How to display cds for sale at gigs?

Subject: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 04:29 PM

Hunt and I have one small cd that we carry around to our gigs; it sits in a cardboard box for all to see. It seems there must be a classier way to display our cd without spending lots of money. What do you do?

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 04:40 PM

One of those little leaning racks to put a display CD in. Heck, the rack doesn't lean, but it stands in such a way that the CD leans when put in the rack. There's a name for it but I can't recall what it is.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 04:54 PM

Looks like this. You can make one at home.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 05:21 PM

Or one of these "easels." It will only hold one CD, but it makes it easy to see, and the rest can be in a stack.

There are other designs.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 05:33 PM

I blew up images of front and back of the box to good old LP sleeve size, put the two back to back and then laminated.
Did two of these so I can stand front and back on show somewhere and if anyone is interested they can read it in any gloomy folk club light.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 05:54 PM

check out http://www.displays2go.com/category.aspx?ID=1379

Thst one's easy. Now how does one display 2500 CDs at a festival?

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 06:43 PM

I keep 45 CDs (15 each of our 3 CDs) in a small train case type piece of luggage that is about 11x13. Got it for cheap at a Job Lots store. It has a zipper, carrying strap and a compartment inside to hold a small zippered cash case and is hard-sided fabric to protect the contents. Works great to carry our stock and then I just open it up at the merch table and I'm all set up.

I did however just buy three 6" easels in the frame department of WalMart for $2.50 each. These fold up and will also fit inside my CD carrier, and can be used to display one of each ShoreGrass CD with a bit more visibility.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 06:46 PM

I wished artists would not put their CD's out, before a concert at my place. It's all a bit intimidating for the audience coming in. A support act, should not put Cd's out until they have finished their floorspot. If anybody likes them, they will come up in the interval. Same goes for the main guest.

Richard Digance didn't put his CD's out until the second half had started. Take a leaf from his book. Stop trying to force Cd sales.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Howard Jones
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 09:28 AM

Intimidating? In what way? I assume they're just laid out on display and the artist isn't forcing them on people as they come in through the door?

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 10:10 AM

Bearing in mind that many artists appear for reduced fees at small venues, they no doubt rely on CD sales to help with recouping the 'lost' part of their fee, so I can't see a problem with putting them out - if I see CDs out for sale and I don't want to buy, I just ignore them.

Support artists frequently appear at venues for no fee at all, and have to stand their own travel costs, so in fact they are paying to appear. We're not made of money FFS, even those of us who work for a living and, given the high cost of travel, not to mention the time and effort that unpaid performers have put into appearing, a venue trying to dictate whether and when they can display their CD's would seem especially niggardly to me.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 10:20 AM

Forget I said anything. If I could remove my post I would. Not looking for any arguments.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 11:22 AM

We get these little racks for cheap from a chemical supply house, that we all toast racks. They let the CD's lean back and be more visible than stacks.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: kendall
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 12:37 PM

Arthur itis, your opinion is as valid as anyone's.

When I remember to bring them I simply lay a few on the table with a sign giving the prices. I see them as an offer, not a demand.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 01:37 PM

GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 05:33 PM
was me, JHW
2500 cds to show is a challenge. All I would say there is show as many as poss full frontal. The time honoured edgeways on method is hopeless. JHW
(I'm repeating JHW as the new CDs are Us couldn't get it quite right)
JHW

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 01:43 PM

Thank you Kendall. May i say that your approach is the norm. It's the minority.......

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: kendall
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 02:04 PM

No one has the right to say that another person's opinion is wrong. They may say they disagree, or they have another opinion, but that's as far as they have the right to go.
Of course, certain control freaks will argue; hell some of them would argue with an echo.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 02:10 PM

At places where you can't hear the performers, a portable CD player with headphones (plus alcohol wipes) would be great with open sample CDS so people can listen before buying. mg

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: BTNG
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 02:11 PM

Arthur, the problem is, some people want to argue, if you said it was daytime, they's say it's nighttime and give you a thousand "facts" "proving" they were right and you were wrong, as kendall says and I say, your opinion is as valid as everyone elses, never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Cheers!


PS "Of course, certain control freaks will argue; hell some of them would argue with an echo."

*LOL* oh I like that!!! *LOL* and it's so true as well.

You know know who you are as well.....

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 02:41 PM

LOL

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 03:02 PM

When people are buying CD's, they have the same kind of question again and again. They want to know if such-and-such a song is on this-or-that CD. Meanwhile, the writing on the CD's is small, and customers are crowding around picking them up, putting them down, and making the sellers nervous.

When I was an officer in a folk club, I would type up lists of what songs are on what CD's in letters one inch high. These lists were much appreciated.

Even if you have only one CD, I think it's worth doing.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 03:38 PM

I sense some criticism of my earlier post which was made in response to one made by Arthur_Itus. So, to set the record straight:-

Arthur and I are personal friends. He knows me well, and I him and his family - I worked for his brother for seventeen years. We know one anothers' opinions on many things, (including, inter alia, CDs, artistes' attitudes, and the difficulties involved in running a successful venue), and we are both big and adult enough to accept our respective differences. I don't post anything on here that I wouldn't say to Arthur's face (but I have said many things to his face that I wouldn't say on here) and our friendship is strong enough to withstand differences of opinion.

I understand Arthur's point, and I know the various sets of circumstances that have brought him to that viewpoint. I've played at Arthur's venue many, many times, and I'm down to play there twice in 2012.

My post was absolutely nothing to do with being a 'control freak', or 'arguing with an echo', it was simply intended to put another side - isn't that what 'discussion' is all about, FFS? As someone who has often appeared at various venues as 'support' and almost never gets any money (and if I do, it usually doesn't even cover my petrol costs), I feel I made a valid point. Fortunately, I am sufficiently well-britched that I don't **need** to be paid for performing, so doing it for fun is fine for me, but that isn't necessarily the case for everyone.

No need for anyone to lose sleep or get their panties bunched, Arthur and I are still mates. But we still disagree, and may well do so again in the future.......that's what friends are for.

'Night all.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 03:57 PM

Um, thanks everyone for your suggestions?

I think I'll check out your link, Dick Greenhaus- relatively cheap and easy for my one li'l cd.

I usually just leave it in a noticeable place and let folks ask me about it- we usually sell a few at our gigs- and our gig life often fits Backwoodsman's first post pretty accurately!

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:04 PM

Backwoodsman there is very little I lose sleep over...

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:12 PM

Yes Backwoodsman is a very good friend and yes we disagree on things, but we do make up and have a laugh about it. We do see each others point of view and agree to disagree. So no problems. He can't help it if he is a Leeds United supporter :-)

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:23 PM

He can't help it if he is a Leeds United supporter :-)good god Ididnt know there were any

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:40 PM

Manchester United.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:55 PM

Just 1 GSS :-)

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 05:15 PM

That's Greek to me, Arthur-itis.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 05:18 PM

Just for 999 :-)

There is one Leeds Supporter, Good Soldier Schweik

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 05:25 PM

Some of those links that are inexpensive require a minimum order of 25 or 50 units.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 05:27 PM

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,leeneia - PM
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 03:02 PM

When people are buying CD's, they have the same kind of question again and again. They want to know if such-and-such a song is on this-or-that CD. Meanwhile, the writing on the CD's is small, and customers are crowding around picking them up, putting them down, and making the sellers nervous.

When I was an officer in a folk club, I would type up lists of what songs are on what CD's in letters one inch high. These lists were much appreciated.

Even if you have only one CD, I think it's worth doing.

The most sensible, and valuable, post so far on this thread ...

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: kendall
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 07:30 PM

My comments were not aimed at anyone in particular.

If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, only the one it hits will yelp. :-)

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 11:42 PM

Oh, Murray, you are so sweet.

People like you make it all worthwhile.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: kendall
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 01:46 AM

The only problem with that is, how much room can you hog for yourself on a common table? I get irritated when I see someone taking up way more than their share of the space provided for CDs.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 04:49 AM

Agreed Kendall.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 05:26 AM

Useful tip:

Use a briefcase. Small footprint and you can lay them flat, so the covers are displayed, but also stack them up inside the lid to make a shopfront. We lined the inside of the lid with a poster with prices as back-up. This worked well for smaller gigs where we only expected to sell in the 10s.

Next up is a dedicated flight case available from Maplin in the UK). Holds 60, but again you can stack in the lid.

Also: Always carry at least one of each CD around with you at festivals. People will stop you and ask, and they may not make it to your next 'sales opportunity.'

Not much point it putting CDs out until you've sung your 'cd-shifter' ideally at the end of the first half, after which, with luck, the feeding frenzy will begin. If you have the chance, try to arrange a longish break (© SoH), so people will get bored and come to browse. MOst will zoom off after the show, so only use your Number 2 'shifters' at the end of the gig. And always stand by the table (Tom's job, usually) so you can say which CD the Shifters are on - it's always the same 6 or 7 they ask about, depending on which set you do.

I always meant to make an illuminated triptych, like some chums use, but never quite had the nerve!

TB

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 05:31 AM

Very good points there Tom. Les

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Banjiman
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 09:22 AM

The best way to sell CDs?...... Play & sing well!

TB has some good pointers as always.

There is a fine line between reminding the audiences that you have CDs for sale (which you should!) ........ and going on too much about them (which is bad!).

...... and have a deal to ready to do if you have more than 1 title for sale. In our experience this makes a massive difference to sales.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 09:59 AM

It might be worth noting that I found the old storage drawers and boxes for 5.25" floppy disks an almost exact fit for my CDs.

The "exactness" of the fit is affected a little by which size of jewel box you put them in (if you box them).

Looking for a stash of these archaic items is probably pretty much useless, but if you happen to run into some at a flea market or yard/garage sale they might be worth a second look.

And even if the ones you find aren't what you want for the display, you still need a way to get all your CDs to/from the marketplace. Bent and dirty jackets don't contribute much to your sales appeal.

John

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 10:28 AM

If there's an MC at the gig, it's better to have him/her plug the sale of CDs at the break, rather than having the prformer do the selling

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: GUEST, Tom Bliss
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 10:43 AM

I disagree. The optimal approach is to tell genuinely interesting stories in your intros which just happen to mention cds in passing (i.e. ideally not just 'this is from our new album' - because people will assume most of your set is available on record anyway).

Market science suggests a consumer needs to hear about a product five times before deciding to think about buying. I have no time for market science whatsoever, of course ;-), but on the other hand...

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 11:17 AM

There's always the technique of hanging the CDs from hooks pierced into one's body, and then sort of swirling through the crowd. This works best if you have a nice looking body.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: kendall
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 08:41 PM

Just today at a gig in Rockland, someone asked if I had any Seagulls & Summerpeople CDs and I told him, "No, don't carry them anymore, they sell too fast, can't keep them in stock."

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 06 Nov 11 - 09:32 PM

I have a small DJ CD case with 3 dividers - it holds about 120 CDs - with a hinged lid that comes off. I have 13 titles for sale so that's approx.9 of each in the case.
I prefer it if people don't paw through them because they usually put them back in the wrong place.
So I have 9 or 10 Laminated cards with reduced pics of the all CD covers (both sides) along with the song lists, which I hand to folks to peruse while in line.
By the time they're ready to buy, they have their mind made up, and I can pull it out of the case.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Often
Date: 07 Nov 11 - 06:16 AM

I wonder if one type of display would consistently get better results over another type? Is it the display that counts most or the talking it up a bit you do?

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Nov 11 - 06:53 AM

normal format at my folk club is 2 or 3 floorspots, support & main act.

We ask performers for CDs & put a few of each on the front table with a sign saying how much each is & any reduction for quantity. Bulk copies are under the table. Some folks buy when they arrive, others look at them & buy at supper when they've heard the performance.

I always mention the CDs when introducing the act & again when they finish, when I remember I have the CD with me when promoting it. Naturally the performers mention them, too. The doorkeeper or I also stay with the CDs if artist can't get away to sell them in the supper break.

sandra

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Bernard
Date: 07 Nov 11 - 07:12 AM

Not that dissimilar from how we do it at Lymm, Sandra!

We usually put one of the guest's CDs in the raffle - if they have more than one available and they're the same price, the winner gets to choose.

Subject: RE: How to display cds for sale at gigs?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Nov 11 - 09:25 AM

The "shoebox" approach is quite common, I've also seen an artist who has a cardboard insert that he's cut to fit the lid of his hardshell case with the details (titles, prices) of his current CDs painted on. He leaves the case open, with the insert displayed. at the side of the stage. The swishest setup I've seen is blues singer Papa George. He has one of those shiny cases photographers use with the CDs in and there's a rolling illuminated LCD display on the top with the title and price of his latest CD showing. The Hamsters travel with a display board with samples of their merchandise pinned to it and a roady manning the table.

RtS