For most independent artists, smart merch can out-earn the guarantee. Use the field-tested tactics below and the free calculator to forecast profit and avoid dead stock.
What Makes Merch Profitable
Design for clarity at 10 feet. Big type and simple graphics often outsell clever details.
Price for the room, not the dream. Match local spending power and the bill style.
Start with two winners, then expand. One premium tee and one lower priced impulse item often beat five options that confuse buyers.
Track unit velocity by show size. Reorder based on what actually moves.
Pricing Framework
As a baseline, target a 60 to 70 percent gross margin after venue cut and payment fees. If the venue takes a cut, raise price or steer buyers to items with better margins like hats or posters.
Merch Profit Calculator
Enter your items and assumptions. The table estimates units sold, revenue, costs, and profit. Print or save just the calculator as a PDF when ready.
Calculator ready
Enter items below. Empty rows are ignored.
Item
Unit Cost
Price
Inventory
Sell-through %
Est Units Sold
Gross Revenue
Fees & Venue Cut
COGS
Gross Profit
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Totals
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Tip: Buyer rate is the percent of attendees who purchase at least one item. If the room holds 200 and you set buyer rate to 8 percent, expect roughly 16 buyers.
Recommended Product Mix For A First Run
Primary tee at a fair price. Sizes S to XXL based on your audience split.
Impulse item under 10 dollars. Stickers, pins, or a simple poster often convert fence sitters.
One premium item. Hat or embroidered tee for fans who want to spend more.
Emerging out of Nashville’s growing electronic music scene, Synthessiah is carving out their path as both a DJ and producer. Their story is one of resilience, strategy, and timing: qualities that are helping them gain momentum as a touring artist. I sat down with Synthessiah to discuss their story and how RoadUno could be a tool for venue discovery.
Raised in a musical household, Synthessiah picked up trumpet, piano, and guitar while studying music theory at the University of Tennessee, before diving headfirst into the professional world of music. After college, they moved to Murfreesboro around the middle of the COVID pandemic, they found themself playing in several bands, but the logistics and chemistry never seemed to click. Turns out that after a trip to the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, they rediscovered their passion for electronic music. “For about 10 years I had missed out on dubstep completely but on my 25th birthday I decided to drop the band stuff and focus on being a DJ and so, three years later, this is where I’m at now.”
Early days: Synthessiah exploring instruments and theory
House Shows and Festival Debuts
Synthessiah’s earliest shows were DIY and community driven, like their debut at The Laundry Room in Murfreesboro, TN. The first few shows were “just a few friends and people from the house show scene.” From there, Synthessiah began opening in Memphis, joining a collective of Nashville DJs “who were a part of a guild of other Nashville DJs.” That helped them break into new spaces outside their home scene. That hustle soon led to their first festival booking at Woods Fest in Kentucky, followed by a festival gig in Jacksonville, Florida and most recently Synthessiah played the official after party for dubstep heavyweight Svdden Death at The Office, after the show at The Pinnacle Nashville. Each new step brought bigger opportunities and bigger lessons about life as a solo artist.
Woodsfest flyer
Woods Fest (Kirksey, KY)
The Solo Artist’s Challenge
“At this stage, if I played every weekend, I’d be losing thousands.”
— Synthessiah
Unlike working with a band, being a solo DJ often means fronting all the costs: travel, hotels, food, and Ubers. Synthessiah acknowledges the reality: “At this stage, if I played every weekend, I’d be losing thousands.” To keep the momentum sustainable, they limit live shows to about once a month, balancing gigs with other income streams like private lessons, merch, and producing music for others. Synthessiah explains, “If you’re going to play shows by yourself, you’re usually the one who’s usually paying for the travel, hotels, the Uber, the food, you’re pretty much losing money at that point because you don’t have a bunch of people to rely on to add more funds.” Yet, being a solo act also comes with rewards. “You connect with your fans a lot more because you are the apex of their night,” they said. “I feel like it’s been a personal challenge for myself as well because I am on the spectrum and it makes it really hard for me to converse with people and so putting myself into this position where I have to network has made me grow as a person even more.”
Breaking Barriers and Networking
Synthessiah with friends and peers
Beyond the music itself, Synthessiah has pushed themself personally. They admit networking hasn’t always been easy, but leaning on supportive peers has opened doors. They mention friends like Vexus, who introduced me to and had Yakz help Synthessiah get introduced to bigger names in the electronic community. “Yakz is friends with really, really, really big artists like YVM3 and Svdden Death. Just having a friend like that to help push you through the first interaction is what counts.” That kind of support is crucial in an industry that can feel saturated. For artists, standing out often requires not just skill, but the right tools and strategies.
How RoadUno Can Help
This is where RoadUno enters the story. Designed as a virtual tour assistant, the platform helps artists discover venues, connect with booking contacts, and plan out their itineraries more efficiently, saving time and money. Synthessiah tried RoadUno firsthand: “I tested it with a potential tour schedule in Denver, Texas, and another city. It gave me venues I had never even heard of, with contact info. It even suggested itineraries, what to pack, and weather reports. That’s really, really cool.” For independent artists and established alike, having that kind of tool can save time, cut costs, and open up new opportunities, whether you’re self managing like Synthessiah or preparing to hand things over to a booking manager later. “I’d definitely use it to see what venues are available. And once I do get a booking manager, I’d show them the app. The platform would make their job easier too.”
Synthessiah in their element
Synthessiah during a live set
Eyes on the Future
“Success has no timeline.”
— Synthessiah
Looking ahead, Synthessiah has big goals. They dream of headlining larger festivals like Elements or South by Southwest, even if it takes years of climbing. “It doesn’t matter if it takes five years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years,” they exclaim. “Success has no timeline.” In the meantime, they will keep building a backlog of unreleased tracks, growing their fanbase, and using resources such as community, creativity, and technology all to stay fresh and ahead.
How to Register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) – A Guide to BMI, ASCAP & SESAC
If you’re a musician, songwriter, or producer, joining a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) is one of the smartest moves you can make. PROs make sure you get paid every time your music is performed publicly — whether it’s on stage, radio, or even in a coffee shop. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what PROs do, who the top three are, and how to register the right way.
What Is a PRO and Why Do You Need One?
A Performing Rights Organization collects and distributes performance royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers when their music is played in public. This includes:
Live performances
Radio airplay
Streaming services
TV/Film syncs
Restaurants, clubs, and more
Without a PRO, you could be missing out on royalty payments that you’re legally owed.
The Big 3: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC
These are the three major PROs in the United States:
Once approved, you’ll receive a member ID and gain access to your PRO’s online portal. From there, you can:
Register songs for tracking
Report live performances (for royalty payouts)
View royalty statements
You’re officially ready to get paid for your work!
Maximize Your Membership
Always register your songs once released
Submit live performance setlists to collect royalties from your gigs
Pair your PRO with services like SoundExchange for non-interactive streaming
Consider a publishing admin service like Songtrust if you’re releasing internationally
Final Thoughts
Joining a PRO isn’t just for chart-toppers — it’s for anyone making original music. Whether you play coffee shops or sell out clubs, you deserve to be compensated. Once you’re registered, RoadUNO is here to help you book those shows — so the world can hear (and pay for) your art.
How to Register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) – A Guide to BMI, ASCAP & SESAC
If you’re a musician, songwriter, or producer, joining a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) is one of the smartest moves you can make. PROs make sure you get paid every time your music is performed publicly — whether it’s on stage, radio, or even in a coffee shop. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what PROs do, who the top three are, and how to register the right way.
What Is a PRO and Why Do You Need One?
A Performing Rights Organization collects and distributes performance royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers when their music is played in public. This includes:
Live performances
Radio airplay
Streaming services
TV/Film syncs
Restaurants, clubs, and more
Without a PRO, you could be missing out on royalty payments that you’re legally owed.
The Big 3: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC
These are the three major PROs in the United States:
Once approved, you’ll receive a member ID and gain access to your PRO’s online portal. From there, you can:
Register songs for tracking
Report live performances (for royalty payouts)
View royalty statements
You’re officially ready to get paid for your work!
Maximize Your Membership
Always register your songs once released
Submit live performance setlists to collect royalties from your gigs
Pair your PRO with services like SoundExchange for non-interactive streaming
Consider a publishing admin service like Songtrust if you’re releasing internationally
Final Thoughts
Joining a PRO isn’t just for chart-toppers — it’s for anyone making original music. Whether you play coffee shops or sell out clubs, you deserve to be compensated. Once you’re registered, RoadUNO is here to help you book those shows — so the world can hear (and pay for) your art.
