I guess the Alibi Powers That Be spoke with the City Powers That Be about the possibility of an outdoor merch area.

To be a legal venture, the City said that those selling merchandise would have to have a business license. (And as bands are technically paid business ventures, we should all have those already, right? Right?)

So ... unless you all want to run out and get your bands licensed, or find someone who already has one (like your label, if you're indeed on one) to sell your stuff on commission, the merch area is looking less and less like a viable option.

I would really like to see it happen, though. Please feed me your ideas.

I guess it should be said, (if it hasn't already) that the date of the crawl has supposedly been moved to April 29th.

I'm sure the local labels would be willing. Doesn't really seem fair to DIY bands though. Plus, the whole merch-tent thing doesn't seem as cool when it's not a ton of bands filling it up. I'm sure labels would also be willing to slip some non-label bands onto their table, but a bunch would still get shut out and then all the bitching... there's enough bitching already about this thing.

It sounds like a cool idea to try for in the future.

In the meantime, I will still sell our stuff out of a plastic tub illegally and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

quote:

Originally posted by SquawkJockey:
...like your label, if you're indeed on one...

*ouch*

quote:

Originally posted by Levi Eleven:
...In the meantime, I will still sell our stuff out of a plastic tub illegally and not feel the least bit guilty about it...

Fuck Da Police.....

What if we say were not selling were taking "donations"?

That sounds a little shakey ... I don't think they'd go for it.

I called 311 and asked how one obtains a business permit. I was directed here:

http://www.cabq.gov/treasury/license.html

Looks like you have to

1) obtain a NM State Gross Receipts Tax number form th NM State Taxation and Revenue Dept. (5301 Central NE, on the 3rd floor of the Bank of the West building at San Mateo and Central, 841-6200).

2) Download and fill out a form

3) Pay $35 to the City of Albuquerque Treasury Division (the address and contact info is on the site)

Doesn't sound too bad ...

Kind of a hassel though

quote:

Doesn't sound too bad ...

except for the fact that you have to file every month (even if you don't sell anything) and if you don't, they fine you

I suggested a long time ago that the Alibi should put together a compilation cd of all the (interested) bands from the crawl on it and sell them at the ticket booths... splitting the $$$ among everyone involved.

quote:

Originally posted by WebMonkey: I suggested a long time ago that the Alibi should put together a compilation cd of all the (interested) bands from the crawl on it and sell them at the ticket booths... splitting the $$$ among everyone involved.

If there is a chance of an official-crawl/Alibi local comp, sign us the fuck up.
I don't think you'd even have to split the money up: if it were Crawl related we already get paid for that, right? If the Alibi handled printing, mastering, set up the recording time and used the money to cover the costs and for making the Crawl nicer I'm sure you'd still have more than enough interested bands. No chance of getting one before this Crawl though (not that I'm holding my breath or anything anyway).

I am sure you could sell Rock Outside the Box Vol.II cds (30 locals). Or for that matter the first volume, or the double Ouch! cd or 'burque luv or any number of local compilations. It's not like they are running out of them...

quote:

No chance of getting one before this Crawl though

I don't think so.

this is just something i've suggested that i thought would be a cool idea... i even suggested that the comp CD get inserted to the alibi the crawl issue (like those gay AOL disks) I know this would be super-rad but I don't know how feasible (expensive) it would be. But I'll definately keep rallying for it!

the most practical thing would probably have the bands who have already recorded-mastered their material just submit the finish product that they want on the disk. the alibi would handle printing.

KEEP IN MIND this is only MY idea and the alibi has not agreed to this by any means!

definately something to keep talking about

You could get a dozen bands to give you something already recorded and do a dollarcd.com or some similar idea deal. Without some mastering it'll be uneven and have some jarring transitions, but for a giveaway as cheap as possible I couldn't see any other option. I don't know how many issues are in a print run, but even with a limited amount at bulk prices it would cost a bunch. Into the thousands of Frosties* range at least, right?

Maybe you could do a deal like John Brophy does where you have the tracks, artwork/covers and whatever as a package in a downloadable zip-file giveaway on the Alibi site a few weeks before the show. That way you'd have to pay nothing for the hard copies. In that case you might be able to hire someone to match the track volumes and make it more consistent for fairly cheap...

Or put links to local band's cdbaby or other selling sites up onto the official Crawl site area someplace? or even just a handful of tracks for download?

Anyway, like I said I'm not holding out for any of these ideas or anything, but thanks to the Alibi staff for brainstorming ways to help and asking our opinions! (I'm sure you are thinking about your own bands too of course, but still...)

About the business thing: it's been a while since I've taken a business class, so correct me if I'm wrong, but if your band loses money you won't have to pay those fees forever? I'm just assuming most of us aren't making so much off our band that we could really make a living.

*reference to Wendy's commercials for those of you who don't watch TV.

You're three times more likely to get flagged for an audit that way, Levi. Auditors generally have a field day with that too....so if you're planning on doing it, make sure you have receipts for EVERY expense you claim. You will also need to declare your income, needs to be documented by the 1099 Form you would be receiving from the venues that pay you. That is (heh, heh) if they aren't taking the "cash" route of course.....but given your exposure and rate of activity.....I don't think your basic auditor would believe that.

quote:

Originally posted by Winterlock:
What if we say were not selling were taking "donations"?

Ha Ha, that works for me! But can't we just ask the Alibi to record all the bands that perform that night. Then they or a "panel of judges" pick the best songs that night around 10 or 15 songs? Sell the CD after the crawl? Or is that useless wishful thinking on my part?

--Third Hour
http://www.myspace.com/3rdhour

Yes that's an awesome idea!! And, if it happens, we want in!

quote:

Looks like you have to

1) obtain a NM State Gross Receipts Tax number form th NM State Taxation and Revenue Dept. (5301 Central NE, on the 3rd floor of the Bank of the West building at San Mateo and Central, 841-6200).

2) Download and fill out a form

3) Pay $35 to the City of Albuquerque Treasury Division (the address and contact info is on the site)

Doesn't sound too bad ...

Man, that's the easy part. Getting a business license might take you two or three hours. Plus, depending on what you label your business as, you can get wholesale prices from folks all around town. It's like Christmas every day. Wheeee!

quote:

except for the fact that you have to file every month (even if you don't sell anything) and if you don't, they fine you

You don't have to file monthly, and the fines are actually pretty weak stick.

If I were thinking about serious hurdles to overcome with a merch tent or whatever, I would be more worried about getting a line of insurance for this sort of thing. Just try it. Fun, fun fun.

Hmmm... where would one go to get a "Buisness License?

ON the Business side. . . Foodstamps is right, i mean obviously if your not making any income (in which our lil label is not) then it wouldn't be wise to select the "monthly" filing. The have an option to file "Quarterly" or even "bi-annually". In which in turn, if you forget to file, all you have is a petty 5 buck penelty you have to dish out.

And on the merch. situation:

Since the city won't let us throw down some tents w/out getting a piece, maybe we could do what most of the bands with merch does already, open up a little area in each one of the venues in which the bands can put their merch. and sell it right there at the venue. Each place would just support whatever bands are playing at that particular venue for the crawl.It would have to be hush hush so that the big guys at city hall won't turn around and want a profit from that . haha. Anyways, there's my 2 cents, don't spend it all in one place. . .

mmm, as best i know, a person can run a side business and make all appropriate tax dealings using their own ssn. if you are serious about it, you should look into it abit more.

i suspect the business licence thing is to required to legally have the outdoor sales tent thing.

if that is the case, and you really want a legal sales tent, then all interested parties might look for an existing license holder to formally handle the sales tent, and then all interested parties sell cd to them prior to the event, and buy back the remainder later.... keep your ducks in a row and its no big deal.

quote:

open up a little area in each one of the venues in which the bands can put their merch. and sell it right there at the venue.

Think about Atomic, Burt's, Moonlight, etc during the crawl. You can barely find a place to stand past 10pm, much less put up a merch table. On those days they remove stools and set up an extra bar, and even then-! Some bigger venues could do it of course, and that would be cool. It's not a solution as far as replacing the idea of Crawl-wide merch though.
Plus, people already are paying to get in, buying food and beer, etc. I feel like if there isn't some seperate, impressive-ish official merch area then there isn't really going to be a huge amount of extra sales because there would be too much distractions, too many people moving, etc. Does that make any sense?