Posted: Mar 21, 2023
Category: The Musician Business
make money social media merch live performances licensing online presence sponsorship gear crowdfunding sync placements teach
**Guest post by Kristen Ford, Nashville based indie rock act with a passion for music business and a book on DIY touring in the works.
Book your tour now with http://www.indieonthemove.com (promo code Kristenford for a subscription discount!)
Door/tickets
Tips- venmo paypal cashapp tips online or in person (qr code)
Merch sales
VIP experiences
Live performance royalties
Sponsorships/branded partnerships
Sell your music everywhere with distrokid. 7% off right here https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/577172
Music on cd, digital download, vinyl, cassette, bandcamp, apple music downloads
Purchase your vinyl with https://www.physicalmusicproducts.com/ ask about their 100 records for $1500 plus $750 towards your next pressing deal!
Shirts hats sweaters koozies posters
For apparel: https://www.jakprints.com/
Commission (write a song, record a dedication, online or in person house show)
Ko-fi, paypal.me, patreon tips or other monthly continued support (vip fan club etc)
Commission sales at record shops, pop ups, festivals, etsy, poshmark
+Tips And Tricks For Selling Merch
Tv, movie, commercials
Selling a commissioned song (songfinch.com)
Instrumental versions of songs part of sync library, hip hop tracks, soundbetter.com
+How to publish a song: a guide to music publishing and licensing
Playing for a private party, wedding, corporate event
Background music fancy hotels, corporate
College performances either booked w NACA or directly w student activities dept.
Quarterly payments from distrokid, cdbaby, etc (spotify, pandora etc)
Soundexchange payments from youtube and other digital means
Royalties (register w ASCAP BMI SESAC etc)
Free/discounted gear, cross promotion on their platforms (web, social)
Branded partnerships, payment to hang logos on your merch table, wrap a vehicle on tour
Branded social media posts, email blasts
+How To Find Music Sponsors To Further Your Career
Raise a set amount of money for recording, tour support, promotion, gear upgrades, photos, videos, or a rainy day band fund as you reach for the stars
Patreon, post content monthly which is exclusive, or content you will add to the public eventually but give to patrons first.
Bandcamp album presales, or a run of merch presales
A VIP fan club (bandzoogle offers a special part of your website and crowdfund options)
+Crowdfunding: Am I A Douche Bag For Doing It?
Affiliate marketing income from referrals
Paid posts
Partnerships (promtional trades w another artist, company or brand)
Youtube 1,000 followers to monetize googleads, can sell merch on youtube page, advertisers on posts
Private lessons online or in person
Trade lessons for another needed service, practice space, etc.
+6 creative ways to grow your fan subscriber community
Find underpriced gear on facebook marketplace, pawn shops, studio or church closing down, or big box stores clearance items
Be able to check the value (reverb, ebay, guitar center used) and flip the item. Then add value to what you’re purchasing such as Goo gone away stickers, polish up dust, slap a new set of strings on a gunked up guitar.
Be able to create nice looking and accurate listings. List these items on reverb or marketplace. Shipping takes time, materials and money. Be aware you have a profit margin which will clear these!
Tax write offs- website, marketing, insurance, office/rehearsal space, album investments, show clothing, anyone you have paid to make band stuff (graphic design, mixing, photos, coaching)
Milage/per day per diems in cities on tour
Depriciation of music equipment
Filing W2, 1099s, Royalty statements
For more music business tips or coaching reach out to me at kristenfordmusic.com
Thanks and rock on!
kfo
Related Blog Posts:
+Return to live: an update from Kristen Ford
+Pandemic Teachings: The Importance of Supplemental Income as a Musician