

Once again Mary has invited some of her favourite Persons of Distinction to submit queries for her Christmas consideration.

Q. My sister Kate has a show in Cork Street of her ravishing Indian frescoes, which are in great demand. A valuable friend of cautious means has asked me if I might help him secure one directly from the artist and circumvent the gallery. Much as I’d like to help my friend, I feel loath to introduce him directly while there’s still work for sale in the gallery. My concern is for the gallery owner whose prominent position in Cork Street is giving the work such a good showcase. Please advise.

A. There is usually an agreement between artist and gallery to prevent such a sale in the first place. This gives you a courteous way to decline his request, but try to avoid sounding pompous while doing so. It would also be a mistake to commit the own goal of ‘studio door’ prices. Tongues will wag and other buyers will quickly get wind of price inconsistencies. Instead, your friend could commission a new, possibly very tiny, piece, saying to your sister, ‘This is all I can afford. Can you do anything for this price?’ Sometimes dealers want a cut, even of work sold outside the gallery. If so, it is best to submit to them. Artists do need dealers to support their market.

From Jamie Murray Wells, London W2

Q. As an entrepreneur I often work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. However, my flatmate, who is a plumber, works to a slightly different schedule. While I’m grafting, launching internet businesses, he’s in the flat drinking tea with his colleagues, arguing over which is best — chai, Earl Grey or Assam. Then I get home only to discover he is having parties with electronic music all night. I can’t get to sleep and our neighbours are threatening to sell their properties. Every time I broach the subject with him, he tells me to act my age and threatens to turn off the water supply. What should I do?

A. Although the two of you may remain great friends, it is clearly impractical, if not impossible, for you to share accommodation. Instead you must follow the lead of financially secure divorcees. In order to give their children a continued sense of stability, top divorcees now try to move into adjacent properties when they find themselves incompatible. Your network of shared friends deserve the same consideration. So, since your online spectacles business, glassesdirect.co.uk, has become so successful, the nuisance will be only administrative rather than financial. Just ensure your own side of the wall is soundproofed.

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