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How to make the of of your merchandise 

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If you're like many artists, your distribution strategy begins and ends at the merch table. But for too many acts, the at-the-show marketing effort involves nothing more than a shout-out from the stage: “We've got CDs for sale at the back of the room!" Come on, is that the best you can do? Here are some common sense tips to help you start moving some product.

-  Just announcing the existence of a merch table may not be powerful enough. So rather than announcing what you're selling, announce what you're giving away. For example, maybe you can throw in stickers or an older CD for free with a t-shirt purchase – or vice versa. 

-  Buying is contagious, and if people see others buying your merch, they're more likely to check it out. If you've got friends and relatives who you know are going to buy a CD, have them buy it at the back of the nightclub where on-the-fence types can see it happen. Remember how powerful statements like SOLD OUT or WHILE SUPPLIES LAST really are to consumers. 

-  One of the most effective ways to move a lot of product in a hurry is to bundle CD sales with admission to the club. Rather than selling a $7 cover and a $10 CD, sell a $15 all-in-one. Such agreements can be mutually beneficial – but club owners often greet such deals suspiciously, so make sure you’ve pitched the idea and agreed upon the details well beforehand. 

-  Accept credit cards. CD Baby has an excellent program which allows you to get your very own credit card swiper, which you can take to your gigs to help you sell a lot more merchandise. 

Behind every great money making night is a solid merch strategy to make things easy for people who are close to the “Point of Sale.” Why not give them a little push, or make things easier for them. Implement some of the above methods into your live presentation and it will no doubt take some of the edge off that 100 city tours, by putting a little extra cash in your pocket along the way.

Cyrus Rhodes

 

 

PAST ARTICLES

 

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About Cyrus

 

 

CYRUS RHODES

 

 

 

 

Cyrus Rhodes is President of Seattle based label Katavi Arts Guitarist for local band Seven Against Thebes Executive Producer of Projects Drum Dynasty, Seven Against Thebes, Fractal Rock. Over the years Rhodes has been a guitarist in a touring band, A&R Representative (1998 - 2003), Talent Buyer, Band Manager, Booking Agent and most recently a Syndicated Music Critic. His reviews have been posted on USA Today and Headline News. Rhodes is also Chief Editor and lead critic for several webzines skope, musesmuse, mileshighproductions. In 2009 he  launched www.ndiemusicdigest.com. IMD is dedicated to developing hard working Independent Artists worldwide. IMD only accepts material from unsigned bands and artists.

 

Cyrus's Record Label  www.kataviarts.com

Cyrus's band Seven Against Thebes www.7at.net

Drum Dynasty Project www.drumdynasty.com

 

Cyrus Rhodes has written and edited reviews for the following Publications, Labels and Entertainment Agencies:

 

Publications

 

All What's Rock

Carlito's Music Blog

EvO:R

Headline News

Indie Mindy

Indieshark

IMP

Jan Van Zee

Leicester Bangs

The Mag

The Muse Muse

Topicalise

Music Emissions

Muzikreviews

Rock n' Roll View

SKOPE Magazine

USA Today

Victory Music

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entertainment Groups and Agencies

 

Blonde Entertainment

Boston Punx

Budhha Fubk

Cross Seas Entertainment

Erco Scavenger Entertainment

Fangimusi

Freebird Entertainmentc

Gema

Golden Harvest Entertainment

HevyDevy

IndieOut

Kaos Records

Lazer Marketing

Magna Carta

Miles High Productions

Orchard

Pop Core Entertainment

Rhymesayers Crushkill

Serge Entertainment

Solid Productions LLC

SOM Entertainment LLC

TonEscent

Untime

Working Brilliantly

Labels

 

Arkouse Records

Arythmia Records

AK Jazz

AWB Records

Bag of Bones Records

Bald Freak Music

Blacksail Records

Bloody Mary Records

Blu-Grascal Records

Budhha Funk

Buckin Savior Records

Cakewalk Records

Commune Recordings

DEC Productions

Dharma Records

Do Too Records

Drunk Soul Records

East End Productions

EP Music

Firebelly Music

Flintrock Productions

Global Vortex Records

Good Records

Hush Music

Interscope Records

Intimate Audio

Jetty Records

Kite Stripe Records

The Last Records

Lakeshore Records

Left Ear Records

Lettera "A" Records

Line Drive Records

Lonely Llama Music

Mad Dwarf Productions

Nettwerk Records

Noh Code Records

OmOm Music

One Eyed Turtle Productions

Outstanding Music

Peaceman Music

Post Colonial Records

Prospect Records

Purple Kush

Raven Recordings

Red Rock Music

Round Box Records

Roast Records

Ryder Roo records

Saguaro Road Records

Sauspop Records

Seven Seas Records

Singing Wolf Records

Squidhat Records

Spektrum Productions

Tenth Planet Records

Thin Man Music

Trifonic Records

Waltzing Duck Records

Contact  Professional Inquiries only

 

Cyrus Rhodes

President, Syndicated Music Critic, Marketing Solutions

Indie Music Media LLC

Katavi Arts LLC

Seattle, WA.

rhodesm@wavecable.com

(360) 509-1779 - Office

(360) 394-3631 - Facsimile

 

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