SCREENPRINTING + CREATIVE MERCH DESIGN

In this four hour workshop, we provided twelve bands with 25 blank shirts each to design and print merchandise to sell at their live shows. Partnering with local screenprinting crew BWC, we included a tutorial of how to print your own shirts, and had band members pull their own ink. We also made pins, zines, and chatted about creative and cost effective ways to create merchandise and how that allows your fans to support you. 

Aside from performing, a musician makes money through selling merchandise. Merchandise is anything branded with the band’s visual identity, including but not limited to recorded music and t-shirts. Not only can merchandise boost an artist’s income, it’s also a wonderful marketing campaign. By selling wearables with a band or artist name, an artist can essentially create a street team of fans.

ELECTRONIC PRESSKIT WORKSHOP

In this four hour workshop, we hosted eight artists and guided them through making professional electronic press kits. For musical artists, electronic press kits serve several essential functions. An electronic press kit or EPK has been, and remains, the industry standard format for artists to share their music with industry professionals – from talent buyers, to radio stations, journalists, PR firms and artist managers – all of whom can play an important role in helping an artist find a larger audience.

In this workshop we created press kits after each artist sat with two professional photographers for updated head shots, and worked out their bios with our editors. We also covered best practices for sending out a press kit, and language to use based on what your goals are. We provided each artist with a local contact guide for promoters and DJs. 

Despite the wide-use and agreed-upon importance of the EPK, a large percentage of Jacksonville-area artists do not currently have an EPK. A lack of a proper, professional EPK makes it difficult to book out-of-town gigs, earn radio airplay or press coverage and submit music to labels, music managers and other professionals who can help distribute an artist’s music for wider discovery. 

LIVE MUSIC ON THE LOADING DOCK

Our Music Our Future is an ongoing series on the Loading Dock of The Jessie, a historic downtown building previously occupied by the public library and currently home to a diaspora of local non-profits. 

These family-friendly shows bring in emerging touring bands and feature local artists as support.

Past lineups: Omni, Mamalarky, La Securite, Acid Dad, Benny Trokan, Acid Mother’s Temple, Kenzie’s Place, Ducats, Deadharrie, Snacks, Bad Madonna, The Dewars, Rambler Kane, Majestic Mother.