9 Ways To Make Your Show More Profitable

1. Make your merch table intriguing. Try to capture the attention of concert attendees before they hear a single note.

2. Avoid clutter, clearly displaying the products for sale and their prices.

3. Quickly convey your artist aesthetic. It is an extension of you and should “jive with your vibe.”

4. Make it accessible. The merch booth has got to be easy to get to, unobstructed, and clearly visible to many people at once so long lines don’t hinder sales opportunities. Also, don’t let it become a hangout for friends. A congregation of people chatting away (but not buying anything) will dissuade folks with actual interest and actual dollars.

5. Diversify. Offer a number of different items (CDs, t-shirts, stickers, mugs, etc.) and bundle them together for a reduced price to entice fans who might be on the fence.

6. Have small bags available. Don’t let the “how am I going to carry all this stuff?” objection lose you a sale.

7. Accept credit cards. Folks attending your show may not have a ton of cash on hand, or might not want to spend their last $10 on something other than a drink. No problem! With a credit card swiper, you can accept credit or debit cards right on the spot. And once someone has decided to use their card, your opportunity to upsell or bundle items into a bigger sale just got a lot more promising. Click here for more info on CD Baby’s credit card swipers.

8. Get your email list up there front and center. The merch booth is your opportunity to attract new fans even if they don’t buy anything. Have your email list and website info as the centerpiece. This may be the only chance you have to turn a stranger into a lifelong fan. Don’t miss it!

9. Be visible at the booth following your performance. If you’ve created a moment on stage that made a fan say to themselves “I need to take some memory of this home with me,” what better way to ensure a lasting connection than to have a conversation with your audience after the show.

Source: Discmakers

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Start Your Own Scene

I always hear artist/bands complain about the lack of a particular music scene where they live. Rarely do I see people follow up and do something about it. If there is going to be a scene, someone needs to have the vision and initiative to start it. Sometimes we get caught up in looking for the next big thing instead of maturing a scene already on the rise. Here are a few things to keep in mind.





Start you journey by searching inexpensive venues. Three factors to consider are:

1)inexpensive
2)fun
3)willing to give you freedom to set up your own show

The other important factor is bringing in other acts to play with you. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you start putting together shows that you’re genuinely excited about. If you’re excited about the shows you put together then that excitement will translate to your fans. When you consistently put together fun and exciting shows you’ll see the beginnings of a new scene. Other bands will want to be a part of it and you won’t have to beg people to come to your shows. You’ll just need to tell them when they are.

When you put on shows with artist/bands who know each other and who have fun together then people will actually be interested in staying for the entire show. They’ll leave happy without having spent too much and the acts can actually make some money too. Its nothing but a positive movement at the end of the day for all parties involved.

Having total control of the show allows you to step outside the box. You can have a comedian or a magician open for you. Be creative and challenge the norm! It’s your show. Have fun with it!

The idea is to bring people together in a way that’s a win win for everyone. If everybody wins then everybody will want to be a part of your shows in the future. If you want to create a scene, forget about the big expensive venues that don’t care about you, book 6 unrelated acts a night, don’t pay you and that your fans can only afford to go to on special occasions. Instead, find a fun place that’s receptive to the idea of letting you come in and put on your own inexpensive shows. It’s an opportunity for everyone – the venue owner wants more customers, you’ve got fans and you know other bands who have fans (you just need a willing venue), and the fans have a few hours and a reasonable amount of money to spend, and they want good entertainment.

If you can create the scene, everyone will consider you the savior. There are no victories in complaining. Don't make excuses for the environment. Create and add to it. Amazing things can happen when you've got the vision to bring people together.


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I dO Music!..."Empowering Musicians Worldwide"

The Future...

I had the awesome pleasure of attending a showcase last night at The Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta entitled "The En Crowd Presents". Invited by my good friends Fort Knox & Big Tah (the event's organizers and Strong Arm Management founders) it was certainly a sight to see as they brought together some of the best talent Atlanta has to offer. Artists like Joe Billz, Flo, Re, and FountnHead are setting the bar unbelievably high for new artists hoping to be at the forefront of music in the near future. You had to be there to witness "the monstrosities" , as Knox would call it. I was absolutely blown away to see the level of creativity and promising talent in the room as Joe Billz and Re gave us a peak into the "future" and as The FountnHead and Flo had the audience in an uproar. You heard it from me first...these artists will be regulars on your ipod's playlist very soon.



Go To Joe Billz's Myspace




















Go To The FountnHead's Myspace

















Go to FLO's Myspace







Go To Young Re's Myspace