Get Customized Merchandize For Your Band For Real Cheap
By Dave Riesbeck - 04/25/2000
Here at the AMN, we know that we're a bit biased towards the Internet's capability to do anything. We know we love the idea of the Internet revolutionizing the way that independent bands can work. We know that we sometimes put the revolutionary tag on things that aren't exactly new or huge ideas. We know, we know...you can do all of this stuff just as easily off-line. But it's precisely the global audience that the Internet gives your work that makes it all so revolutionary.
The latest site that we've found that can help artists is a place called CafePress.com. CafePress.com will let you do with merchandise what mp3.com lets you do with CD's. For no fee, CafePress.com will let you create customized merchandise (T-shirts, mugs, mousepads) and set up shop on their website. Much like mp3.com, there's a minimum price for all of these products, and the site takes a certain amount of money from the sale before giving you your cut. So, while it isn't exactly the greatest thing in the world if you just want some band T-shirts to give to your friends, you can make plenty of cash without investing a dime if your audience uses the Internet.
From our brief experience with the site, a bit of graphics manipulation knowledge is helpful. Knowing how to resize your images appropriately is essential, and having the ability to work with an editing program such as Photoshop will also assist you. Otherwise, the system is fairly easy to use and produces fairly quality product.
At the moment, the only merchandise available at CafePress.com is that of T-Shirts, coffee mugs, and mousepads. While we're not sure how many local bands really want coffee mugs with their name on 'em (just imagine the Planet12 mug...), we're pretty sure that T-Shirts have stood the test of time as a thing that bands want. It's certainly cheap these days to get your own T-shirts made, but selling them on the internet has never been this easy.
For more information, or to set up shop for yourself, visit http://www.cafepress.com.
