Dear Bands (Singers/DJs/etc):
Hi. Its MeanLittleBumbleBee. We need to chat. I love music, you know this already but what you don’t know is how my entire life has been about music. I remember begging my parents to let me take piano lessons and finally when I was 5 years old they gave in and off to piano class I went. Long car trips were full of my parents selections of country, classic rock, cumbias and Spanish pop. I used to fall asleep with my stereo next to me in bed listening to music – the radio, a new tape I’d just bought, or a mix tape I’d made because I considered the mix tape to be a particular specialty of mine. When I wash dishes, clean or dust my house I have headphones on and I am rocking out to something. When Mr. BumbleBee is in the car listening to sports talk AM radio I am in the back with BabyBumbleBee listening to music. Even in the shower there’s music playing. So you see, I love music. There’s always a great piece of music to fit whatever mood I may in on a given day. Music is my passion, my love, my reason for being.
I am the girl that will go to a show and get there early to make sure I get to hear all the opening acts. I bob my head along to the music you play, clap and cheer for you after your set, I’ll come up to you and tell you I loved your set. I am a fan. I fall in love with bands, I have a crush on bands, I develop a deep and long lasting love for bands I like. I listen to the music on your MySpace page and add it to my playlist. I read your bio, I comb through your pictures, I look to see where you’ll be playing at next, I check out your videos and I join your mailing list.
Which brings me to my point…why is it that when I go to a show and ask for merch you give me a blank look and tell me you don’t have anything? If I love you I will buy your CD or a button or sticker at the very least (I’m a girly girl – I love stickers). If there insn’t a table for you to set up your stuff why not keep it in your van or your guitar case even? How about the cute guitar player talks to me about what you’re up to next while the drummer runs out to grab a CD or a flyer. It doesn’t take much to make me happy and it doesn’t hurt you to sell a few pieces of merch. And please make sure you know how to spell the link to your MySpace page. (Note: I’m not even going to deal with those of you that don’t even have a MySpace page, I’ll deal with you in person.) Being “a new band” is no excuse. I’ve gotten stickers and buttons from new bands. If you don’t have mastered songs to throw up on your MySpace page put up a rehearsal verion and call it your special acoustic version. I promise it’ll make you sound that much cooler. I leave my house with $20 burning a hole in my jeans pocket. If I can’t buy your CD or a sticker or button then the bar gets it because I’ll spend it on my other vice: Red Bull. I would happily give you my $$ in exchange for a CD that will be uploaded and will get heavy rotation on my iPod. If you need help getting started or need ideas check out Martin Atkins’ Tour Smart. This book will be your bible and you will be a smarter band making money off your merch.
So please, bring along your merch (flyers count). At the very least invest a few (only a few) dollars in some stickers or buttons or flyers to spread the word about your band. I have a big mouth and will tell everyone I know how awesome your show was and will gladly plug any of your upcoming shows on this blog. So let’s get going kids, bring on the merch!
Sincerely,
~MeanLittleBumbleBee
Chicago, Illinois
