Hey, You In The Black T-shirt! Here's Some Hot Tips For Buying Merch This Festival Season

Now that music is basically free, it's our duty as fans to invest in the longevity of bands' careers by buying their merch. The ultimate memorabilia, your merch purchase will act as proof of attendance and, if it's a band T-shirt with tour dates on the back, it'll also serve as a reminder of precisely when the best gig/festival ever went down. 

Wearing a band T-shirt is the ultimate demonstration of your allegiance and will also invite the right kinda people into your orbit while repelling haters. Have you ever busted a chat with a random who was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the name of your favourite band? If it's a merch tee from a specific tour that you attended and have fond memories of, even better! And the same goes for festival T-shirts, which are potential conversation starters, where you can compare favourite bands/festival moments with other punters. How much of a dealbreaker is it when you're admiring a hot stranger's face only to glance down and notice they obviously have poor taste 'cause they're sporting a really shit band's tee!? Your choice of merch speaks volumes. 

"It's far cooler to wear a tee from an earlier tour so that fans/the band (if you're lucky enough to be clocked from the stage) can tell you're not just jumping on the bandwagon."

Is it cool to wear current merch at a band's show? Not really – it's far cooler to wear a tee from an earlier tour so that fans/the band (if you're lucky enough to be clocked from the stage) can tell you're not just jumping on the bandwagon. What about at festivals? Sure thing. The band in question will know you're there specifically to see them (you might even get pointed at from the stage if you clamber up on your mate's shoulders to show off the tee during their set!) and you'll also be a magnet for other fans of your fave band. 

If a T-shirt isn't in the budget, spend your hard-earned cash on sticker sets, badges, patches or a stubbie holder. Looking at any of these down the track will also cause blissful gig memories to come flooding back.  

There’s something special about actually buying your merch at the festival/gig you attend rather than ordering it online, which is kind of cheating. If we're talking multi-year world tours by massively famous international bands, check out their website to see what styles are available in advance – where possible – so that you don't waste valuable time pondering selections when you could be bolting towards that coveted front-and-centre position against the barrier in GA. Better still, make your purchases from the outside merch stands while your buddy minds your spot in the queue before the venue doors open. 

If you make your purchases pre-show, there will obviously be more options and sizes to choose from, but if they don’t have your favourite T-shirt design in your size just buy it anyway! You can always cut it up and customise it later, DIY-style. There are oodles of YouTube tutorials to explore as well (google: "How to cut band tees"), but maybe practise on a couple of dodgy old T-shirts before you cut into your beloved new band tee. Failing that, you could also cut out the design to sew on the back of a denim vest or jacket for a killer, one-of-a-kind look. 

Remember that many venues require all bags larger than 30cm x 30cm to be cloaked before entry these days so come prepared with an empty tote bag, folded up inside your small bag, to carry your merch purchases in (or, even better, buy a new tote from the merch desk as an extra souvenir).

"It goes without saying but don't buy dodgy, cheap, bootleg merch." 

When buying vinyl at the merch desk, be sure to ask whether it's possible to collect your purchase post-show (but don’t forget to pick it up on your way out – set an alert on your phone for ten minutes after the show's scheduled finishing time, maybe?). 

At festivals, always be mindful that each individual band's merch is typically only sold on the same day that they're scheduled to play. Set an alert on your phone and prioritise any merch purchases as soon as you arrive on the festival site each day to avoid disappointment (stock is often pretty limited).  

And it goes without saying but don't buy dodgy, cheap, bootleg merch from unauthorised sellers lurking near venues post-show. Ever. True fans never do that.

Hot tip: if your favourite band T-shirt gets crusty around the armpit region, from excess wear and general deodorant damage, don't throw it out! Take a leaf out of Dave Grohl's mum's book and upcycle them, immortalising them as cushion covers. Alternatively, there are online tutorials that show you how to stretch your old band tees over poster board and, voila, instant wall art.

This story was originally published in the October issue of The Music. Head here to read it online.