How to Set Up Your Band's First Merch Table

The show went well. People are coming up after your set asking if you've got shirts, and all you have is a cardboard box of stickers and a phone with a payment app that won't load. Some of those fans were ready to buy, and you weren't ready to sell.

A merch table doesn't need to be big to work. It needs a few good products, clear prices, and a checkout that's quick in a dark, noisy room. Here's how to set one up for your first run of shows.

Step 1 - Start With a Small Product Range

A small range sells better at a first merch table, because fans decide faster when there are fewer choices. It also keeps your upfront costs low while you learn what your audience wants.

A sensible starter range:

• One T-shirt design in one or two colors

• Stickers or buttons as a low-cost option

• A physical copy of your music if you have one

• One extra item that fits your band, such as a tote bag

Start with three or four products, then add more once you know what sells. Write down what each item costs you so you can price it properly.

Step 2 - Order Shirts in Sizes That Will Actually Sell

T-shirts are usually the center of a band's merch table, and getting the size mix right matters as much as the design. Leftover boxes of a size nobody wants tie up money you could spend on your next run.

Before you order a full run, check the design and fit on a real shirt. Ordering a single sample of custom t-shirts from Swagprint is possible because its minimum order is one unit. Wear the sample to rehearsal, wash it once, and check that the print and fit still look right before you commit to the full quantity.

Base your size mix on your actual audience. Look at the crowd at your last few shows, and ask a few regular fans what size they'd buy. Keep each size in its own labeled bag or box so you can find it fast in a dark room.

Step 3 - Check the Sales Tax Rules Where You Play

Selling merch is selling goods, so sales tax rules may apply, and they differ between states. It's worth checking before your first sale rather than after a tour.

In Wisconsin, for example, a vendor selling taxable merchandise at an event must have a Wisconsin seller's permit unless the sales are exempt from sales or use tax. Other states have their own rules, so look up the revenue department for each state where you'll sell.

Check each state's rules before you tour, and ask the venue or promoter whether they handle merch sales or take a cut. Some venues have their own arrangements, and it's better to know in advance.

Step 4 - Display Prices Fans Can Read From a Distance

Clear prices sell merch, because fans who have to ask often walk away instead. Your table should answer the main questions before anyone reaches it.

Make a Price Board

Use a large board with thick, dark lettering on a light background. List each item with one simple price, rounded to whole dollars if you take cash, so you're not hunting for coins.

Show the Products, Not Just the Prices

Hang one of each shirt on a wall, a clothesline, or the front of the table. People buy what they can see, and a shirt on display shows the design better than one folded in a pile.

Light the table with a clip lamp or battery-powered light. Most venues are dark between sets, and fans can't buy what they can't read.

Step 5 - Set Up a Simple Checkout Area

A fast checkout is the difference between a sale and a fan who gives up when the next band starts. Keep everything you need to take payment in one spot on the table.

Your checkout kit:

• A cash float in small bills

• A card reader that's charged and tested

• A printed price list for the person selling

• A notebook or tally sheet for recording sales

A tablet works well for taking card payments, but a loose one on a crowded table can easily be knocked over or picked up. Bands that sell regularly can look at an iPad POS system from VidaBox, where the countertop stands come with anti-theft features that lock the iPad in place. Whatever you use, test the payment app on the venue's Wi-Fi or your phone's signal before doors open.

Put one band member or a trusted friend in charge of the table for the whole night. One person handling money avoids confusion when you count up later.

Step 6 - Count Up and Record Every Show

Counting stock and money after each show tells you what's selling and keeps your finances clean. It only takes ten minutes if you do it straight away.

The IRS says you should keep supporting documents that show the amounts and sources of your gross receipts. For a band, that can be as simple as your tally sheet, card reader reports and a note of cash taken each night.

Record sales and stock after every show in a shared spreadsheet. Within a few gigs, you'll see which sizes and items to reorder.

Pick Your First Three Products Today

Choose the three or four items you'll sell first and order one sample shirt this week. Then make your price board and pack a checkout kit before your next show.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a band sell at its first merch table?

Start with three or four products, such as one T-shirt design, stickers or buttons, and a physical copy of your music. Add more once you know what sells.

How do I choose T-shirt sizes for band merch?

Base the size mix on the crowd at your recent shows and ask regular fans what they'd buy. Order and test a single sample shirt before committing to a full run.

Do I need a seller's permit to sell band merch?

It depends on the state. In Wisconsin, for example, a vendor selling taxable merchandise at an event must have a seller's permit unless the sales are exempt.