Musicians and industry professionals are not the only creative-minded folks who are taking a hit financially at the moment with the ongoing shutdown of concerts and touring. While some musicians have found innovative adjustments to continue a flow of income without performing, the community of lot vendors and artists who also rely on live events to sell their handmade merch and customized products during the busy summer tour season have now been forced to do the same.
Some vendors and creatives have a professional-grade online presence, although impressive social media followings don’t always result in sales, especially in a national economic climate that saw a reported six million people file unemployment claims last week. The circulation of money has slowed down thanks to COVID-19, and with it, so have the spending habits of music fans who budget their incomes in the winter months to save enough dough for when arena-sized acts like Phish and Dead & Company hit the road come summer.
Related: How Organizations Are Offering Relief To Struggling Musicians During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Americans who have the means are now being called upon to try and focus on supporting small business owners in any way they can over these next few months. In the live music community, lot vendors are the cream of the crop in terms of “small business owners,” and we’re not talking about someone who attempts to peddle a leaky burrito as you pass by on your way into the venue.
The vendors who make up the “Shakedown Street” area of venue parking lots are often very talented entrepreneurs who share their passions for both creating and listening to jam bands by selling what can be at times very well-designed handmade products randing from pins, stickers, and tour shirts to paintings, glassware, and jewelry.
The good news about supporting fans who create artist-inspired merch and household items is that most of their products run for very affordable prices, allowing consumers to win big on a small budget. The slightly concerning news is that parcel and mail delivery services aren’t running at full capacity at the moment, making the shipments of non-essential items somewhat expendable. DIY online shop owners, however, are still making a point to take orders and ship out as much product as possible while they still can, allowing for a brief window for fans to continue purchasing goods into the coming months until the return of actual concerts.
Scroll down for a staff-picked selection of some talented creatives whose work is available to order online.
Colleen Newcomb/Wildlight Glassworks
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