Comments on: Diary from Live Friday night in Geneva, Switzerland.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:21:03 +0000

Yes I think it’s great the way you hand out the vynil during the show, as Slimelight everyone on the floor was practically fighting for them!
I have a policy that if I sell 1 I have to sell them to everyone and can’t give any away, otherwise the people who paid would understandably feel ripped off or like I was playing friend vs fan or something.
I’d love to be able to send releases to every DJ I know, for example, but that would be seen as pretty lame by the DJs who actually paid.

Thing is though - you could practically set up a TTC stall at every show!
Speaking Goth, apparantly Cruxshadows had a choice between taking a merch person or a sound person on tour, and they chose a merch person. They pay for themselves, and I’m surprised at how many artists in the EBM/goth scene actually do make a living this way. I prolly would’ve picked up a Horrorist Tee at Slimes…

By: Oliver Chesler

Oliver Chesler — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:08:09 +0000

Yeah Pete exactly… during my show I give away some stickers, rock pins, CDs and vinyl. It gives me a few minutes break from the yelling! After the show I can’t see myself taking money from kids. But point of sale is important and I really should re-think a way to have merchandise at the events I play. Especially now that I am performing more EBM/Goth venues.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:48:26 +0000

Very interesting and cool, thanks for posting. I’ve got 6 gigs coming up in April (eep!) so it’s good to hear about other people’s experiences and processes.

I also find it interesting that you don’t bother with merch.
Every band I know who makes a living from their music are very focussed on merch, in fact touring is primarily to sell merch, and they usually demand in the rider that someone be available to man their merch stand. Personally though, I loathe exchanging money for my CDs and feel akward every time. Never really found a way around that…

By: Oliver Chesler

Oliver Chesler — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:22:48 +0000

Hi Mr. Tunes. I’ll stay and chat if I think its important for sure. But in some ways I’m better via email for work stuff and if you want to know my weird personality just listen to my music I do know what your saying though…

When I perform for something with Out of Line Music they set up a merch table. When I am alone I can’t do it for a few reasons… 1… airline weight baggage restrictions, the equipment is already almost the max I can take. 2… if I dont have someone to sit there I would have to do it and I’ll just end up giving everything away for free!

By: Mark Hawkins

Mark Hawkins — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:18:20 +0000

“how was your flight?” - “Fine, how was your car journey?”

By: Mr. Tunes

Mr. Tunes — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:09:21 +0000

sounds like a fun lifestyle, even when living cautiously as you describe. flying to switzerland for the day, staying in a four star hotel, sign me up!

do you feel like you’re giving up some networking opportunities when you take off really quick after the show though? or just making new friends?

and have you ever had a merch table to sell CDs? just curious what are your opinions on that side of things.

By: Coded

Coded — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:31:07 +0000

I had the privilege of opening for Jerome (Mimetic) when he came here a few years back. Talented guy.

This post makes me want to get back into playing live again. Despite all the odd crazy stuff that can happen to make the evening go all to hell, nothing beats being up on that stage.