You’ve spent a ton of time on your craft. You’ve practiced until you’ve bled, written songs you believe in, invested in an amazing recording, rehearsed your show to be performance-ready, and booked a gig or tour. It took you months if not years. And it worked. People dug your live show and found their way over to your merch booth because they want to support you. Don’t blow it! Read on for tips and tricks on how to make more money by engaging with your fans and maximizing your merch sales.
- Make awesome, unique merch. Make it with the same creative intent as you put into your music. Your efforts will pay off.
- Get organized – staff your merch table like a store. Never miss an opportunity to engage with someone who walks up to your merch booth. Have a friend watch the booth while you’re onstage or loading and unloading or budget to take someone on the road who will help.
- Pitch your merch early and often. Have some of your merch on stage to show to the audience. Tell a quick story about how awesome and special or unique it is. Bring up someone from the audience who is wearing one of your shirts to show how great they look!
- Hit every price point and don’t assume how much they want to spend. You never know which fan might be willing to buy that $100 jacket and which wants the $20 shirt. They want to support you, give them options so they can do so.
- Engage with your customers by handing them merch to check out. People who touch are more likely to buy!
- Be approachable. Fans approaching you may be incredibly nervous. Help them engage with easy banter that helps them calm down and engage. They’ll be more likely to buy than get nervous and walk away.
- A meaningful conversation with a fan can be just as valuable as a sale.
You got into music to move people. Your live show rocked their socks off. Do everything you can to help your fans take something home with them to remember you, this show, and the feeling they had when they decided they had to have something or say something to you before they left for the night.
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