If you are like me, you support the merch table at concerts as much as you can. I know whenever I go to a concert I check the merch table for some rare tour only vinyl or new t-shirt to sport. For some bands, a good night at the merch table is the difference between a successful show or not (business wise.) I guess that’s why this article really sparked my interest about what the future of the merch table looks like.
The article was posted recently on a tech site called Mashable, and it talks about a new IPhone application called Square which lets you pay with your credit card at places that don’t accept anything but cash. And oh yeah, did I mention one of the co-founders of Twitter was behind it? Watch the video and you will get the idea.
So, it looks easy and cool and I know I would use it if I knew bands were accepting this as a form of payment. So let’s look at the upside and downside of @Square for the indie merch table.
Upside For Bands
- Accept credit card payments and not have to carry around a machine
- Accept credit card payments without setting up a merchant account
- Accepting cards opens up alot more chances to sell your stuff
- The app is free to download
Downside For Bands
- The current version only works if you have small credit card reader that connects to the iPhone via the 2.5mm headphone jack.
- The current version makes it so you cannot delete or refund transactions
- Some people are still afraid to pay for stuff this way
As Mashable notes, the current version is sorta useless with the need for the reader, but that is changing. Via the Square blog…
“Today, in addition to releasing clients for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Android devices, we are opening up our first cut at activating card processing and pricing, and sending out our first production batch of free card readers. All represent just the beginning of what Square is striving to become: a simple payment utility for everyone.â€
So, whatca think? Is this the future of your local indie merch table or just a waste of time? I’d be interested in your thoughts and comments.
Joe started ENS in 2003 after most people he wanted to talk to about music were worn thin by his ramblings. The outlet this site provided helped out, and somehow is still going 9 years later. After a four year stint as a WOXY DJ, Joe returned to Cincinnati and continues to pioneer ENS. In addition to the overall look and feel of the site, Joe provides regular reviews, and kinda makes sure this whole thing stays afloat.
May 14, 2010Seems cool, but it also seems equally as handy to pay via the Paypal app. If you have a paypal account (who doesn’t?) then you can just “bump” over money to another recipient with the same app.
Paypal app seems like a good option too Matt. Know of any bands that utilize it already?
May 14, 2010Bumping with the PayPal app would be just as convenient, but it assumes that the buyer has an iPhone. This is nice because the buyer doesn’t have to have anything more than a credit card.
As for bands not being able to afford iPhones – that may or may not be true. Regardless, Square works on iPods and Android phones as well because it uses the headphone jack to connect the scanner. So, you do need to have some kind of technology, but seeing as the merch table is the only place where most indie bands make any profit, I personally think that it’s a worthwhile investment. Plus, investing in some technology for this purpose opens up the doors to tons of other apps and features that can benefit your band.
Personally, I dig it.
May 14, 2010the guys from Why? use the Iphone credit card app and it seems to be woring great for them
May 17, 2010That was a really informative read!
Hey Joe – great article. I’m a big fan (and early adopter) of all things new tech. If a band were to allow me to use Square or Bump I would definitely be persuaded to buy some merch at the tables.
Though I’ll usually reach for the cash, too. But I love the possibilities for bands.
May 17, 2010I think it’s great, and I hope we do see more innovations like Square. Making commerce easier and faster for sellers and buyers alike definitely serves everyone well. I imagine in coming years we’ll see a lot more things like this that empower all kinds of artists (not just indie bands) to take control of their own sales and distribution.
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4:18 pm
this would be amazing, how many people in bands can afford iphones though?