Tour. Sleep. Tour.

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?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:20:08 -0400

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. :)

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?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:13:59 -0400

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!

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

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:49:40 -0400

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.

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?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:49:43 -0400

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.

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?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:43:31 -0400

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.

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!

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:38:16 -0400

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!

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

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:48:39 -0400

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!

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?

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:48:24 -0400

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.

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

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:48:06 -0400

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

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?

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:47:54 -0400

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

what are the basics of being a merch girl? like what does your job entail?

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:47:42 -0400

Making the merch booth/tables presentable, keeping track of the amount of all the merch you have for the day (how many s, m, l), knowing basic math, dealing with money, dealing with crazy fans, etc

I have merched for bands when I was younger and am trying to get into the music scene again by working at a music venue, so im doing what I can in the side of networking but I was wondering, being Canadian any tips on how to break into the US, and since music business management is so rare here as a major, would Public Relations be a good alternative? sorry for the long question!

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:47:22 -0400

Yeah definitely! PR can definitely lead to something in the music business. As for breaking into the US side just try to network with American bands and music business peeps that come around your area. Network.

hi im 15 and interested in being a merch girl for a band during the summer. and i was wondering if you think any bands would hire me because of my age? ive researched quite a bit and several have said no.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:47:06 -0400

Age is nothing but a number. As long as you know what you’re doing and keep it professional no one will mind your age.

ive asked about being a merch girl before because id like to do that in the summer time until college. but being a tour manager is something im very interested in as far as a career and was wondering if you think a tour manager is a steady job? im sure i would enjoy it but i also want to make sure i can provide for myself as well. thanks.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:46:47 -0400

It is. If you find the right company that has enough work for you or a band that tours a lot. A lot of people work for more than one band/company but they always have one main one that they always put first.

were you required to be able to play an instrument to get into the college you went to? (im learning guitar and was just curious) because im starting to seriously consider checking into that school.

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:46:21 -0400

No. The music business program was a separate thing. Although they do offer it to musicians if they want to branch out. But for the music business program requires no instrument :)

Pretty awesome documentary about the music industry and how...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:36:00 -0500

Pretty awesome documentary about the music industry and how much it’s changed. Keep a look out for this!

Hi! Is there any advice you would give to girls that would like to be a merch girl? How can we find bands to hire us? I'm incredibly interested in this opportunity.

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:54:00 -0500

Be professional. Don’t be an annoying fan girl. Be professional. Be professional. Be. Professional. It’s hard for a girl in this world to be taken seriously because some will think you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Some bands (usually locals) take to craigslist others use sites like Crewspace.com

I really want to be a tour/band manager one day. I'm turning 18 this summer and I really want to be a part of Warped Tour this year. If it's even possible, where would I start to make this happen?

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:49:36 -0500

A lot of the people on that tour have been there for a very long time and have worked years to get into that tour. And it all really comes down to the connections you have. The best way to start your way into Warped is to volunteer a day or two. A lot of companies (sometimes bands too!) on it look for volunteers as it gets close. Do some research and you’ll find something! Sometimes I post some opportunities here so keep an eye out! :)

Okay. I don't know how to put this so here it is. I want to be a merch girl i just don't know what/how to get there. I am still young. 15. but i want to at least know how to get there for when i am ready to start. help please?

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:43:35 -0500

The best way to start is with a local band. That’s how a lot of us started :)

Hey let me start out by saying your blog is awesome! So you probably guessed it but I too want to be a tour manager (eventually) lol. I live out in la and have been trying to find and internship for the past year. If you know of any places I can intern or just volunteer at that be awesome :)

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:17:50 -0500

Thanks so much! Just start looking at all the labels your favorite bands are on…they always have a internship section! Or any company related to the biz! ;)