First Impressions Still Matter (More Than You Think)

It only takes One, Santa Fe, NM. Image by Ivan Barnett.

“The way you do anything is the way you do everything.”— Martha Beck

In a world that feels like it’s spinning faster every day—where economies shift, markets contract, and attention spans shrink—you can’t afford to overlook the basics.  In 2016, the Santa Fe Opera gave me a shot to be a creative partner.  This was a big deal.  I began the process of lining up the most prestigious talent to do a massive photo shoot that would blow their socks off.  Besides producing stunning images of professional models wearing world-class, one-of-a-kind jewels, I took a gamble and staged an in-gallery private fundraising event in honor of the opera Don Giovani that summer.  It paid off.  The opera won and the gallery benefited.  For the next seven years, we garnered the ongoing trust of the internationally acclaimed Santa Fe Opera.

The old sayings survive because they’re true: First impressions still matter. And these days, second and third chances are slim, if they exist at all.

What I Have Learned

I learned this firsthand during my decades as co-founder and creative director of Patina Gallery. Every interaction, every deadline, every small act (or failure to act) told me volumes.  Professionalism wasn’t an optional skill. It was—and still is—the bedrock of trust.

Let me be blunt: If you’re not five minutes early to a gallery meeting, you’re already late.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve pulled an all-nighter in the studio. It doesn’t matter if your creative process is messy or your ideas are brilliant.  You are running a business and in business reliability is currency. It was imperative that if the Santa Fe Opera was going to put its faith in Patina Gallery, it needed to see how we left “our rooms,” that is the stage, exactly the way we found it.  Every room, light and extension cord were accounted for, as though my staff  were using the facility as though we were overnight guests of dear friends (main stage of the Santa Fe opera), and left it exactly the way it was found, the sign of being a great guest! So you only get one shot when you put yourself on the line.  “Sixty Shades of Black” was the title of that world class exhibition of Peter Schmid jewels.

Santa Fe where dreams come and go, Santa Fe, NM.  Image by Ivan Barnett.

Be Consistent and Mean It

Without clear, consistent professional practices, you damage your reputation and your partnerships.

When you walk into your gallery, do you know the names of the staff who greet you? Do you know the director’s vision for the space you’re depending on to sell your work? Have you taken the time to understand the gallery’s clientele, their aesthetic, their brand story? Or are you just handing over work and hoping for the best? As Creative Director, I always retained the ability to decline certain works and not exhibit them due to their lack of “intensity or quality.”  Patina Gallery’s reputation was so high because the clientele expected a level of excellence that was impeccable.  Outrageous service was the norm.  I can remember a few times, in my 25 years there where art jewelry works had to be returned and exchanged.  This was never easy to do, but very necessary.

In an uncertain, chaotic world, the artists who thrive are going to be the ones who respect their ecosystem. They don’t just float in and out. They embed and push the levels of their own creativity. They listen. Those artists show up at levels far beyond what the competition would expect.

Ask yourself some uncomfortable questions:

• Have I acted like a true partner to my gallery—or just an occasional participant?
• Have I given my gallery my finest work—or only pieces I wasn’t sure what to do with?
• Have I ever once asked what they need from me, rather than only what I need from them?

Thanksgiving Day 2022.  Santa Fe, NM.  Image by Ivan Barnett

The Greatest Galleries Notice Everything

In today’s world, galleries have many pressures and priorities. They will choose to invest in the artists who invest back.  I’ve seen brilliant careers stall—not because of lack of talent, but because of avoidable missteps.  Don’t be that story.  If you’re serious about your career, you must be serious about your professional practices.

At Serious Play, I coach artists to expect more from themselves artistically—but also on the integrity of their professional relationships.  We build lasting strategies for thriving, not just surviving, in a marketplace that demands more of you than ever before.  Always let your passion drive the work you create.  You are being watched, and even your collectors are watching you.  It is your duty to give them the best of you.

Because your talent deserves to be seen, your professionalism determines whether it ever will be seen.  If you are prepared to show up better, smarter, and stronger—I’m here to help you get there.  Stay sharp. Stay generous. Stay ready and stay open to constructive guidance and advice from your peers as well as always from your mentors.

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”— Michelangelo

©2025

With you,
Ivan Barnett
Founder, Serious Play
serious-play.co

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