The underside of Corporate Banking!!

Okay, we have the corporation status. Set to go. Now the banking. I went to Washington Mutual. Very confusing. Without my California corporate status they wouldn't help me. Let's review what the books never tell you. Different states call the formation of a corporation different things. In California, which by the way seems to have the highest corporate taxes of anywhere in the nation, there is a statement of information to outline the company and its people and the formation material is called the Articles of Incorporation. Delaware and a few other states call the same thing the Articles of Formation. I felt like such a dummy when the bank official was asking for papers that were different from what I had. Like maybe I was making this whole thing up. You know, artists are famous for "making things up." Finally after reviewing everything that I had, I realized that the bank officers weren't about to go with Delaware corporate papers by whatever name. They acted as if the Articles of Formation and Corporate Data papers in my hand were just so much unformed clay. A rose by any other name is still a rose. Fine. I simply switch banks. There are some friendly banks out there with people who treat you respectfully. My dealings with HSBC bank seem to be going well. They even have a Banking Resolution form that does everything for me. I just sign and use my seal and it's done. Yes! There are banks who want to make it hard for you and there are banks that want to make it easy.

More to come

I'm working on the corporation papers. Heavens! This is a bit complicated but I can't afford an attorney. So, I hope I get it right. Although I incorporated as a Delaware C corporation, I must also file as a C corporation with California. I've requested a "corporation in good standing" statement (yes there is a fee)from Delaware which is necessary before I can incorporate in California. I can't get a business license or a seller's permit until this part is complete. Will I pay taxes even though I haven't sold anything? You bet. I just don't know how much. Being a librarian is a boon however. We have here a CPR test booklet that has loads of stuff on corporate taxes. I still have time to file as an S corporation if things look grim. A lot of artists have constructed a nonprofit corporation and some as LLCs in which all are part owners. Some even have tiers with owners and just members. I don't work with other artists and as yet only know a few who will become stockholders. The financial structure at this point is a bit unclear and thus my direction still a bit cloudy. Still, you never know what will happen. Just trying to make this dream snap together. Life is short and this may be my last go around to reach for that brass ring.

Plumbing--you know you have to do it!

Yeah, if you want a snazzy bathroom look, you have to do the dirty work yourself. I got the sink & faucet from eBay and installed it myself. It took awhile, several trips to the hardware store. Those Ace guys really got sick of me, I'm sure. But I figured it out. Had to reinforce the wall with plywood in order to mount the sink. The kitchen was on the opposite wall. So that helped a lot with that bit of plumbing. I was working both ends of the pipe, so to speak.

Looking back before the Oct show

Frantically before the October show went up, I had to build a moveable wall to section off the gallery space. This proved invaluable because I could then store glass and frames inside the hollow wall. But all this became very time consuming. It took me 3 days to build the wall and about $80 in materials.

There is more to getting a gallery ready for a show

than I ever realized. Aside from

getting the gallery space presentable, I still had to revamp the living space which will also affect exhibits. After all, the bathroom and kitchen area will be used during gallery openings. So these areas have to look artistic and polished.

Halloween party etc.

We opened the Gallery Saturday night the 29th for the Art Walk halloween party. We were serving Cosmo martinis and had quite a few visitors to the gallery as a result. I'd estimate 60 people came by. Along with the cocktails we served chocolate toes and fingers and apple slices with caramel. Yumm. Everyone looked at the drawings and some inquired about the pricing. We didn't actually sell a piece yet.

Halloween haunts opening

This Saturday night October 29 the Long Beach East Village Art association will host a special halloween party. My gallery will be open from 6:30 pm until 10 pm that evening. Wrist banded halloweeners get a free cup of "special brew" at my gallery. Look for the Jack-O-Lantern in my window. The show, Dancing with Demons, will be on the walls.

The show must go on...

So, I did manage to get a show up for October 8th Art Walk in Long Beach. And photos of the before and after kitchen will be in another post. I hope I can add more photos to this post.