Anna Moreau chats with Linton Partington and Gary Kay Directors of Linton and Kay Fine Art Gallery and LK Galleries in Subiaco (10 and 5 years).
WABN: What has been the most challenging event in your career?
LP: "Shifting from a 12-year chartered accounting career to establishing an art gallery business. The difficulty was going from a regimented environment (12 years of time sheets!) with a regular paycheck to one requiring self motivation. Motivation was simple - I had a mortgage, a wife and a one-year-old daughter. I learned that you didn't need to wear a suit and tie every day to be a successful business person."
GK: "I was in media contracted to three of Perth's leading radio stations, both personally and through a company I had set up with my on-air partner, Paul Redman, and although I was working in a very creative environment I still felt the strings being pulled. I learned the difference between good and bad management and the impact it had on the culture of the respective organisations and their teams."
WABN: What's the best measurement of your performance, and can you name a highlight in your career?
LP: "There are two key measures of our performance. First and foremost it is the satisfaction of our artists and collectors, as they are ultimately the most important elements of what we do."
GK: "...and performing for our artists in terms of sales."
WABN: How do you deal with egos in your workplace?
LP: "We've banned them completely!"
GK: "Although someone should tell some of our artists."
WABN: What frustrates you the most about your sector and what would you do to change it?
GK: "The elitist nature of some Australian gallerists. We attempt to de-mystify the whole art scene for people by providing non-intimidating spaces and giving people, from first-time collectors to the more seasoned art buyers, the information they require to make their decision. We don't look at them with disdain if they ask us what the red dot next to a painting is for (i.e. means the painting has been sold)."
WABN: What are the specific hurdles that you meet on a daily basis in your sector? How do you deal with them?
LP: "Another hurdle in our business is dealing with artists that require ongoing management to ensure that they are kept on track. Many are 'right-brained' (which makes them so talented) but makes it difficult to deal with on the 'left-brain' business side of things."
WABN: Have you read a good book on management/leadership that you can recommend? What was so good about it?
GK: "Recently we have read the book Surviving the Dip; this was very insightful as it dealt with the idea of how you need to push through barriers of rejection to achieve your end goal."
LP: "There were many interesting insights in the book, which was very motivating. It is great to get an insight into how challenging it can be to get where you want as some times you feel like you are the only one."