28 Dec 2014, 06:55 PM
We use the Square app at the merch table. We've seen an incredible increase in merch sales since we started using it -- like, perhaps merch sales increased something like 4 times. And our merch sales make up just a bit less than half of our income each night. So, it's a super important part of making this model work from a financial perspective.
I don't think it interferes at all with the connectivity or emotional vibe of the house concert. Very rarely do people actually make donations with credit cards, although every once in a while someone will ask us to tack on an extra amount to their merch purchase as a donation. I think people understand that buying CDs and other merch is something that requires a financial transaction, and we've found that it hasn't interrupted the good-feeling-ness of the event at all.
In fact, we had one host describe this to his guests in a really awesome way one time (I wish I had recorded it!). He said something like, "This here (holding the donation vessel) is our participation in helping this kind of experience happen for other people. It's like us paying it forward to make it possible for Shannon to keep doing this and bringing this experience to others. This is 'community.' That over there (pointing to the merch table) is 'commerce.' That's where Shannon has CDs and merchandise, and if you enjoy and value what she does and want to take a piece of this home with you tonight, that's where you do that. It's important that you do both, but realize that they are separate activities -- one is to pay it forward to keep this kind of thing going, one is to recognize the value of and purchase the art that Shannon has created." (He said it much better than that, but hopefully you get the drift.)
I would absolutely encourage you to have the ability to take credit cards. How you present it to your people will make all the difference in terms of how it's received by them. Many people will be grateful that the opportunity is there for them to use their cards since a lot of people don't carry much cash these days.
I don't think it interferes at all with the connectivity or emotional vibe of the house concert. Very rarely do people actually make donations with credit cards, although every once in a while someone will ask us to tack on an extra amount to their merch purchase as a donation. I think people understand that buying CDs and other merch is something that requires a financial transaction, and we've found that it hasn't interrupted the good-feeling-ness of the event at all.
In fact, we had one host describe this to his guests in a really awesome way one time (I wish I had recorded it!). He said something like, "This here (holding the donation vessel) is our participation in helping this kind of experience happen for other people. It's like us paying it forward to make it possible for Shannon to keep doing this and bringing this experience to others. This is 'community.' That over there (pointing to the merch table) is 'commerce.' That's where Shannon has CDs and merchandise, and if you enjoy and value what she does and want to take a piece of this home with you tonight, that's where you do that. It's important that you do both, but realize that they are separate activities -- one is to pay it forward to keep this kind of thing going, one is to recognize the value of and purchase the art that Shannon has created." (He said it much better than that, but hopefully you get the drift.)
I would absolutely encourage you to have the ability to take credit cards. How you present it to your people will make all the difference in terms of how it's received by them. Many people will be grateful that the opportunity is there for them to use their cards since a lot of people don't carry much cash these days.