34th Antique Salon could be remembered as the most low-light in the press, the most uncomfortable in domestic terms and unimportant in terms of attendance. If Thursday he suddenly not lucky

«That's died down another salon in the vast vast country ..." So I would like to start my review article, but the reality does not allow it, picking a song with the word "died down." He was not died down, and not even otshumela and passed quietly and at home. Ask the first comer in: that now is interesting? Ponder the counter, and will be called everything but the main event of the antique market, even at the 125-m site will remember. That's it. Sad? Yes, sadly. Especially when you have to write about this is not the first time.

Alas, all our previous article with suggestions on how to fix this situation, once again remained unheeded. But first things first.

press conference, anticipating the opening of the Salon, already reflected the interest of the media to the main event of the antique market of the country. Gone is the time when the hall could accommodate not want, and the camera obscured the presidium. This time the hall was filled well, if half, and the cabins of this creek flowed and did not notice. What is it? Why do some pre-auction exhibition of large western auction in second collects all the TV channels and newspapers - from zhekovskih messengers to respectable business, even those that are long closed, and our, native, hempen event number 2 (ie, spring) - and no gu-gu?

Poor invite the press? No interesting objects? Try to understand, but for now let us return to the chronology of events.

So, evening reception. He is already before this became the event, from which more waiting than they receive, but this time, especially not specified. Gallery invites his guests was impossible, and the guests who were invited sponsor reception, not interested in art. So no sales, no satisfaction from intercourse, unfortunately, did not happen. The second new feature is extremely harmful organizers of the Salon was the lack of invitation cards - or rather, they were, but in very limited quantities and with a limited validity period, namely, for just one day - the day of the opening. Third unpleasant surprise for the participants was the lack of food places where you can eat and by and with the clients have a cup of coffee. Two obscure snout sandwiches three beach table as such, of course, can not be considered, add a little bit poor interiors and ask yourself, can come to a place with a couple of customers hundreds of thousands of dollars in your pocket? The answer is obvious, and the mood similar to pessimism was fully justified to the middle of the Salon, when suddenly ...

... the news spread through the country, that on Thursday, the first lady visited the salon. Moreover, personally eyeing the stands and even on the third floor of the dismantling of porcelain and silverware, drinking coffee from a plastic cup ... - another local dishes catering suggested it. On this visit as the main event of the Salon wrote MK - began. On Friday and Saturday there was a boom. People crowded on Salon, effectively abandoning luxury goods within three to four thousand dollars. Sentiment has changed dramatically for the better, some even began to assess Salon as one of the most successful in recent years. Indeed, surveys of participants revealed that the sale of several paintings and 50 000 is almost at all, and some have a more significant deal - and 100 000 and 200 000 dollars. What else should a poor dealer, you ask me, and make a mistake: you need communication, new contacts, and even customers - that's the dream of Antiquities. And it was all in the past three days, do weather spring XXXIV antique shops.

So, unpretentious one movement, you can easily animate an entire sector of the economy. Finally, our appeals to the first people of the country to celebrate the event with his presence like antique shops were heard. Why with Merkel to come to the opening of the exhibition in Hanover is possible, and for the opening of the central events of the Russian antique life there? After all, it no capital investment, no sophisticated logistics, no big deal not only required to honor the presence. So much that can be useful to do almost in passing, I would say evil tongues, but do not do it. Well step is the hardest, can, and will go into practice.

And while touch is one important reason why the media so sluggish light Antique Salon. There is no need to look for foes intrigues and conspiracies of silence. Press - being hungry for sensation, and what they, as a rule, be expressed in relation to antiques? In the off-scale prices and scandals.

start with price - the most sensitive issue of the Salon. Get a price for the article is almost impossible, so that there is price - pictures often too impossible. And what, then, to write? And so from year to year, and the result, if nothing to write about, so why go to the press? And do not go. And then listen to the claims of the participants in no PR Salon surprising and strange. And you-what do you mean? However, I do not want to justify and organizers: the lack of advertising - it's not a problem, but the trouble. Where outdoor advertising, billboards, banners? Some fur salon just baldness proest calls to come, but here are a antique shops, it can be said with a pleasant combination of cultural - and the silence. Do not have enough budget? But once this problem is solved in a normal European cities, where not only manage to collect the inhabitants of the country, but also tourists, including those from Russia. And since I remember the European experience, the price of the picture there is no secret - most of them are in the captions to the pictures, and no problems. Yes, tell me, how can we be happy to call a price, but suddenly made a mistake and made the right decision, or, on the contrary, his Scare triple the normal price tag? Well, it's hard to give advice on what you and the professionals to find the right solution.

So, what do we have? We have a parochial event, dimly lit by the press and extremely uncomfortable to visit. And what do we want? Rabid sales price growth and prosperity? No, it does not happen. Rather, happened, but it seems those days are gone. And if you managed to deal with the scandals by setting up advisory council modeled after European counterparts, then the rest of the can, it would wish.

And would demand. Here is one of the main questions that seek answers during these events. So there is a demand or not? That is the question, to paraphrase Hamlet, picked us. Yes, with this problem, and Cyprus, damn it, and the fight against corruption, as it may seem, the situation does not improve. And add Rublyovka with huge posters of "For Sale" over the household, add the imminent shale revolution, which is visible from the windows of apartments in London for many Russian collectors of beauty. And where is the antiques, I ask you in turn? How to attach another Aivazovsky or strange Korovin in this series? And whether you want, or maybe better Warhol Mans?

complicated issue, but that now - die? No way, too early to bury. Everything was okay and not going anywhere. Yes, some of the prices are too high, it is obvious that the money went up and the price will be aligned, and the salon is a witness. There is an interest in spite of everything. The good thing at the right price finds a buyer, and especially so at this time buyers were art dealers themselves: many booths I bragged about it a good buy, not sales, so, life goes on. Economy adjusts stupidity, and always will be new fans of the rare things as they appeared five years ago, and ten, and one hundred. So do not say goodbye. Until we meet at the antique shops!

Constantine Babulin, AI