Tag: merchandise
Music Is Your Business. Is Business Good?
by claybutlermusic on Jan.29, 2010, under Band Management, Career Building, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
No matter what your particular niche is when it comes to music, the ultimate goal is to make a living doing what you love. Making a living from music requires more than just talent. It requires dedication, drive, perseverance, and a burning desire to succeed. Unfortunately, most musicians’ brains cease to function once they cross the threshold from creating art to running a business. It’s a delicate balancing act, but music is still a business. So, we must learn from the business world?
Create a Business Plan. A business plan can range from simple to complex, but they merely function to keep us on task. They clearly define our business structure, who is in charge, and how decisions are made. They serve to define our goals, especially fiscally, and helps to identify how to reach them. It helps you in your search for funding, and helps lenders know how you intend to pay them back. Your local small business administration can help you to develop your plan. There’s even software to help with the task of creating a business plan.
Create a Marketing Plan. A business plan is not enough to succeed. You need to know how you will get your music, products, or services to the masses. That requires a marketing plan. These help you to know what avenues you will use to advertise your products or services, create budgets, and build your brand.
Build a Team. No man is an island. Only few people can perform every single duty when it comes to running a successful business. Even fewer of those people keep their sanity. So, develop a team of people who can help you succeed. It’s difficult, but don’t be afraid to Recruit fans to help you promote. Outsource tasks like printing, cd duplication, photography, or graphic design (even more so if the tasks aren’t your strong suit). Hire a bookkeeper and tax professional. Even hire a roadie and recruit someone to work your merchandise table–vital if you want to preserve your strength for gigs! Outsourcing to trusted professionals only serves to help you maintain a professional appearance, which is crucial in business.
Keep the Books. If you’re making money from your music (or anything for that matter), you can bet Uncle Sam wants his share. On the up side, though, being in business affords you certain tax deductions of business expenses. Be sure to keep up with all of your income and expenses. It’s not enough just to write them down; you MUST be able to show proof in order to receive your deduction. So, keep your receipts, log your mileage for business-related trips (including odometer readings and purposes for the trip), and organize your income and expenditures. Intuit’s Quicken Home and Business edition is a great way to stay organized, but it’s always a good idea to consult a tax professional for preparation and general advice.
Focus on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty. Keeping your fans happy (and coming back again and again) is what will keep food on your table. Engage them. Show some interest in them as people and not just as numbers or dollar signs. Foster their trust and loyalty and then the sales will follow. Here’s a related post on building a loyal fanbase.
These are just some simple guidelines to help you succeed with your own music business endeavors. Comment and tell us what helps you succeed!
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How-To Article: Boosting Band Revenue with a Merchandise Table
by claybutlermusic on Nov.05, 2009, under Band Management, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
Greetings! I’ve just published an article on eHow on How to Boost Band Revenue with a Merchandise Table. After dealing with a couple of bands recently in a management capacity, I thought it was prudent to touch on this topic again. I’ve posted a similar article here on the Butler Productions Blog, but this one digs a little deeper. Here’s a brief overview:
- Treating your band like a business
- Accumulating product
- Dressing it up
- Keeping an organized cash box
- Manning the Table during the show
- Post show activity
Are You Leaving Money on the Table by Not Having a Table?
by claybutlermusic on Aug.19, 2009, under Band Management, Career Building, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
An odd question, right? But as a band, you may be missing out on money-making opportunities from your live show by not having a table–a merchandise table.
There’s more to the music industry than just music. Much of the music industry is also in your image as a band, and, perhaps more importantly, how marketable that image is. Extending beyond CD sales, a band has other lucrative avenues to explore. Here are a few examples:
- CD’s
- Glossy photos for autographs
- Posters
- Stickers and decals
- Buttons and pins
- T-Shirts
- Hats
Taking the merch booth one step further, it’s also a hub of post-show activity. It’s a place to meet and greet your adoring fans, sign autographs, take pictures, etc. It can also act as in information kiosk, where you include a sign-up sheet for your mailing list, order forms for other merch, registrations for contests and drawings, flyers, bios, and so on. The ideas and opportunities to solidify fans and make more money with a merch booth are virtually limitless.
As a general rule of thumb, always negotiate with a venue to have a merchandise table or booth on-site when you play. This rule is particularly significant if you are playing for free. Most venues, clubs, or events won’t mind if you have a table, but beware of the ones that won’t allow you to have one. They’re making money off of you for virtually nothing in return, and that’s always a shady deal.
So, in closing, don’t forget to set up your merchandise booth at your gigs. They can be a real income booster for your gigs. In fact, there were times when my old band would make as much (or more) from merchandise than our performance fee. Double your money is always a great deal!
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