The biggest challenge for the struggling or non-established musician is figuring out how to finance their trips to different places.

You can do a show in Oklahoma City one weekend and need to be in Denver, Colorado a week later. Not only must you have a reliable vehicle, you must also have money for gas and food, and motels if you don’t want to sleep in the car or minivan. You don’t want to get a bad reputation by being scheduled and not showing up as promised.

Fuel while traveling can be an astronomical expense, preventing many non-established musicians from establishing a following by playing gigs around the country.

What can you do when your credit cards are maxed out and no one lends you money?

Make your own money on the go and get paid in cash.

Selling at flea markets and swap meets is a great way to go.

I am a professional salesperson who makes thousands of dollars each month just by working a few hours on the weekends, selling at flea markets and swap meets. I earn a full time income in less than 15 hours per week.

I am also a singer/songwriter/musician on the side.

You can put cash in your pocket in two different ways:

1. Sell your own CDs. Listen to them on a boombox so people can sample your music. Play with him to get tips. Live music is enjoyed by everyone, including the other providers around you. Just make sure you keep the volume at a reasonable level. The other providers still need to be able to communicate with their customers.

2. Sell small and light items such as jewelry, music CDs by other artists, DVD movies, etc. These can be purchased at low wholesale prices from wholesale dealers and import companies, allowing you to bump up the price a bit for a healthy profit, and they don’t take up a lot of space in your vehicle.

Many vendors drive full-size pickup trucks and pull enclosed trailers, allowing them the storage space for tables, a chair, merchandise, sun shades, and other items they need to conduct business at flea markets and gatherings. exchange, festivals, bazaars, etc.

Many retired people live in RVs and sell at flea markets, allowing them to go north in the summer and south in the winter. It’s a great way to enjoy life, and couples can set up a space for each person, doubling the amount of money they can earn in a weekend.

If you have multiple members in your band, such as a guitarist, drummer, bassist, singer, sound guy, etc., each band member could set up their own space selling different types of items. If they each only make $150 per day in profit after expenses, the total profit earned could easily exceed $1,000 per weekend.

Cash. Accept personal checks and credit cards only if you choose. Up to you. (Many flea markets have an ATM in the office when shoppers run out of cash.)

Space rentals at flea markets are very affordable, starting at $5 per space per day. Average space rental is around $10 – $25 per day. The largest flea markets will attract over 20,000 shoppers every day, so the exposure can be quite good.

Arts and crafts festivals are also very popular with the ‘well-heeled’ crowd and can last four or five days in a row. But renting the space for the entire show can be a bit pricey, coming in at $1,500 or more. Keep in mind that it may be worth your while, as arts and crafts festivals can draw large crowds of enthusiastic buyers, often upwards of 100,000 people during the week, greatly increasing your exposure.

I’ve seen everyone from classical and jazz violinists and guitarists to ten-person steel drum bands perform and sell their CDs at arts and crafts festivals.

If you’re selling at a flea market in the same city where you’re appearing that night, be sure to print up flyers or cards to hand out to everyone. After hearing you play at the flea market, that alone could mean a packed house for your set.

Selling your CDs at flea markets and festivals will also allow you to create your own mail order business. Always include an ad about your other CDs with every sale. You should have an order form that they can fill out and mail in (you can also get your own toll-free phone number to place orders).

Also, start building your own email list. Start collecting the names and email addresses of everyone interested in your music.

Once you have your email address, you’ll be able to stay in touch via email. Once or twice a month, send them an email telling them about your latest music, where you’ll be playing and tour dates, etc. It’s important to keep in touch so they remember your name. Who knows? One of them might know someone, who knows someone in the business, you know how that could go.

If you haven’t already, you need to create an online presence. Create a fan website about you and your band, let people learn more about you, find out what’s new, where you are, where you’re headed, etc.

When you’re on tour, be sure to visit those cities and towns where you’ve previously sold CDs at flea markets or festivals. People will already know your music and want to hear more, especially live.

Consider developing a ‘circuit’ of flea markets and venues. Just doing the circuit once a year can provide an incredible boost to your fan base, and there’s nothing like bringing back a crowd of adoring, eager-to-buy fans.

Flea markets and swap meets can give you some much-needed exposure, especially with the crowd that doesn’t normally visit clubs and cafes. It’s a method that most musicians completely overlook.

Tip: To make your space look nicer, bring in a nice Persian-style rug to spread out. Few sellers do that. It will make your space look much more visually appealing, draw attention to you and set you apart from the crowd, potentially increasing your revenue and exposure.

You can earn a very respectable income while traveling by selling at flea markets and swap meets as a sideline to your music career. I am a professional seller and most of the time I only sell at flea markets and swap meets.

I travel coast to coast, on the road 24/7/365 because I like ‘life on the road’. I buy new merchandise from wholesalers and sell it at flea markets, double and triple my investment, and get paid in cash too.

If you have something to sell, you can literally blast your way across the country anytime you want, allowing you to make those venues bigger and establish a solid music career.