Originally posted by defstarsteve
| Quote: | Originally posted by Boycott Christian HC
i'm told that... (quote) it's fairly common for silk screening businesses to front merch, and let bands pay for the shirts after they come back from
tour and they've sold them all, and that most "hardcore friendly" places will do this
is that right... |
first I have heard of it in this context
if I had money to just give to bands I would start a label,
most hardcore bands are too flakey to be expected to pay the bills
actually all bands suck at paying bills that's why we make them pay in full in advance....
we used to do a 50-50 split hlaf upfornt half when the work is done, but I actually had bands break up during the printing and there I was out my
money with a bunch of merch noone wanted for busted ass band that no cared about...
and fuck shattered realm but that's another story all together
I have fronted money to bands that I know are on good size labels and have been doing this for more then a few years and guess what...
I am owed over 6 grand right now becasue of it...
and those debts are over a year old
fuck the hardocore commodity,
I mean community
there is no community
lowest price wins hands down
people don't care if these shirts are quality what matters is they are the lowest price...
people actally tell me they can steal the shirts from walmart and paint them, and they'll be fine for tour
why spend money on quality
there are too many scene girls to buy drinks and coke for...
who cares that some shit head kid in iowa who drives an hour to get to see you once a year and spends a shit ton of money on your merch, is gonna be
pissed becasue the desing washes out the first time they try to wash it...
all that matters is you got his money and it didn't cost you shit...
as far as community I have had people I have worked with for years, people who have slept in my house, hung out with my kids and call me brother, jump
ship becasue they thought they could get a better deal, or because they owed me money and instead of handling their business like men, they run and
use smeone else...
but guess what
they come back becasue the better deal didn't come close to working out the way they thought...
now to answer you question more in depth
some larger screenprinters and merch comapines will not just front you merch, they will give you merch plus you royalties upfront on the future sale
of your design
usually about a dollar a shirt if you are lucky and have a good lawyer
so you get a nice check for $1000.00 upfront
and the merch company runs about 5000 of them and sells them retail for $20 a piece...
but hey you got your $1000.00 and no longer have rights to use your own images....
those companies are directly tied to the big labels and it's just part of the fucking that te bigger lables give you...
but think about it
does it make sense to jsut hand over your money to a bunch of guys in a van who say they will pay you when they get back
what collateral do these bands have on the merch
their word...
ha-ha
sorry but I own a small business not a corporation with big loans or investors
every dime I make goes to make my business better for my customers or to feed my kids
this pays my bills so why would I want to give some kid with tight pants and bad hair my money and struggle hoping they will pay me back some day
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