How to hire a merch salesperson?

[WayOffBase]

Hi everyone,

I need to hire a trustworthy person with a large SUV or van to sell the usual merch (t-shirts, caps, etc) during our performance. I also have to have them transport the lights/lightstands to the show and assemble them before the show and disassemble them after the show. I'll pay them $250 which is what I pay the band members.

Do you have advice on where to find a person like that? I may try the local college music department but the person will probably have to be at least 21 years old.

Thanks,
Ray

 

[ArtechnikA]

You don't need a musician, you need a roadie...
If you have a college to recruit from, nevermind the music department unless they have production courses.
Check out the drama department - they'll have stagehands with experience in lighting and rigging.
And someone with retail experience, ideally with marketing, direct sales, and inventory management skills.
I suppose you could luck out and they'd be the same person...
If you're not supplying the van, you may be asking a lot...

 

[ole Jason]

If you know any trusted sound guys ask them if they know anyone. If they're hurting for work they may even be interested themselves.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You want someone to provide their own large vehicle, transport, set up, and break down lights, and sell merchandise, and you want to pay them $250? I don't think you will find anyone at that price.

Band members are doing something they enjoy, and are not doing heavy, boring work (never mind handling stock and money).

 

[two fingers]

Hi everyone,

I need to hire a trustworthy person with a large SUV or van to sell the usual merch (t-shirts, caps, etc) during our performance. I also have to have them transport the lights/lightstands to the show and assemble them before the show and disassemble them after the show. I'll pay them $250 which is what I pay the band members.

Do you have advice on where to find a person like that? I may try the local college music department but the person will probably have to be at least 21 years old.

Thanks,
Ray

This may be the weirdest situation I've ever read when it comes to band staff.

We need more details.

How often do you play? Will this person be doing this every weekend?

How far do you travel? The reason I ask is that nobody will EVER drive an hour away in a large SUV without getting mileage compensation. As stated earlier, you guys are musicians. You're doing something you love. This person will be a "hired hand". There won't be any "joy" in the performance of their work.

How are gigs scheduled? (In other words, does the band leader simply book dates without consulting everyone else?) I ask this because lack of flexibility will factor in the pool of available candidates.

In short, you're wanting a laborer, not a performer. Musicians put up with crap conditions because we LOVE what we do. Laborers are less likely to put up with crap conditions.... namely providing a large vehicle.

I don't think you'll find this person.

 

[Michedelic]

Hi everyone,

I need to hire a trustworthy person with a large SUV or van to sell the usual merch (t-shirts, caps, etc) during our performance. I also have to have them transport the lights/lightstands to the show and assemble them before the show and disassemble them after the show. I'll pay them $250 which is what I pay the band members.

Do you have advice on where to find a person like that? I may try the local college music department but the person will probably have to be at least 21 years old.

Thanks,
Ray

Who's doing the PA, and how big is it? Who's running the lights(and PA)during the performance? Most merch gets sold after the show, so are you expecting this person to handle sales, and then bust their ass taking down/loading out the lights after that?

 

[Michedelic]

There's also a division of labor/expertise aspect. Setting up a lighting system is more than just screwing in a light bulb, it's a tech matter, just like setting up a PA once you get past the box on a stick/pair of LED disco lights level. Some sound people will run lights, some don't want to be bothered. Selling merch is a position of representing the band, and may involve some personality skills. Also, a matter of being trustworthy. Consider a payscale based on a sales commission. An SO of someone in the band may be a better fit just for that job in particular.

 

[Pocket Dave]

As has been mentioned, what you're looking for is a roadie, and you're rate's not way off base, WayOffBase, if the guy doesn't have to furnish the van and transport the lights and merch. What you MAY also be looking for is a cartage company, in which case there's no way you're going to find someone for that scale with that much stuff to haul/manage and that scope of job duties.

To my point re: cartage, there's more than just transport, setup & teardown when it comes to lights or any other gear: Where's it all stored? Will this person have to drive across town to a rehearsal space first to meet up & load up? That adds a lot of extra time to a gig and makes for a very long work day. Or will he be responsible for warehousing it himself? Odds are good he's either paying rent or a mortgage someplace - does he just forgive the extra space the gear's going to take up? And who maintains and repairs gear between shows?

It would probably be much easier to find someone for that scale if you were to store & transport the lights, trusses and stands to and from gigs yourself. Buy and repurpose a used U-Haul or horse trailer and pull it behind your van or SUV.

Otherwise, you'll probably have better luck sub-contracting a lighting guy with his own gear on an as-need basis, hauling your own merch and hiring a college kid to set it up and work the table. You'll pay more for the lighting, but at least that part will be 100% on someone else.

I was in an event band for almost 20 years, and we subbed out sound and lights. It was nice to just walk in, setup a backline, and have everything ready to soundcheck with plenty of time to then chill, grab a bite and hit a non-stressful downbeat.