| The rewards of creating music range from the | | | | fans is just as important. Arming your current fan |
| deep satisfaction of writing a new song to the | | | | base with a fashionable marketing tool will only |
| glowing pride of a successful performance. These | | | | help to promote your band and raise your profile. |
| feelings bolster our confidence, but do little to | | | | To this end, musicians should take great care in |
| compensate for the financial investment often | | | | creating logos and images that accurately reflects |
| tied to making music. While selling your music via | | | | their sound and image while appealing to |
| CDs and downloads is a good start, you should | | | | consumers. For inspiration, turn to for a wide |
| also consider investing in band merchandise to | | | | range of arresting designs. If you don't have the |
| promote your band and cover the cost of | | | | skills to create the design, try cutting costs by |
| instruments, rehearsal spaces, recording | | | | recruiting a graphic arts student to handle the |
| equipment and more. | | | | project for you. |
| In a Rolling Stone article (7/04), Dashboard | | | | Once the perfect design is approved, identify the |
| Confessional's Chris Carrabba spoke about the | | | | medium that will give you the greatest return. A |
| importance of merchandise: "Merch sales are what | | | | quick Google search found a wealth of companies |
| kept us going. Even now, we're still not making | | | | dedicated to meeting the merchandise needs of |
| our living from playing the shows. Merch is where | | | | independent artists. Here are just a few of the |
| we make our profit." In that same story, John | | | | deals out there: |
| Mayer commented on merchandise sales and the | | | | 100 printed t shirts: $405 at 500 1" buttons: $100 |
| current state of the recording industry: "You're | | | | at BusyBeaver.net |
| not making that much money off records | | | | 250 5.5" x 1.42" stickers: $25 at 100 posters: $175 |
| anymore, so until people can figure out how to | | | | at Selling your band merchandise can be done at |
| make a re-writable Hanes Beefy-T, merch is one | | | | live shows or online via your web site. Create links |
| of the last bastions of individuality, commerce and | | | | at social music sites like to draw more traffic and |
| style that an artist has left." | | | | use secure payment services, such as PayPal, to |
| Echoing those sentiments, Amanda Palmer of The | | | | handle the monetary transactions. Email fan club |
| Dresden Dolls told NPR (1/17/07): "We make | | | | members when new products become available |
| almost no money off our recordings themselves." | | | | and try offering special packages, bundling your |
| To earn a steady income, NPR interviewer Chris | | | | CDs or downloads with t shirts, buttons and/or |
| Arnold noted that "The Dresden Dolls can take in | | | | stickers to drive sales and spread the word about |
| more than $1,000 a night selling merchandise, | | | | your music. |
| which makes the 'merch table' a major source of | | | | You shouldn't let expenses drain your passion for |
| income why they're on the road." | | | | music. Put your music to work for you with your |
| While generating money is the most obvious | | | | own merchandise and keep making the music you |
| benefit of band merchandise, the valuable | | | | love. |
| impressions made from exposure to potential | | | | |