There will always be artists who want gallery representation.A top gallery can earn you sales that would not otherwise come your way.Unfortunately there are also galleries that don't work very well at all!You don't want to be there do you?Becoming one of a gallery's artists is not that easy!Particularly if they are well established.These galleries already have a team of artists to whom they give their loyalty.To break into this scene is difficult, but here are a few ideas.Find a mentor to help you.Someone who can give you a realistic and commercial advice might be best.A successful artist or former gallery owner, are best prospects for mentoring.Visit as many galleries as you can.Try to get a feel for what they exhibit and how they do things.Each will have its different style and objectives.The area where the gallery is situated tells something about likely clientele.For example they may be in a tourist precinct.Do you want people just to see your works?Do you believe then they will sell?Most artists think like this so maybe you want to make money?Commercial galleries sell works so they and their artists make money.And that's the best reason for having your work there.Public galleries show works too but they do not sell them!You do not want to be there as an aspect of a professional career.But you may make a common mistake - expect the works to sell themselves.They don't and can't BUT there are other alternatives.Do it all yourself or make contact with corporate consultants.They sell a great deal of artwork, as can architects and interior designers.You could exhibit at art shows and there you might win an award as well.Use Facebook and email and newsletters can be sent to prospects.You could spend years in a co-op but co-op people can't sell their own work.You might be able to participate in annual open studio tours.Annual Art Fairs and juried shows at an arts center might be a possibility.Maybe you could have a solo show at a local restaurant or resort?Perhaps your work fits in with antique displays?Do your local galleries actually sell stuff?Is it low priced local area focused work?Do the people at any antique place sell artwork for many do?Your stuff may not need to stand out and might be best if it doesn't!Maybe people in antique shops actually sell!There you become an artist the buyer discovered on their visit to your area.Charge more (much more) and paint smaller for then they are not souvenirs.Hanging artworks somewhere in front of people doesn't sell anything.You and all the other artists need someone helping people buy.People buy for their own reasons not reasons the seller thinks they should.Many places for exhibiting have this problem they assume stuff sells itself!Even worse they do not understand what to do to change this situation.Selling is finding out what people want to buy.Then providing something that meets those requirements.Even your presence may not be enough if you are not doing that.That's because most artists just answer questions.You should ask questions and listening carefully to answers instead.Anyone who does that can sell anything. Artists rarely buy artworks.People who buy are NOT artists and don't understand the creation's mystery.The work seems like magic so to sell you need to preserve this mystery.Do NOT answer questions - well not about the works and how done.So should any gallery people where you have consigned works.Paint what you like as what you actually do is not related to sales.Although what it looks like is. Only a commercial gallery has a sales focus.Even then many do not know exactly what to do.If you have works in places like that then remove them.So what is the very best way to make money?Have a sell-out exhibition!Have you seen any sell out exhibitions?Were they at a gallery - do you remember them?