[thehatshop143]

My apologies for the verbose manifesto that is about to ensue, but I feel compelled to share my bizarre experience from yesterday afternoon.

For full disclosure, I live in Los Angeles - I am an operations and financial officer and passionate art collector.

While I am relatively new to the boards, I am thankful that in the short time I have been an active member, I have made three incredible local relationships of stand-up individuals who I would not have previously known if it were not for this forum.

The other evening, a service representative from Montezuma’s revenge knocked on my door for a surprise but thorough demonstration of their comprehensive service package. Yes, I was struck with the gnarliest food poisoning mankind has seen in ages. This debilitating but temporary illness left me paralyzed, only able to operate the television remote and my iPhone. It is here where our story begins, when earlier yesterday morning I was perusing Instagram and found it strange to see a critical post from Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles (Thinkspace_art). I have since been deleted and blocked from their Instagram account, but it read:




I feel blessed to have many gallery relationships and although I don’t know Thinkspace or its owner(s) personally, I found it odd that a brand with 98K+ supposed followers would take the time to dispel negative energy over social media.

Upon further review of their posts, I saw loads of similar pejorative commentaries that really took me by surprise - boasts about their follower count, bashing of other accounts etc. I must follow over 150 galleries and artists and not once have I have seen one criticize other artists or gallery accounts or post pictures that they are not involved with, or if they did, with anything but praise.

I became even more curious when I then saw that although Thinkspace has so many followers, their average posts were generating 1000 - 2500 likes … between 0.99% - 2.5% like-to-follower percentage ratio. To elaborate, as I am involved in both the financial and brand growth of the businesses I represent, it is considered typical that at minimum, a successful brand should be maintaining a minimum of a 10% ratio. Yes, we live in a saturated digital era, this is stupid and I don’t make the rules, but numbers are numbers and statistics are statistics.

I innocently commented on such on their post, which led to a shockingly immediate response and retribution.

Moments later my comment was missing.

That’s strange. I haven’t moved. I have incredible WiFi.

Hmmh.

So I refreshed my apps. Powered down my iPhone. These things happen. Let’s take a look.

Comment still missing.

Then it hit me.

Thinkspace deleted my comment !!

And then the flurry began. Strangers agreeing, strangers disagreeing, but select comments were being deleted left and right!

I was instantly amused and could not help myself. I then commented further on their post: “It would have been more respectable to lose followers in the IG cleanse to get ‘interested’ people since followers don’t care what you post … well, 99% of them don’t. And why bash other accounts that bring new artists to light and celebrate great creativity … don’t hate on other accounts people are actually interested and engaged in. Focus on your own thing and stop bashing people not doing what you do … no one should be celebrating 1% engagement … my dog gets more than 10%.”

Poof !! Yet another comment deleted … but this time, I couldn’t even access the account anymore. Thinkspace HAD BLOCKED ME. Here I am, sitting at home sick as can be and bored out of my mind, and during Pow-Wow Hawaii, a gallery owner was taking time out of his day to punish my dog’s Instagram account with barely 900 followers. Hilarious.

So I called a few friends and told them to check out Instagram … ALL OF THEIR COMMENTS WERE IMMEDIATELY DELETED AND THEY ALL GOT BLOCKED TOO. While I thought I had lost every bit of matter inside my body, I had managed to produce tears of laughter that this was actually happening. A gallery owner of 98K+ supposed followers (and I emphasize the word supposed because I have since learned that Thinkspace, like many online businesses today, has purchased a number of their followers / fan base) was concerned to immediately censor and manipulate Instagram posts to only reflect what they wanted to be seen by the public.

Albeit fun for a little while to incite such a sensitive individual, I was going to let this go and continue my day of vomiting and watching Stike Back (highly recommend mindless entertainment for those with Cinemax), but then at 12:58PM PST, my phone rang. It was one of Los Angeles’ premier art galleries. Ummm … how can I help you I asked? The owners, who must have been following, immediately praised me for my comments on Instagram and voiced 20 minutes of horror stories about Thinkspace and its owner. They told me that they wished they could support my online diatribe, but for political reasons, had to stay out of it, but wanted to reach out to let me know how happy they were that I voiced my comments.

Again, I was going to let this go. I was holding down Gatorade, Episode 5 was about to begin and I was really getting into a good rhythm. Then, lo and behold, the phone rang again at 1:56PM PST.

IT WAS ANOTHER PROMINENT LOS ANGELES ART GALLERY. I had met the owner only once at Basel Miami, we exchanged a few texts here and there since, and he too said he felt he needed to reach out that I “made his day” that someone finally said something about Thinkspace. Like the other gallery, he too shared with me frightening stories of his experiences, those of his customers AND shared artists with Thinkspace.

Mind you, I am a private nobody and have never been one to domino such an incendiary reaction, but after being deleted, blocked, censored and receiving two phone calls that most collectors would dream of, I feel compelled to share my experience on an open forum where Thinkspace can’t censor me.

And so, to you Thinkspace, I re-iterate, follow your own advice !! “Do your own thing” and “blaze your own path.” Focus on what you do. Thank the lovers and embrace the haters. Worry about yourself and stop caring about everyone else.

After all, it’s just art.

In the words of my favorite living artist, “I can’t believe you morons actually buy this sh*t.”

Any and all comments welcome and a lovely weekend to all.

POSTSCRIPT: Since writing this, I have received a text message from a 3rd Gallery Director voicing his support, and I am continuing to hold down all solid foods.

[Deleted]

funny read. Thanks for posting. Unfortunately, this is the time we're living in and social media "status" is very important to businesses. I have a feeling what happened to you probably happens all the time (cough. BNE. cough)

just curious - how did all of these people get your phone number? I just watched the Ed Snowden documentary so I'm overly paranoid about my privacy

[thehatshop143]

Feb 15, 2015 20:03:30 GMT 1 @federationofideas said:

funny read. Thanks for posting. Unfortunately, this is the time we're living in and social media "status" is very important to businesses. I have a feeling what happened to you probably happens all the time (cough. BNE. cough)

just curious - how did all of these people get your phone number? I just watched the Ed Snowden documentary so I'm overly paranoid about my privacy

Two of the galleries I am a customer of, the other I was really shocked to get a call from as we had only met the one time. Either way, I was surprised that anyone even made the effort to pick up the phone and call me, hence my compulsion to share my story. So bizarre.

BNE cough - made me laugh outloud !!

[soupy]

[Deleted]

I am curious: what was that critical comment of yours that got you banned?

[Wearology]

You can buy Twitter followers and many other social media outlets so you can't believe any individuals or any companies follower total.
This is just one company that sells Instagram followers:
Buy Instagram Followers only From $2.95 | HelpWYZ.com
www.helpwyz.com/buy-instagram-followers/
Buy High Quality Instagram Followers at Affordable Price, No password or login information needed Just Username, Start within 1 - 6 hours, Easy and Fast.

[elkev]

If you posted under the username "Littlemalfoy", then your comments are still there. At least some of them.

[alittle]

tl;dr

Andrew Hosner is good people.

[sin]

Yeah what alittle said. Andrew is good people. Thinkspace has always done me right and attacking someone's user engagement is pretty nerdy and serves no purpose in my opinion.

[meh.]

I don't like Thinkspace at all. Worst 'gallery' I've dealt with by far. Not surprised they are being douchey... just ignore them, most of the artists sell direct or through other galleries. Most of them have work come up on the secondary market too. 

[Shoeless]

I take it you don't follow Retna.....
This sounds like childs play compared to last years melts on his account.

[meh.]

Feb 15, 2015 21:18:12 GMT 1 Wearology said:

You can buy Twitter followers and many other social media outlets so you can't believe any individuals or any companies follower total.
This is just one company that sells Instagram followers:
Buy Instagram Followers only From $2.95 | HelpWYZ.com
www.helpwyz.com/buy-instagram-followers/
Buy High Quality Instagram Followers at Affordable Price, No password or login information needed Just Username, Start within 1 - 6 hours, Easy and Fast.

Yeah I clocked this with Maya Hayuk. She has 75k followers whereas for example Clemens Behr has <1k. Even Damien Hirst has only 37k, and you can be sure he hasn't had to buy those. His pic's get alot more comments.

[Black Apple Art]

Feb 15, 2015 23:51:09 GMT 1 Shoeless said:

I take it you don't follow Retna.....
This sounds like childs play compared to last years melts on his account.

Retna's melts and ranting manifestos seem to be mainly when in a drunken stupor like his great " I am the government" burst while being arrested on video last week. Probably a little more leeway for an actual artist vs a gallery representing them but all entertaining non the less. 

[Happy Shopper]

This whole thread is pointless. And smacks of bullshit by someone with a grudge to bare.

Who gives a fuck is someone (or a gallery) on Instagram doesn't like their posts being highjacked and gets over sensitive about it!?

Get over it... Move along.

[Deleted]

I love this thread. Lots of kids with credit cards and a lack of understanding at just how "shifty" this business is. 99, and I mean 99 of 100 of these artists will be long forgotten in ten years. Their work, while beautiful, will be about worthless.

Even the gold standard, Fairey, with the amount he produces and subsequently gets hoarded by collectors, the bottom will fall out. We're talking 100,000's of print sitting in flat files. The dump WILL come, better not be left holding too long. Unless you really want a repetitive propaganda motif covering every square inch of your walls, long term.

There will always be people here defending the scene and those trying to shine a light on the greed and manipulation.

Great conversation to have again and again and again. Keep it at the top.

[gorkie]

That's why people should only buy art that they they love period. Dont buy on speculation. Buy because you feel like you cannot live without it.

I've been collecting for 15 + years now and if you think Thinkspace is not running a very professional and good business think again. They are one of the best I've ever dealt with. Seriously.

If somebody writes something that is off color on one of my instagram entries I would delete it off in a NY second. It would be bad business/foolish NOT to.

[bmerel]

Thinkspace, good humans. Andrew, top notch human. Life is too short to get flustered when you don't get your way or when someone doesn't give a rats ass about what you have to say. Find someone that cares and tell them. Just being blunt and honest. At the end of the day, it just doesn't matter!!!

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2015 2:35:07 GMT 1 gorkie said:

That's why people should only buy art that they they love period. Dont buy on speculation. Buy because you feel like you cannot live without it.

I've been collecting for 15 + years now and if you think Thinkspace is not running a very professional and good business think again. They are one of the best I've ever dealt with. Seriously.

If somebody writes something that is off color on one of my instagram entries I would delete it off in a NY second. It would be bad business/foolish NOT to.

business ethics IN EFFECT.

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2015 2:38:57 GMT 1 bmerel said:

Thinkspace, good humans. Andrew, top notch human. Life is too short to get flustered when you don't get your way or when someone doesn't give a rats ass about what you have to say. Find someone that cares and tell them. Just being blunt and honest. At the end of the day, it just doesn't matter!!!

LOL

EB DC in da house

[gorkie]

Shady.

Nasty.

Has spoken.

[Deleted]

It's shadynasty baby. Now go clean your guns for the revolution, or zombie invasion or whatever makes you hoard such disgusting things.

Keep it up top!

[gorkie]

Will do my brother. You keep up your good work there too.

[mc9205]

yeah

[bmerel]

What's a shadynasty and what's an EB DC? Acronyms.

[Mirus Gallery Poesia]

Nothing to say really about Thinkspace to each their own how they handle there social media, but I do think your numbers are off and the fact that you assume people are buying followers is flawed as well. I dont think you can prove they or any artist has bought likes. Its not too hard if you post alot of art to get to 100K, I have seen some real bad instagram feeds get tons of followers just being consistent, annoyingly consistent.

I have never bought followers I have a small following on some accounts but not in the 100K range yet My numbers are always consistent and in the 1-2.5% range of likes to followers. I checked some other big names and they are all the same 1-2.5% range. I really dont know where your numbers are coming from that 10% engagement is normal, I am sure if I wanted to google it it would be similar to what I just found to be true looking on my feed and doing some quick math. I did not find anyone near the 10% you said is normal. By your math all my feeds followers are bought as well and I can tell you that is not true. Maybe for smaller feeds 10% engagement is normal but I would argue 5K+ 1-2.5% is pretty normal.

Not defending the gallery just trying to ask where you are getting these numbers.

Here is an article that states 3.31% percent engagement counting comments and likes together. So 1-2.5% like engagement alone seems normal on average. marketingland.com/instagram-beats-twitter-brand-engagement-111479

[raindogs]

I can judge only on a my personal experience: in the real world (not the virtual world) they have been helpful while my son was this summer in Los Angeles and went there to choose a little (and not expensive) piece of an artist I liked: they opened the gallery in the morning for him and gave him the opportunity to take a view of a lot of art. So for me they are top guys.

[elkev]

I'm still a little confused by the original post. Like, who cares if someone blocks you on instagram? Or why does a dog have an instagram account?

[soam24]

Feb 16, 2015 9:43:10 GMT 1 Mirus Gallery Poesia said:

Nothing to say really about Thinkspace to each their own how they handle there social media, but I do think your numbers are off and the fact that you assume people are buying followers is flawed as well. I dont think you can prove they or any artist has bought likes. Its not too hard if you post alot of art to get to 100K, I have seen some real bad instagram feeds get tons of followers just being consistent, annoyingly consistent.

I have never bought followers I have a small following on some accounts but not in the 100K range yet My numbers are always consistent and in the 1-2.5% range of likes to followers. I checked some other big names and they are all the same 1-2.5% range. I really dont know where your numbers are coming from that 10% engagement is normal, I am sure if I wanted to google it it would be similar to what I just found to be true looking on my feed and doing some quick math. I did not find anyone near the 10% you said is normal. By your math all my feeds followers are bought as well and I can tell you that is not true. Maybe for smaller feeds 10% engagement is normal but I would argue 5K+ 1-2.5% is pretty normal.

Not defending the gallery just trying to ask where you are getting these numbers.

Here is an article that states 3.31% percent engagement counting comments and likes together. So 1-2.5% like engagement alone seems normal on average. marketingland.com/instagram-beats-twitter-brand-engagement-111479

It's rather easy to see who bought followers.. as followers are bought in a number range, say 500 - 1000, you can easily go back and click some user names, and see that they may have no posts, no followers, and no activity. 

At least with twitter, when you encounter this it's easy as most are from different countries. I would assume IG fake followers are the same.

[stvro22]

Feb 16, 2015 1:31:45 GMT 1 Happy Shopper said:

This whole thread is pointless. And smacks of bulls**t by someone with a grudge to bare.

Who gives a f**k is someone (or a gallery) on Instagram doesn't like their posts being highjacked and gets over sensitive about it!?

Get over it... Move along.

I agree. Get over it. I could do without all vomiting and self loathing too. Also there is something called being "featured" by Instagram. If they decide they like the pictures you post they could feature your account. This usually nets you tens of thousands of new followers. As a branding person I would think you might know that.

[maxf]

Feb 16, 2015 3:14:30 GMT 1 @shadynasty said:

It's shadynasty baby. Now go clean your guns for the revolution, or zombie invasion or whatever makes you hoard such disgusting things.

Keep it up top!

Good to see another It's Always Sunny fan.  Not checked out the latest season yet... hoping for more of the same.