Anonymous asked: You really are awesome! Thanks for answering my venue question so quick! ... I am new to the merch deal.. the band I'm touring with is playing huge venues 7000+ .. they are super unorganized, as they haven't had a merch person in a while. Is there a good place to start with having a spreadsheet made? I would like everything to be electronic, as what they are doing now is on paper by hand. What would you include on a spreadsheet?

Do separate sheets for each stop with the date and venue. The type of merch you have, how much of that merch you have that day before doors open (include sizes) and count how much of the merch you have at the end of the night and put it in the sheets. :) 

followthisbamf- asked: hey girl! So, i'll be doing a bands merch for about 20 shows on their summer tour. They're pretty established to have their own headlining tour (about 200 capacity venues). I know that most people do this for free and i'll do it regardless but if they ask me about pay i would like to have an idea. Is it usually done as a flat fee (if so, how much?), a per show basis or a % of the merch sold?

It depends on whatever you are comfortable with. “Whatever helps to pay the bills.” You can do 75-100 per day or 15% of merch sold. Whatever you think is best or negotiate. Usually they also give per diem too. Good luck!

Anonymous asked: Do bands use merch people in arena venues, or are those "supplied" by the venue themselves?

Bands always have a merch person. It depends on the venue if they’ll put vendors on to sell or not. Usually it’s for bigger venues though. But bands always have and need that merch person even if they’re not selling that day they still need to be around to set up, control the money, and deal with the numbers before and after the show.

Anonymous asked: How did you get to where you are exactly? like being a merch girl/ tour manager? I'm really interested into how you got started and worked your way up and such. I've volunteered at this conference that happens every year in my hometown that has bands come and play and I have volunteered selling merch for bands two years in a row and i loved it! What would be your advice for someone that's just kind starting at the bottom? What were the steps you took to becoming assist. tour manager/ merch girl?

Read my blogs from the beginning! My story is all there. I started helping my brothers band and they had played with a UK band at some point and when they came to play Bamboozle and Warped they needed help so I helped and from there I networked, decided to go to school for music business, and the rest is history.

I always tell everyone to start helping locally and then branch out. Start small.

Anonymous asked: Hi Linda. I've been working around the industry selling merch, working production for a local venue, and even spent a little time on the road managing a small touring band. I normally get $50-$100 to sell merch for bigger bands at the venue. However, I've been asked to go on tour with a larger band I recently worked for an how much should I charge them when I know I can sell at least $1000-$2000/show guaranteed? Percentage? Straight base pay?

Percentage is always good. I would say 15% of what they make a night is good. The manager or whoever is in charge of that band should have contacted you to talk about numbers.

Anonymous asked: so im going to be going on tour in two months for six months or more. this is my first time touring and getting to know anyone in the scene and working. what is some advice you would give me as far as do and donts and what to bring? im a girl also. thanks!

Be professional! I tell everyone that. Take baby/feminine wipes because you might not be able to shower unless you are lucky to do so everyday. Take flip flops for the showers ;) don’t party too hard cause though being on the road is super fun and you make friends with the best people ever this is still your job so use your judgement…don’t make yourself look like an idiot. Try not to flirt with the dudes..some of these dudes will try and test you because you are a girl.

Ask questions if you don’t know what to do. Be professional. And most of all have fun. This will change your life. GOOD LUCK!

kcorenes asked: what is the best way to go about getting invited to crewspace. com?

Best way is to get invited from someone who is already a member. But you already have to have experience on the road in order to get accepted. They only allow pros or peeps who know what they’re doing. I think they ask you a bunch of questions and they ask the person who invited you questions too. They review your resume and the process takes a while too. It’s a tough site to join!

justjasmyn asked: so do you find being a girl on tour difficult? I really want to either be in a band or crew/merch girl someday but being a girl makes it seem so difficult. how do you deal with it? any tips?

It can be sometimes difficult because of your gender. There are few that are in this business for the wrong reasons. You just have to be strong enough to deal with all the bs and show that you mean business. Be professional.

Anonymous asked: Do you have a crewspace account? How do I get an invite?

Yes. You have to work or know someone who is on that site. I only invite pros that I’ve worked with before. :)

Anonymous asked: I'm friends with a local band that plays a lot of local shows and has also started to do short tours out of state. Would this be a good place to start being a merch girl?

It’s PERFECT! Keep doing what you’re doing kid ;)