I’ve toured and dealt with a few artists who were able to take credit card at the merch table, and to the best of my knowledge their sales have increased at any given show. However, the hassle at the end of the tour when the transaction fees and invoices from the service company are tabulated sometimes leads to the red instead of the black. Given how hard it is to make a tour profitable, this is yet another thing to consider before you hit the road.

So, with that in mind, I’m wondering if anyone has tried Square*? It seems like a simple and lovely little device, and the act of signing for the transaction by using a thumbprint has got to add a cool factor to your sales at any given city. Plus, there are way less things to deal with like receipts, credit card number records, etc… All of which could easily end up in the couch you slept on at Joe and Jane Smith’s bohemian apartment while you were in Calgary. Not good.

*Sadly, it seems their services are only available in the US at the moment, which would suggest to me that a Canadian company should really get in on this!

Even though I’ve been quiet for some time now, I have been trying to keep an eye on random musical things, and yesterday I came across a great site with plenty to say.

We All Make Music (weallmakemusic.com)

Some of the articles I read had some great tips and insight into touring, sound checking, playing and even the pros and cons of working with groups like ASCAP instead of choosing one of the newer options, such as the Creative Commons License.

So, if you’re not already reading their stuff, be sure to head over there and check it out. Chances are you’ll learn a thing or two that could help you in the long run!

As for new stuff, you can expect a post relatively soon in regards to how the pay-what-you-want system is working for my magazine, T.O.F.U. since I released it last month.

Since you’re not in it for the money, these two articles should be a great help:

Is Money Limiting Your Band’s Growth? (musicthinktank.com)

and

Want Serious Success? Then Start Losing Everything, Right now… (digitalmusicnews.com)

As a recent freelance writer, and long-time starving music promoter, I can guarantee that some of the best ideas come from a place of little resources. Plus, you can get a lot more variety in your meals from a gas station than a hotel room while you’re on tour!