


Or shall we say “Get uncovered”! Recommended only for the very courageous.Īrrange a meeting (you can choose to be the artist or the art advisor here) with a potential new collector on VIP day. Pretending to be a performer is the perfect cover. Remember the Art Basel 2012 edition, when the reenactment of Marina Abramovic and Ulay’s Imponderabilia performance of 1977 gained lots of attention at the booth of Sean Kelly Gallery? It featured two fully undressed performers at the booth entrance, which the audience had to pass through. However, if this does happen (and trust us, it’s more likely than you’d think), revert back to point 3 and cosy up to the victor. There are distinct advantages: no pressure to purchase (or even pretend that you’re considering), and no wardrobe crises (who said a grey uniform isn’t chic?) The only disadvantage? You might have to get between collectors (fist) fighting over the same piece. If the above doesn’t quite work out, but you have a diploma in Krav Maga (or at least an aesthetic that suggests you might) or worked as a bouncer at Berghain one summer, perhaps you might consider a position as art fair security staff.
#Hack rush team vip full
For full effect, find two cute guys hanging around and ask if they’re on board for a little fun pretending to be your bodyguards. If you are lucky enough to bear a striking resemblance to a major celebrity (say, Karl Lagerfeld or Angela Merkel), use it to your advantage and play the doppelgänger-card. Plus, making actual friends who’ll be in the VIP section too will save you from looking like a loner as you hover around the canapé and bubbly trays. This will make it easier to spot an ‘Art World 100’ in the Campari-Bar at Kunsthalle Basel and slowly work your way into a network of art world friends. Now, don’t head straight for LinkedIn and add every ‘art world professional’ in a 500-mile radius rather make the effort to research important faces before upcoming events. In the name of sustainability, this is more of a long-term strategy that’ll not only get you into the VIP section for this year’s art fair but also, if all goes according to plan, on many A-lists in years to come. These VIP teams see straight through the type who has to ‘hack’ their way into art fairs, so keep it subtle.
#Hack rush team vip pro
Pro Tip: Don’t go bragging about your Mona Lisa (print?). Your answers should be honest, but if you’re looking to impress, there’s no shame in a quick Google search. Needless to say, you should take the time to craft insightful answers.

This means you’re getting close: the fair has noticed that you might be worthy of that coveted piece of VIP plastic. Three months before the fair, the VIP department sends you a digital questionnaire about your ‘collecting behaviour,’ along with a list of artists in their collections and a subtle hint that they know how and whose art you’ve been buying. The only effort required? Checking your inbox at least once a week. If a Rudolf Stingel already graces your wall, or you’ve recently snapped up an Urs Fischer for a record-breaking price on auction, then there’s nothing to do but sit back and wait for that VIP card to come to you.
