An opening band's merch table strategy: start a quick conversation with fans, ask their name and hometown, then get them to sign up for the newsletter on an iPad, follow on Instagram, or scan a QR code. Turn people who didn't come for you into people who did.
Matt, when you play a show and you're opening for a bigger band, that crowd isn't there to see you, but it's your job to get their attention. And there's gonna be a percentage of those people at that show that go, oh my god, I really love this artist, I love this band, I want to meet them. And so then they're gonna come up to you at the merch table after you play, and you're gonna have a conversation with them. Hey, what's up, man? You guys are great. Oh, awesome, thank you so much. What's your name? Oh, my name's Jim. Awesome, Jim, where you from? Oh, from the town. It opens up this conversation, and then you're like, hey, by the way, would you like to sign up for our newsletter? Just, you know, here's the iPad, you know, that way you know when we're gonna be in town next. Sure, I'll do it right now. I'll Awesome. I'm going to follow you on Instagram right now. The QR code.
