Timpani Ingalls (timpanii) wrote in summerview, @ 2018-12-28 12:58:00 |
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Entry tags: | daciana montagne, timpani ingalls |
Stepping into the gallery, Timpani undid her heavy winter coat, letting it fall open in front as she slipped her sunglasses into her bag. The gallery was bright and airy and she casually strolled over to the nearest piece, taking a look. She was far from an art critic or connoisseur, though she had taken a basic art history course in college and had been reading up on things since then. Still, she was far, far from an expert.
Turning, she headed towards the office area, trying her best not to waddle though it was difficult. At least she wore her nice knee high boots with the low heel in a compromise between looking good, being able to walk and the weather. Winter in New Jersey was not for heels. Additionally, she wore fleece tights under a deep plum sweater wrap dress. There was no missing her bump, but at least she looked professional and businesslike. Winter outside was raging as it normally did. Cold weather abounded. Daciana still wasn't used to it. She missed the Louisiana heat, which was one reason she kept her gallery at a comfortable temperature. Cool enough to keep the paintings pristine, warm enough that she could still go barefoot once she entered her space. The southern nymph really did hate shoes. She was passing by the front door when the other woman walked in and came to an abrupt stop. Was she supposed to be expecting anyone today? She couldn't remember. She'd given Pemberly the day off to spend with her parents and Darius had the twins... she didn't remember there being any kind of interview or meeting. But then again... "Hi. I'm Daciana. Welcome to the Montagne Gallery. How can I help you?" Smiling, Timpani turned, offering her hand, “Hi, I’m Timpani. This is your gallery, right?” She had done her research before coming, proposition in hand, so to speak. It paid to know your audience and the business. Daciana nodded, moving to take the other woman's hand in greeting. "It's nice to meet you, Timpani. This is mine and my family's gallery, yes. Was there something I could do for you?" “Actually, yes. I’ve been working to bring an art gallery to Summerview and I heard that you have this one...have you considered having a second location in Summerview? Maybe something smaller, that can feature local artists,” she had a business plan to show Daciana too, to show how this could be feasible and cost-effective. “We could discuss?” At the mention of her home, Daciana grinned. Summerview. That meant that Timpani was like her… at least, in some way. “Summerview, huh? That’s where I live, actually. I’d love to have another venue there. I host local artists here, as well, but to have one centered there… I could easily display art of… other natures. It could be exciting.” Running a hand through her curls, the Naiad motioned to the podium her greeter would normally be seated at and asked her to pull up a seat. “Do you have a plan in mind for this gallery?” Taking a seat in the second chair took a moment, sitting was always a challenge even though this was a good solid chair. Getting up was also a challenge, but since this was a good chair and not some soul-swallowing overly-plush sofa, she could likely do it without help, “Yes,” she opened her purse, pulling out a tablet and tapping it to wake it up and display the plans, “The original idea was two galleries, one in Atlantic City, one there, but you have this one here and I’m not interested in competition when there’s plenty to go around. That’s silly. Here,” she showed Daciana the space she had found, tentative ideas for how to set it up and the artists she had already spoken with to provide artwork so far. Daciana took the time to go over everything carefully. The woman was detailed. Detailed was good when it came to plans. When it came to anything connected to the Montagne Gallery. She needed everything in place. Everything perfection. This place was owned not just by her, but by all the members of her family as well. The success or failure of this place had an impact on each of them. “This is nice. I like it. What will it take to put it into motion?” It was a simple question, one she expected a clear and concise answer to. Whatever the woman needed, she could get it to her. It was just a matter of need. “There,” she took the tablet and switched screens showing a breakdown for costs, expected returns on the investment, etc. “I didn’t assume profit for the first two years, just to have cushion, but I think with a little work, it could start to profit after a year most likely. I’ve got a number of works already set aside, all which can be purchased. I can manage it full time, but we would likely need at least one part timer, since I want the gallery to be open at least some nights and evenings for those who are nocturnal.” She had even checked out some spaces in town and looked at a few with pricing. It was a good plan. Daciana was liking what she was looking at. "Profit is something you wouldn't have to worry very much about. As an offshoot of the gallery here, I wouldn't have a problem splitting the profits from here until the one in Summerview starts picking up. I don't see any reason the gallery can't be open 24 hours. There have to be some of the nocturnal kind looking for jobs, right? Couldn't we hire one of them for the night shift?" Daciana really liked the plan that Timpani came up with. "How would you feel if I asked you to manage both of the galleries? You clearly have an eye for this sort of thing and I think it would benefit you in terms of pay and something to do." Manage both? That was...possible? Maybe? She hadn’t considered that. “I...I’m cursed,” she said finally, laying a hand on her rounded middle, “I assumed I would work in Summerview where there would be fewer questions about when I’m due. Especially since, well....I’m not.” It might be illegal to ask about her pregnancy in a job interview, but this wasn’t really a job interview and it was better to address the elephant in the room head on. Cursed. That sucked. Daciana was the sympathetic type. After George, she never wanted to come out of her room, let alone see anyone else. She’d had her family to help her, the twins… Daci didn’t know if Timpani had anyone at all. Even if she did, it still sucked. “If you’d rather manage just the one in Summerview, that’d be fine, too. I don’t mind. I can still run this one and put the one in Summerview completely in your hands.” It was easy for her to trust people. Maybe that was a drawback (her brothers would certainly think so), but she found that seeing the good in people sometimes managed to bring out the good in people. Nodding thoughtfully, Timpani considered the options, “Let me get the gallery in Summerview up and running,” she proposed, “That will take a few months, at least. If everything goes well, probably do a soft opening for early April? Then a grand opening a few weeks after that? And we can re-evaluate around Labor Day and see how things go? And I can always sub for you temporarily if you aren’t around,” she assumed that Daciana took vacation or something at some point. It was a vague timeline, but one that offered plenty of wiggle-room if needed and could always be sped up or slowed down, too. Thinking about it, Daciana could see the merit with her idea. It was a good way to position the other woman without having her take on too much right away. A good way to see if this would actually work, though the Naiad really had no doubts that it would. Timpani gave her a solid plan, a decent time frame, a good working idea on putting it all together. So while she knew she probably should talk it over with Darius at the very least, the gallery was still meant to be hers. And the family would come out better should the new gallery perform well. “Miss Timpani, you have yourself a deal,” she stated, reaching out to shake her hand. “We’ll meet again in Summerview to take care of the smaller details and you can show me where you plan to set things up. I look forward to seeing the new gallery thrive.” Smiling, Timpani shook, then reached over and slipped one of Daciana’s cards out of the holder, then typed quickly on the tablet, “I just sent you everything we discussed and now you have my contact information as well,” she slipped the business card into a pocket in the tablet case. Packing the tablet back into her bag, she stood slowly, using the chair for leverage. “It’s been wonderful doing business with you.” |