This is something I haven’t talked about the dreaded Merch display with its price tabs (that no one reads) the pins, clips some people use grids others foam boards (I like foam boards) body forms, lights, tables, table cloths etc etc. all these items are great and all and show that a Merch person and band understand that Merch is an important money maker for bands.

But does having a great display really help sell? NO it doesn’t but does having a great display show pride in your work? YES! HELL YES!

You might be thinking the Merch dude doesn’t make sense, of course a Merch display helps sell more, well No it doesn’t being the popular band helps you sell more, your band understanding your fans demographic helps you sell more.

Example: you don’t do a shirt with unicorns and glitter for a metal band unless it has razor blades and you don’t do a shirt with babies hanging upside down for a Christian band, the more your band/management and your Merch person understands of the demographic the more successful your Merch sales will be.

Another mistake I see is bands that have to many items, having more items does not mean having better sales. I have done tours where I have had over 50 items that if they would have had 15 would have sold way more Merch.

Pricing: I seen bands charging $50 bucks for a shirt (CRAZY) and not have a $10 item, bands need to have a well rounded pricing so every fan can buy something from your $25 shirt to a $5 keychain, that way everyone can buy something.

Going back to displays I have seen great displays and have seen some shitty ones (bunch of shirts on a table) and although displays may not help sell more Merch it’s does say a lot of the band and the bands Merch person. So merch people take your time doing your display and bands take 3 minutes (while you’re doing your hair) and come out to the Merch area take a look at it and see if it looks great! Remember your Merch display says more about your band than it does about your Merch person!

This is my opinion and only an opinion.

lately kids want to become Merch people or touring people instead of going to school to become lawyers or Doctors or even accounting people, It’s your parents responsibility to guide you and they will always say DON’T throw your future away to become a Merch etc etc, they are correct it takes luck ton of luck to make a living on tour but if you’re lucky you can make a great living doing it BUT like I said it takes luck! think about this it’s super hard for bands with a ton of talent to make a living, imagine how hard it is for crew people!! Yes freaking hard. I say go to school have a cushion to fall back on because you don’t just get into touring, touring falls in your lap because of LUCK.

The one thing I can’t stand thought is parents that say you can’t make a living touring and all I have to say is if you are lucky HELL TO THE YEAH you can! I make a living and I’m not the smartest dude and I make enough of a living to own a home with my wifey and support our kids. The draw back is I have been doing it so long I wouldn’t be able to survive in a regular job because they don’t pay what you can make on the road remember IF YOU ARE LUCKY.

So if this isn’t clear enough GO to school become someone on your own!! Because you’re young now and may think that touring is what you want to do because you think its cool but it takes a type of person to tour (look at any of us we all look the same) we may or may not belong which makes touring the perfect place for people that don’t want to belong. Trust me if I could go back I would be a record label rep because we all know they can’t sign good acts.

Please go to school get a degree and cross your fingers maybe one of your friends becomes a famous musician and you get that call saying “Want to come on the road?”

This is my opinion and only an opinion!

His name is Jason Sear @jaycore He has worked for (hed)p.e., ICP, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Twiztid, Anybody Killa, and any other acts on Psychopathic Records. He has been touring for almost exactly 2 years now, and has been thrown into the whirlwind that is merchandising to the juggalos, including managing the gigantic merch booth at the 2011 Gathering of the Juggalos. WHOOP WHOOP!

1) You are working right now for Insane Clown Posse and your display reminds me of a Disney tour, gives us a run down on how many items you have? And how long it takes you to set up?

On this last tour I was initially sent out with 236 items. This included 38 shirt designs, 11 girls shirts, 21 jerseys, 13 hoodies, 8 beanies, 13 hats, 74 CDs, 22 DVDs, and several small trinket items. Halfway through the tour we restocked with 19 new t shirt designs, 12 new girls shirt designs, several bandanas, and random hoodies and jerseys.

It takes me from our approximate 10:00am load in time until doors almost every day to set up and do my pulls of stock for the night’s show. My display, consisted of 21 pieces of 2’x8’ grid wall and I had to build it to fit many different venues. The display only takes about an hour to an hour and a half to set up, but pulling out 12 huge tubs of shirts and hoodies, etc and figuring out what to restock took the longest.

2) As a merch person you have to have such patience to deal with crowds nowadays, how is it when dealing with Juggalos ? *looks left to right* if you can talk about it (ha)

Most of the kids are actually quite awesome. They all remember me and I remember a ton of them too. They ask about old merch guys and actually enjoy our company and stories. It’s the few bad kids you have to worry about, and make sure every piece of merchandise is secure as theft is a quite common issue. zip ties and packaging tape are a couple necessary tools. Also, like any other crowd, kids don’t seem to know what size shirt they wear, and I can count on a kid who should wear a large to order a 2XL or 3XL. Our sizes actually go up to 5XL on T’s as there are some bigger fans and many fans wear baggier shirts anyways.

3) We all seen some crazy shit on tours but you’re on the ICP tour and must seem some of the most fu*k up shit, can you give us your top 3?

The other day a woman bit my tour manager on her knee cap because she took her satin pass away for basically being a creep. Way to prove the creepiness by BITING another human being. At the Gathering of the Juggalos I was driving around in my golf cart and Ron Jeremy was wasted and hopped on my cart and refused to get off until he was talking to Vanilla Ice 15 minutes later and had to get off to hug him goodbye. Another time, some chick decided to show me her boobs, perhaps for a free shirt or something (btw never works with me) and it was a disturbing site as they looked like they were drooping down her chest and I nicknamed her “Dali.” It seems with that subject, the ones you get to see are the ones you never want to see…

4) Warped tour or ICP tour in the summer?

I would love to do Warped Tour. I know everyone seems to hate it after so long, but I think it would be a stellar change of pace and have some bands I would love to hear and crews I’d love to hang with, especially since many of them come to my other job (The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI)

5) What has been the hardest thing for you to adjust now that you are touring more consistently?

I think the hardest thing would be just being away from family and friends. I love being with my friends and family so it is quite rough being away for a while. Communication always helps, and on this last tour I did, there was barely any time to take 10 mins to call anyone and only 4 days off in 36 days was killer. I always try to just keep in touch with the people I love and it makes things better.

This one time I was working a show and @themerchdude came up to me in full face paint and bought a jersey, tour shirt, and the 4 new CDs. I thought he was joking. Nope, he’s a juggalo.

So if you want to see how hard a Merch person has to work maybe you should come early to a show and watch Jay set up his mini mall called the Juggalo store! If you’re in a band and going to be on warped tour next year here is a merch guy that will make you money and be happy to be there. Follow him before he loses his mind and is sent to an insane asylum where he will set up for hours his imaginary Merch selling it to elfs, dragons and santa claus while wrapped in a straight jacket! here is his twitter.
www.twitter.com/Jaycore

Thank Jay for taking the time tell the ICP guys to be nice to you, you deserve it.

So Joel from Good Charlotte took some time between shows via smart phone to write his answer to the 5 questions, I left it just like he wrote it because I appreciate the time he took to do this so I didn’t alter it, plus it looks like he is yelling which makes it even better because he is so chill and i cant imagine him yelling unless he is singing. So enough of me talking here is Joel 5 questions.

1) Good Charlotte is one of the few bands that I remember have always been nice to fans and to other bands, even 10 years ago I remember doing radio shows with another artist and Good Charlotte would be on the bill and you guys always came to the side of the stage to show support, Why in your opinion we don’t see this support form bands nowadays?

I DON’T KNOW THAT WE DON’T SEE IT. I THINK THERE ARE STILL TONS OF BANDS THAT OPERATE JUST LIKE GC DOES. WE ARE STOKED TO BE DOING THIS FOR SO LONG, AND TO HAVE A CAREER DOING WHAT WE LOVE, WHILE GETTING SUPPORT FROM FANS AND OTHER BANDS, WE TRY REALLY HARD TO ALWAYS SHOW IT. I KNOW A TON OF BANDS LIKE ALLTIMELOW, YELLOWCARD, FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS, THE MAINE, ALL THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY.

2) You have been bless with success and with a beautiful family, which I assume has the draw back of losing your privacy, specially with aggressive fans and paparazzi, how do you manage not kicking the living sh*t out of these people that don’t respect your family’s privacy?

THAT SIDE OF IT IS ALWAYS WIERD. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I HATED IN THE WORLD, ITS THOSE KINDS OF INVASIVE PEOPLE. FROM SHITTY TABLOID MAGAZINES TO PHOTOGRAPHERS, ITS THE IDEA THAT ITS THIER RIGHT TO STALK YOU, MAKE UP LIES, AND INVADE YOUR FAMILY. I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS THAT YOU CAN’T FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, SO I’VE RECENTLY TRIED REALLY HARD TO BE LESS AGGRESIVE AND ACCEPT THAT UNTIL THERE ARE SOME KINDS OF LAWS, I WILL JUST HAVE TO LEARN TO TRY MY BEST AND ELUDE ALL OF THAT. WE DO OUR BEST AS PARENTS TO PROTECT OUR KIDS. THATS ALL I CARE ABOUT. MY WIFE AND MY KIDS SAFETY IS FIRST. AS LONG AS I CAN KEEP THEM SAFE AND HAPPY, I’M HAPPY. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD THAN OUR PRIVACY, SO I CAN’T COMPLAIN.

3) Your band has manage to stay away of the many things that kill bands; drugs, alcohol etc and you guys are still touring hard after more that 15 years, what would you tell up and coming bands that believe talking about drugs and alcohol on the social media gives them an edge?

DRUGS ARE WIERD. I DON’T DO DRUGS, BUT I’VE SEEN PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO DO COME AND GO. I THINK PROMOTING THINGS LIKE DRUGS AND VIOLENCE IS A MISTAKE WE MAKE IN OUR YOUTH. I TRY MY BEST NOT TO JUDGE PEOPLE FOR ANYTHING THEY DO. WHILE SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE A TURNOFF FOR ME, I’M NEVER THE ONE TO TELL A BAND HOW TO BE. AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY ARE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES AND IF THATS THIER THING, THEN SO BE IT. I’VE DONE PLENTY OF STUPID SHIT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND ALOT OF TIMES THATS JUST WHAT IT IS. THESE DAYS I’M ALL ABOUT A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE, AND I TRY TO SPREAD THAT. I WILL SAY JUST FROM WHAT I’VE SEE OVER THE YEARS, THE DRUGS NEVER LAST. ITS A DANGEROUS GAME BUT IF YOU WANNA PLAY THATS YOUR CALL. WE ALL KNOW THE END OF THAT MOVIE THOUGH. USUALLY THE ENDING IS PRETTY SAD.

4) With all due respect to your wife, who is the one person you are allowed to have a hall pass with?

SHALOM HARLOW

5) Would you ever consider to start your own record label it seems to be the smartest thing to do for bands that have had success so they can have control of their music and make the money they deserve, what’s your take?

I’M ALL FOR BANDS STARTING THIER OWN LABEL. I’M NOT SURE THAT I WOULD. THATS NOT MY STRONG SUIT RUNNIG A LABEL. I MAKE MUSIC AND WRITE SONGS. I’VE ALSO LEARNED OVER THE YEARS TO PLAY TO MY STRENGTHS AND LEAVE THE LABEL STUFF TO THE PEOPLE WHO SPECIALIZE IN THAT. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH OUR RECORD LABEL SITUATION. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME BAD SIDES TO ALL LABELS, I’VE JUST HONESTLY NEVER HAD TO SEE THAT. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE IN THIS WAY.

themerchdude once hijacked a truck of yo gabba gabba merch to give to kids in need. the man is a merch superhero!!

So if you’re a fan of a band that has been doing it for awhile and still manages to be nice even when people are in his face follow Joel and his band here:
TWITTER - @joelmadden
losmadden.tumblr.com
www.goodcharlotte.com

THANK YOU JOEL!!

Next on 5 questions is a very special surprised guest, So keep your eyes open for it!

I asked Brian to tell us a little about himself for those that do not know him here it goes.

Hello! I’m Brian. I live in Portland, OR by way of Charlottesville, VA with my lovely fiancée, our two cats, and my ridiculous record collection. I’ve been touring for about 5 1/2 years now and currently work for Josh Ritter, handling merch (both tour and webstore), his websites and social networks, creative marketing, photography, some day-to-day management, and kicking ass all around. Previously I’ve worked with Robert Randolph & The Family Band, The Decemberists, G Love & Special Sauce, Ziggy Marley, Swans, and more. I’m extremely lucky to make a living doing something I love and to work with the group of people that I do.

So now that you official know Brian here are his 5 questions with Themerchdude:

1) You’re not only a Merch guy you are also a great photographer, how did you discover you had an eye for it? And do you sell your photos?

Thank you! I picked up my first and only (to date) camera in the summer of 2008 before heading off to Warped Tour. I had been touring off and on for a couple years at that point and figured I should start trying to remember all the cool stuff I get to see and do. Then I figured: I’ve got access to the stage, why not shoot the shows? 3 years later, here I am. Still clutching my well worn Canon Rebel XT in the crowd of almost every Josh Ritter show. I don’t always get the convenience of a photo pit. Sometimes you gotta mingle with the fans. Sometimes that’s where the best photos are taken.

I don’t currently sell my photos. I’ve looked into a couple options for selling prints, but haven’t decided on one and committed to it. Anyone out there have any recommendations? I have happily traded photos for records though!

2) As an artsy type of guy have you had the opportunity to design any of the merch for any of the artist you work with?

Yes and no. I come up with a lot of ideas for Josh Ritter’s merchline. Unfortunately, I’m not skilled when it comes to fleshing out designs so I ask my friends to take care of that. The concepts behind Josh Ritter’s scarf and tote bag were ideas I had and I’m pretty proud of them. Props for to Matt Fleming for his wonderful execution on both of those. I also make a lot of decisions regarding colors, fabrics and unique items, which are just as important as the designs themselves.

Did you know that buying concert tickets and records can be written off on your taxes as “research”? My CPA rules.

3) We all have had the bad experience with deliveries not arriving or out door shows in the heat or rain, what has been your worst experience?

Last fall, in the middle of Josh Ritter’s US/Canadian tour we played jump rope with the Canadian border for a few days. Which meant shipping merch between dates to avoid headaches, hold ups, and taxes at border crossings. FedEx Canada apparently doesn’t have a “standard overnight” option - you either send priority overnight (expensive) or you wait it out. Their waybill forms don’t make this clear enough. We arrive at the venue in Winnipeg, MB for a sold out show and merch is nowhere to be found. I make many calls to FedEx and the problem presents itself: I won’t have merch for the show. I have to redirect it to the next show. Thankfully I had some used drumheads from earlier on the tour and the promoter hooked us up with a bunch of leftover 11”x17” posters he used to advertise the show. I had the band sign everything and sold what I could. It was a bad day to be me.

http://brianstowell.tumblr.com/post/1429521297/dear-fedex-go-choke-on-some-dicks-seriously

4) If you could change one thing about dealing with Merch what would it be and why?

I dream of developing a system that integrates and streamlines tour and webstore merchandise. I could view stock for both worlds in one place, make adjustments and orders and drop ships, view sales statistics, save and view tour reports, compare tour sales data along timelines and geographic regions, save designs, everything. I know it can be done, but the man hours to build and debug it would be astounding. It’s scary to think that the entire sales history and organization for Josh’s merch empire is built on a foundation of my own memory. I’d like to make it web-based and searchable. GMerch! Patent pending.

5) You have to kiss one of these guys little wayne or little bowow?

Lil’ Wayne. Carter II is one my most frequently played albums. Plus, he’s most likely grape flavored.

When themerchdude was a young lad his Dad pulled him aside, with two eggs in his hand. Themerchdude’s Dad told him he was going to smash one of the eggs on his head. Themerchdude freaks as his Dad chases him around the house, grabs him, smashes the egg on his head. There is no mess, it doesn’t even really come apart, just cracks. His Dad shows him its just a gag; it’s been hard boiled.

He hands themerchdude the other egg, and says, “go get Mom.” 30 seconds later she is covered in raw egg and shouting.

So if you like music, touring, Merch, photography or just to follow one handsome looking dude go follow Brain Stowell here:
http://brianstowell.tumblr.com
http://www.twitter.com/brianstowell

Here is Tom one of the nicest and more efficient Tour managers I have had the pleasure to meet and work with, not only is he is good at his job but is discreet so discreet that bands have no problem being themselves around him (biggest trade of a Tour Manager).

Some of the many bands he works for is Good Charlotte, Butch Walker just to name a few, which are some of the nicest guys in the music business and have been around long enough to know that being a Rockstar is all about working hard, being nice to fans and crew so all bands take a note on that!

It’s called a marathon and not a sprint!

So I am flattered that Tom took time out of his busy schedule to do this so please pay attention and reblog the shit out if this because guys like Tom don’t like the spot light unless he is behind it!

1) I have had the pleasure to meet you while back on a tour and I noticed no matter how stressful any situation was you were always super calm, have you ever lost your cool?

Part of being an effective TM is keeping your cool under pressure. My clientele play the full range of venues from small clubs to sold out arenas. I’ve found that the bigger the production, the more pro the crew.
At the gig, I can only think of a couple rare times that I actually lost my cool and they were both on tour with newbie crew who didn’t know their heads from their ass. Part of my job is to educate and elevate and support the crew. Because of that, I consider myself a failure in those instances.
Sometimes the best we can do is to hope to learn from our mistakes.

Outside of the gig, there was the time, on the Cobra Starship tour, that our substitute bus driver high sided the tour bus and got us stuck on train tracks …………with a train eminently rolling around the bend. At 8 am, I had to evacuate the band/crew from their bunks. I feel like I remember keeping my cool pretty well, but the band may have another story to tell. :-)

2) You’re old school (not saying old) but you have been touring for awhile, what’s your take on these bands bantering other bands?

To quote Radiohead, that kind of stuff sounds, to me, like the buzzing hum of a refrigerator. You only notice it when you have nothing else important to pay attention to.

3) It seems that everyone that you have TM’ed for always wants to have you back and from what I remember I can see why, has there ever been a band you wouldn’t work for?

Hmmm. It is really hard to NOT name names here. HA! Unfortunately, one of the things that is important for a TM is that he keeps the dumb stuff confidential: TM Privilege, if you will. I will say this….As Courtney Love’s steady TM, it takes a LOT to get me to say that I am not interested in touring with your band any more, and it has only happened once.

4) You live alone on an island and have to choose one to marry one to kill one to have sweet sex with Benji Madden Joel Madden and Josh Madden.

The Madden brothers are all so suuuuper sweet and genuine and real and………..good looking.
I don’t know what to do here. I suppose that I would marry all three of them, have sweet sex with all of them, and then kill off their girlfriends/wives so that I could keep them all to myself!!!! Sorry Nicole :-)

5) Hardest thing about being a Tour Manager?

The hardest part of being a TM is that your job never stops. For everyone else on the tour, when their job is done, they can kick it and let loose. Even on days off, or long after the show is over, the work/questions keep rolling in for the TM. Let us not forget also, that SOMEONE needs to stay sober enough to bail a band member out of jail, if necessary!!
Some bands make it easy. Good Charlotte band and crew have all been doing this long enough that they hit a tour rhythm super fast. Once everyone is in their groove, the ship almost steers itself.

Funny story about the MerchDude:
ON my first tour with MerchDude I was impressed by his skills and attitude behind the merch booth. Well, I was impressed, at least, with his skills.
At no point did I consider him a ‘looker’ or a ladies man.
Towards the end of the tour, he told me that I was going to meet his wife today. To be honest, I was surprised that he had convinced anyone to marry him. “Wife?” Really?
Later that night, I was walking by the merch booth and he called out, “Tom! Meet my wife (name).”
I was completely taken back.
Not only was there actually a real life wife…….but she is SUUUUUUPER HOTT!!
I remember thinking. Damn MerchDude. Nice work!!

Follow Tom on twitter @TmTomAddison and learn how you can make a living why touring and not be an Asshole!

Thank you so much Tom tell @butchwalker his band and the Madden brothers they are next on 5 questions with Themerchdude!

Ever wonder what the music business would be like if it wasn’t superficial? If only music was judged by the ears and not the eyes?

I’m pretty sure that there wouldn’t be so many acts on the radio it would be less music but more substance.
I know I am being naive and I know sex sells, I mean people buy the ugliest shit because some beautiful person says “buy it” but look at Snooki she is butt fuck ugly and still manages to sell stupidity like no other! It’s about having a good salesman/woman behind the product!

Clearly we see that labels push the product using the fans eyes not their ears and yes I know its not entirely the labels fault, its also the people that buy with their eyes! But then every so often you will find a musician that is all pure talent musically and not so much visually and still manage to sell a lot of records. Ever wonder why is that?! It’s having a great salesman/woman behind the product having a great marketing team but that also means that the label would have to work harder to move and sell it, which we all know it’s easier to just have a picture of a beautiful person that sells it all on its own and not have to put any thought or work into it.

I enjoy great music like everyone else and hopefully all those out there that say “Music is my life” prove it by buying music using their ears and not their eyes.

This is my opinion and I only an opinion.

His name is Mark Hunter he is the singer and founding member of the heavy metal band Chimaira. they’ve been at it for the past 13 years and have experienced indies to majors labels from hole in the wall clubs to arenas, they’ve lived the “Dream” and “The nightmare” of the music business. they have one of the most loyal fan base and love for music which keeps them pushing through what seems to be an endless amount of obstacles!

1) You seem to be the type of dude that not many things bugs you have you ever lost your temper with a band member, fan or management?

I’ve had my fair share of ill-tempered moments and directed them at everyone in the camp at one point in time. In fact, there have been times I was absolutely unbearable to be around, especially in my twenties. Lately, I try my hardest not to sweat the small stuff. I make a living hanging out with my friends and playing music. That’s the big picture. I’ve learned negativity spreads like cancer. It is best to stay humble and appreciative. Learn from mistakes, move forward.

2) Have you noticed the change in attitude (for the better) on how tour managers and bands treat their merch guy/girl. I know it has to do with more and more bands realizing that merch can make them tons of money. What’s your take on it?

I’ve been off the road for over a year until recently, so, I’m not sure what’s going on in other camps. My take is treat everyone in the crew like family. Just because you are a musician and paying someone doesn’t mean they are beneath you. The crew works harder than anyone to make sure your stoned ass can have a good show.

The life of a merchandiser can be taxing. They are up early on little sleep, lugging cardboard boxes and arguing with the venue staff over where they can set up the display. They are dealing with prissy band members that want the display to look different, fans that don’t know what size they wear, or what design they want. Handed sweaty dollar bills. Sometimes they endure fans that don’t know what show they are at! Spending hours taking up the merchandisers time, forcing them to listen to stories of gettin’ fucked up huffin’ air conditioner freon and sometimes this scenario is outside in 100+ degree heat.
Playing security when some idiot thats trying to steal a box of hoodies, or breaking up cougar brawls like Dalton in Roadhouse.
They have to do it all with a smile. If all goes well, merchy will feast on a slice of leftover pizza and find a place to sit on the bus - which is usually filled with trashed people who should be somewhere else (locked up) far, far away. All to get a look of disappointment if the numbers aren’t stellar.

Sorry, where was I…what was the question again? Oh yeah! Treat your crew (especially merchandiser) with the utmost respect. Buy them a coffee or three.

3) You have tour with many bands as opener and headliner, any band that didn’t treat you well when your were an opener and any opening band that had a huge ego that need to be put in check?

We’ve been fortunate to tour with some real class acts. Superstars that treat you like gold.
Luckily we’ve only encountered a few problems. Those bands, while a few are still around, aren’t making as much noise these days.
We’ve pulled some shitty moves in the past that we thought were good ideas. You see something another band does and at first it seems like a great idea, but you don’t realize how it can affect another band you are touring with. We all get trapped in our little bubbles. It’s important to realize everyone is equal and out there doing the same thing. Treat people how you want to be treated.

4) How many time have you had to bag it on the bus?

Well, over twenty. The first time I met Kirk from Crowbar/Down, a hero of mine, I was walking out of the bathroom with a garbage bag filled with my shit. He thought it was awesome.

5) Why do you think with all the ways for bands to promote themselves, we don’t see more bands that have had some success recording their next records on their own and selling them at their own shows? (Even if they sell 90% less records they would still make 90% more money)

There are too many unoriginal bands trying to do the same thing reaching for the same goal. Disconnect and create your own path and you might have a better shot. Be a leader not a follower.

Themerchdude came to a show of ours in Portland and spent over 3 hours talking to our merch girl, Gypsy, about gettin’ fucked up huffin’ air conditioner freon. Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. We are not who we seem we are.

If you want to catch Chimaira on tour and listen to a rock show that will make the hairs on your chest grow (and that’s the girls I’m talking about) come catch these guys follow the band, look at some merch and while you are at the show tell Gypsy at the merch table I say “Sup” *HEAD NOOD*

Below you will find out more about Chimaira a band that is teaching everyone that you need to WORK to be a WORKING musician! Tour, pay your dues and hopefully collect some checks. Also it never hurts to be nice in the touring world because everyone knows everyone. So “JOE BLOW” band traveling in the van acting like you’re the shit you’re not a Rockstar until you learn to understand first the business that wants to make money off “The working musician”.

www.indiemerch.com/chimaira
www.twitter.com/chimairamark
www.chimaira.com
www.twitter.com/chimairaband

Today we have Andrew on 5 questions, Andrew is a great dude he tells me when I asked about how he got started in the touring business:

“Somehow I just fell into this music thing. I never had any big plans of touring growing up. Green Bay, WI didn’t have much culture in anything except football, cheese, and beer! I skateboarded and snowboarded my whole life and music was always a big part of that world. I’ve been touring with The Ready Set for about three years and have seen how a band/artist can grow from touring in an SUV to playing for 14,000 people at the Target Center. I’m just living it up as much as I can while I’m here! I’m not one of those people that will live and die for this shit, but I love my job, the people I work with, and the homies I’ve made along the way’

1) You’re young dude (at least when I saw you, you looked young) but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders, what’s your take on groupies?

Well, 21 is still young. I’m not going to be one of those dudes that hits his mid 20’s and says “Fuck, I’m getting old.” I hear that too much in this industry. HAHAH But you want my take on “groupies”? I don’t really care for girls who blatantly objectify themselves. I have a lot of respect for strong and confident women, especially in this industry, and I think a lot these hard working girls have to deal with reputations of the ill-intentioned ones. All of the women I’ve associated with while touring have been incredible people to work and tour with!

2) Many bands are getting their picture posted on that website, do you think is it ex girlfriends sending these pics or are they self submitted by these kids to get people to talk about their bands?

The internet gives power to everybody man! Some people like to humiliate others, or even humiliate themselves whenever they get the chance. I don’t think that anybody submitting themselves on that webpage are doing it for a career boost, because that doesn’t seem to be happening. I’m the kind of person that tries to analyze everything once my mind gets wrapped around it. I believe people find comfort in revenge, temporary or long-term, and that’s why that website is so popular. And to those who self submit, hat’s off to you, you’ve lost all dignity.

3) Beavis & butthead or bill and Ted? And why?

Bill and Ted, no questions. There aren’t many other bands that have the potential to be the basis for life in 2688, but Wyld Stallyns did. They give me something to believe in. Something to strive for. Someday Rufus will come for me too. I just know it. OH! And I was Bill for last years Halloween, my friend Keegan was Ted, and we played as Wyld Stallyns that night.

4) You get one free pass from your beautiful girlfriend who would it be and why? (look behind you before you answer)

We’ve talked about this. My free pass would be Jason. Those dreads that he’s got really do it for me.

5) If you could make a super group from band guys alive or dead who would they be and what would the name of the band be?

Whenever this comes up in conversation, I always avoid it! Everybody say’s “the beetles” or some other iconic band, but how often do they really listen to them and take influence? And just so nobody gets on my nuts about that, I have a lot of respect for those bands, but they aren’t what got me really into music. Bill and Ted are my inspiration. They are my super group. And the band name would be the tried and true, Wyld Stallyns.

Admittedly, we can all be creeps. Ellie and I were intrigued by your anonymity and honestly would try and put clues together to figure you out. You’re too good at this. Round of applause to you sir!

Andrew is a good example on how band guys can tour for a living and still be able to have a normal and exclusive relationship with someone, You can follow him on twitter (@andy_john) if you promise not to ask him to tell you happy birthday and if you follow him at andysmodernlife.com he might tell you who themerchdude is…maybe. Come check The Ready Set out on The Rise and Fall of My Pants tour this fall.

Telle has been touring since 2007 and has been in In Fear And Faith, Greeley Estates and The Word Alive since late 2008.

Here goes his 5 questions with Themerchdude.

1) What are the 3 thing besides sexy Pamela you can’t tour without?

IPad, MacBook and toiletries :)

2) Many times people come up to you and say nice things like “You’re so pretty and I love you” (or was that just me that said that to you?) anyways what is the most Fu*k up thing anyone has told you?

A dude told me he was in love with me and my girlfriend last night, I wanted to punch him haha

3) What is your favorite band? and what if you were playing a gig and that band approached to be their front man, would you leave your band right there or would you just say no to them?

Deftones and nobody could replace Chino on this planet! I’d stay put :)

4) In an industry that is so hard for bands to make money on CDs sales what are the things bands are doing to maximize a profit or to even survive on the road?

I’m contemplating selling organs I can live without ;)

5) Who would win a fight between Phil from “All that Remains” and Jeffrey Star?

I think jeffrees long legs would do some damage but Phil could probably handle it.

I met themerchdude while on his tour, he’s so good he was the headliner and absolutely killed it. Crowd surfers were flying over the Merch table left and right.

So if you enjoy music from a guy that not only pours his heart out on stage but is also a great human and is one of those bands that tours and respects his fans, family and friends you should follow him here @TelleTWA and also pick up one some Merch at his new clothing line here:
Resistandrebel.com he has worked hard as a band guy to finally make it to become a MERCH DUDE!

Thanks Telle for your time and friendship.

So whats with all these famous rappers that spend 100’s of thousands of dollars on stupid shit like grills for their teeth, diamonds the size of baseballs, million dollar cars, planes etc are getting caught carrying drugs…I mean if you spend a couple a bucks a week I’m sure you could have some other asshole carry that shit for you.
JUST SAYING!