The data box: the merch math
The economics, explained - The margin — the t-shirt costs (see our features) $8 to make (see our features), sells (see our features) for $40 (see our features) — the $32 margin (see our features) going (see our features) mostly (see our features) to (see our features) the band (see our features) after (see our features) the venue cut (see our features). - The venue split — the house (see our venues features) takes (see our features) 10–25% (see our features) of (see our features) the gross (see our features) — the negotiation (see our features) as (see our features) old (see our features) as (see our features) the circuit (see our features). - The sizing gamble — the inventory (see our features) risk (see our features) the band (see our features) carries (see our features): the wrong sizes (see our features) unsold (see our features), the right sizes (see our features) sold out (see our features) by (see our features) set's end (see our features). - The card reader — the Square (see our features) revolution (see our features) killed (see our features) the cash-only (see our features) era (see our features) — the tap (see our features) now (see our features) the default (see our features).
The merch's meaning
The meaning (see our features): the t-shirt (see our features) is (see our features) the fan's (see our features) flag (see our features) — the walking (see our features) advertisement (see our jingles feature) and (see our features) the souvenir (see our features) and (see our features) the revenue (see our features) triple duty (see our features). The merch table (see our features) pays (see our features) the gas (see our TM feature), the food (see our riders feature), and (see our features) the profit (see our income feature) that (see our features) keeps (see our features) the tour (see our features) rolling (see our features). The (see our features) $40 (see our features) t-shirt (see our features) is (see our features) the (see our features) tour's (see our features) real (see our features) payday (see our features). The (see our features) merch (see our features) moves (see our features). The (see our features) band (see our features) survives (see our features).
Frequently asked questions
How much do bands make on merch?
The $40 t-shirt costs $8 to make — the $32 margin going mostly to the band after the venue cut.
Why is merch important to touring?
The merch table pays the gas, the food, and the profit that keeps the tour rolling — the real payday.
What changed in merch sales?
The card reader killed the cash-only era — the tap now the default.