These days, being a musician doesn’t bring the big paycheck that it once did. Unless you end up on the same level as Ed Sheeran and The Rolling Stones, there is just no way you will be able to make a good enough living on just releasing music. You will need to tour extensively each and every year to make sure you can make ends meet. If you are in a band, it will be even harder as you will need to split all of the money you make between all the band members.
Don’t worry, though; it still is possible to make a living as a musician. You just need to make sure that you are doing all that you can to bring in as much cash as possible. One way you can boost your earnings quite considerably is by selling merchandise. Fans love buying merch from their favorite bands, and some people go as far as to become collectors. So, putting your logo on as much as possible and trying to sell it could be quite the money maker!
Here are some of the best kinds of merchandise that fans often want to buy. Make sure you have these for sale on your website and at each gig.
CDs and Records
CDs and records count as merchandise. Make sure you take a large box of these to each of your gigs as a lot of your fans will want to pick up your latest release no doubt. You should also make sure you have plenty to list for sale on your website as well. When you are looking into bringing out a new album, you should make sure that you go with a reliable vinyl and CD manufacturing firm that can produce some great discs and records that play back the music very clearly. Your fans can then hear your songs just as you intended them to sound.
Band T-Shirts
You should find that band t-shirts sell very well indeed. Fans are often keen to own a shirt that features something related to their favorite band. Then everyone can know just how big a fan they are! Some bands simply get t-shirts printed with their logo on the front while others decide to get some lyrics printed on them instead. No matter what kind of design you go for, you should find they sell pretty well and that the markup can end up being very profitable!
Posters
Did you have some posters of your favorite bands and singers up on your bedroom wall when you were a kid and teenager? You might still have some up now in fact! One thing is for sure, music posters never seem to go out of fashion. If you get a few designed and have them on sale at all your gigs, you should find that they sell very well. It’s a good idea to have more than just one for sale too, as people might like to collect the different designs. So, you should find that the more designs you create then the more you can potentially sell.
Stickers and Patches
Something else that many music lovers can’t seem to get enough of is things like stickers and patches. Button badges will also go down very well too. Many fans like to buy these kinds of things because they are only small and often quite cheap. They can then stick, attach, and sew them onto their bags or jackets. These are usually bought by younger fans who maybe don’t have quite enough money to stretch to a t-shirt, tote bag, or hat. Not only are they cheap, though, but fans also love the fact that they can be a discreet way to show their dedication to a specific band. It’s really worth buying these in bulk as they will fly off your stand at gigs for sure. You might be very surprised at how much money you can make from these accessories as they always sell so well!
Tote Bags
Over the past few years, tote bags have really grown in popularity. For some music fans, they have replaced band t-shirts, and many music lovers would now rather carry a cool tote bag with their favorite band’s logo on than a t-shirt. But just because you do start selling tote bags, it’s no reason for you to stop selling t-shirts altogether. You should find that they are both really good sellers! One of the best things about selling tote bags is that they shouldn’t be too expensive for you to produce. If you then price them just right, you should be able to make a nice little profit from them.
Hats and Scarfs
Many bands find that hats and scarfs can be really big sellers for them as well. This is especially the case at any shows you play throughout the winter months. If your fans are in the market for some new winter accessories then they might be quite likely to buy yours when they see them for sale on your merch stand! Of course, you can always change your offering seasonally. For instance, you might want to sell bobble and woolly hats in the winter and switch to some baseball caps for your summer shows.
Mugs
Why not try selling your mug on a mug? Of course, you don’t have to just put your face along with your other band members on the mug, but you might find that it’s what some fans want. Some fans might just want a mug that has your band’s logo and colors on, though, so it’s a good idea to offer a couple of different mugs that have various designs. No matter what you end up putting on your mugs, though, I’m sure they will sell like hot cakes!
There are so many different types of merch that sell really well these days; the list above should give you a good idea of what to take on tour with you. Hopefully, it’ll help you make a living off music!
Image Credits: Pexels, Tibor Janosi Mozes, facundowin, JaniSnellman
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