Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

I have been researching the little silicon arm bands many of the adolecents (of all ages) are wearing these days.
I could have some custom made for our band @ $1.38 q for 500 ct.
Seems a little steep to me.
Anyone aware of a source for simular products at less expense?
My wife suggest we make our own with lettered beads and elastic.
We are also looking into T shirts. We have some band shirts but they were way too expensive to consider as a sales item.
I had also considered a pin'ada.
Any other ideas ? (no I aint goig to do mardi gras beads )

Dont kick me, I know weve coverd this before, You never cant tell when one of you guys will have a fresh new idea though.

I don't know bout Texas, but there's some online [assuming that you don't mind dealing on the web]. I would say stick to the Ts. They're the most common and easiest to sell.

Seen this at a friend's band page. They probably used it: LINK

Baseball caps, black with Noisy Kung Fu in bright red letters. Guitar picks, black with Noisy Kung Fu in bright red letters. Better yet a killer CD, black cover with Noisy Kung Fu in bright red letters and 13-15 Noisy Kung Fu originals inside...

- Best way to make money on T-shirts is to buy your own blank T's in the highest quality you can find. Then pay a silk screener to put the graphics on. If you leave the shirts up to the printer, they'll get lesser quality shitrts and charge you more for them.

- Also... do your own graphics if you can. Or have a friend/family member do them for you.... saves mucho cost of having a designer do them for you. (I would know... I'm a graphic designer who's done work for my own bands and other bands).

- Lighters!!! Lighters with your band logo is an awesome way to make extra cash. People hold onto the lighters for a while, they bring them to parties, they end up in other peoples hands... all advertising your band.

- Free demo CD's with the purchase of a sticker is always cool too. If they like your tunes, they'll put the sticker on their car (sometimes) and BAM!! more free advertising! Not only that... but they have your music to show people too! You can get good deals on stickers thought www.123stickers.com <--- I've used them many times. Great quality and fast turnaround.

- Last but not least.... if you EVER have girls at your shows... remember to make baby T-s for the women! Or... take it one step further... Thong underwear with your logo on the front. We've done pretty well in the past with these. Whether it's a girl buying them for herself... or a guy buying them for a girl. Works both ways!

Have fun!

The thongs & lighters & such are a great idea - a bluegrass band I was in did that - but I don't think they may be exactly appropriate for a Christian rock band, somehow. You might do better to get some...

Free bookmarks with your logo & the cross or somesuch Christian emblem on it

Stickers & decals

Hats & T's (don't forget to do some small kiddie sizes!) & iron-on transfers

Book covers for school kids (leave the Christian-based emblems off of these, for obvious reasons)

Picks

Refridgerator magnets (that you give away)

Beach towels

Windshield screens (just imagine that big sign in ppl's car in the parking lot at Wally World shielding their car from the heat)

Buttons

Bandanas & head & arm bands (for that "kung foo" look!)

Sashes or scarves


I'd prolly stick with this kinda thing, if I were in your shoes, sans.

Wow, Great ideas guys. After the gig we did last nite I can see we simply must get a CD and some merch together.
I had Rays Grandmother sitting about two feet from me. She was rockin
Lighters aint a bad idea. There area lot of Christian smokers. And the ladies can buy a candle and a lighter
I just dont think the band motto
Shouting Gods Praise Till Our Lungs Bleed !!
Would fit on a thong.

sanshouheil wrote:I can see we simply must get a CD and some merch together.

First and foremost, you need a CD to sell. It will be expensive (I don't know where you are in that process). I think val paid around $1700 for 1000 CD's, but that included the cover and inserts, wrapping, UPC, everything (except the studio recordings and art for cover).

T shirts are great, everyone wears them. EVERYONE.

Buttons are good, cheap, make nice giveaways, but not a ton of people really wear them.

Armbands are even less popular than buttons, but more expensive.

Bumper stickers... now there's a fantastic idea. Have your band name and website very legible to a car 20 feet away. Nothing worse than bumper stickers where the print is so small, that you have to tailgate someone to read it. Rather than cramming a band logo on it, just find an artsy backfill to attract eyes, use band colors.