Merch Tables and Other Necessities….
Merch Tables and Other Necessitites…
by Sass Jordan, Artist – The Lowry Agency
As an artist/performer in the slash and burn world of making a living playing music today, you have to have a fairly high level of people skills. There are a few performers that can get away with not saying or relating much-basically doing it through the music, but most of us need to develop a congenial type of relationship with our fans. We realize that it is not an easy thing for most people to come out and spend their well-earned cash – a lot of them are raising families and just trying to get along in today’s climate – not a particularly small task in this uncertain world. The skills I am talking about are related to making a fan feel included, making them feel they are part of the process. In fact, they are, in more ways than I can list, not the least of which is if there is no audience there is no show.
One of the best ways to create an on- going and loyal relationship with your fans is to sell your merchandise after the show. This way people get an opportunity to exchange a couple of words, get things signed, and get a pic with you. These things need to be set up properly, however, or you run the risk of having a bit of chaos on your hands. Assuming you and your crew know what you are doing, I think it’s an awesome way of understanding your audience, and getting a feel for the type of people that like your music and vibe. The more successful you are, the less easy it is to do this, of course, but then you can get into VIP packages for fans, where a select group (usually contest winners) can come and get things signed, pics taken and maybe even a little mini-concert before the big show. The only time I think it’s right to not do a signing is if you are too tired (bad for the voice), there is no security or professional set-up, or you have to travel immediately following the performance.
You do what you do FOR the public, for your fans, for your audience. Cultivating a meaningful relationship with the people who buy your wares is worth the time and the effort, and is a way of thanking them, as well.
I’m not an artist, but have friends who are and who do some travelling and playing music. I loved this piece and thought the advice offered was fantastic! Could you possibly elaborate more on how to handle a meet-and-greet at the merch table type of situation in a future post?
Maria,
Thank you for reading my blog. I will certainly try to elaborate more on this topic soon.
David