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.
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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.
Learn the unspoken rules of the road that turn good shows into lasting relationships. From how you treat venue staff to how you support other bands, touring etiquette can make or break your next opportunity.
Why Touring Etiquette Matters More Than You Think
Your reputation on the road is one of the most powerful tools you have as an independent artist. Great performances will get you noticed, but professionalism and etiquette are what get you invited back. Bookers, venues, and other artists talk and the bands that are easy to work with often find doors opening faster.
Before the Show: Communicate Like a Pro
Great touring etiquette starts long before you hit the stage. Respond promptly to booking emails, confirm key details like load in time, set length, and merch policies, and share your stage plot or input list early. Being proactive shows that you respect the promoter’s time and helps avoid last minute stress.
Reply quickly to booking communications.
Confirm set times, load in, and parking ahead of time.
Send tech needs or stage plots in advance.
Arrive early 15 to 30 minutes before load in is ideal.
At the Venue: Respect the Space and the Staff
From the person scanning tickets to the sound engineer, every staff member is part of your show’s success. Be polite, follow house rules, and clean up your space after you play. Make sure you learn the sound person’s name and treat them like royalty they make sure you sound good. Little gestures go a long way and staff often share feedback with bookers about which artists are worth bringing back.
Always introduce yourself to venue staff and thank them after the show.
Respect house gear, furniture, and backstage areas.
Clean up after your set, leave the stage better than you found it.
On Stage: Share the Spotlight, Not the Ego
Etiquette matters just as much under the lights. Stick to your set time, running over can disrupt the entire night’s schedule. Respect shared gear, and never adjust someone else’s equipment without permission. And remember: energy, connection, and gratitude on stage leave just as strong an impression as the music itself.
Stick to your set length and avoid running over time.
Don’t touch or move gear that isn’t yours without asking.
Thank the crowd and the venue from the stage.
With Other Bands: Collaboration Beats Competition
Touring isn’t just about playing music, it’s about building community. Show up early to support the other bands on the bill, cross-promote each other online, and avoid hogging the spotlight. Bands that treat their peers with respect often end up with future support slots and valuable connections.
Watch the other bands’ sets and support them publicly.
Share each other’s posts and tag them on social media.
Offer to split gear or backline when possible.
After the Show: Thank and Follow Up
The show doesn’t end when the lights go up. Always thank the sound engineer, promoter, and venue staff before you leave. Follow up with a quick message or social post tagging the venue, these small touches show you care about the relationship and can make you a top pick for future bookings.
Thank the staff and promoter before you leave.
Post and tag the venue, staff, and other artists online.
Follow up about future booking opportunities.
How RoadUNO Helps You Stay Professional
It’s easy to forget details when you’re on the road. RoadUNO helps you stay organized with show reminders, load in times, and even route planning so you can focus on showing up prepared and professional.
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.
