JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Musician Message Forum Your Perfect Indie-Musician Web Solution?

What would be THE "perfect" (dream) set of web tools for indie musicians? Most of us know about CD Baby, and they are fabulous for what they do, distribute your CD and digital music through their store. They also solve my shipping problem by taking care of order fulfillment. But what if you sell "other" stuff related to your music? Stuff such as midi files, sheet music, SWAG through Cafe Press or Zazzle, etc? CD Baby isn't set up for that, so your customers have won't be able to "do it all" from just one web shop.

At the very least, I'd have to have 2 web shops, one at CD Baby, and one at Cafe Press. For sheet music, I need a 3rd. So a customer wanting CDs, t-shirts, and sheet music would have to leave my site at least twice and make 3 different transactions (3 virtual trips to 3 stores).

Oh yeah, and I don't want to have to do the packing-up and shipping. CD Baby does that for my CDs now. I don't want to lose that. I literally don't have enough time to do this economically anymore.

For me, the "ultimate" solution would be for a customer on my website to be able to put all 3 products into the same shopping cart, continue shopping for my products, then check out and pay ONE time for everything. Then all physical product (SWAG, CDs, etc.) would be shipped to them by a 3rd party like CD Baby does with CDs.

I'd love to hear what your "ultimate/perfect" solution would be...or is if you've already managed to do all this. I don't think this kind of integration currently exists, and if I'm correct about that, I may end up working to create one;). Shya! Well, who knows, right?

Hope to hear if someone has already solved this, or if not, whether there are things others need that I didn't cover.

Cheers!

Ken

Hi Ken

check this site out ; ) jm

http://www.zen-cart.com/

Hi Ken:

You really hit a "home run" with this topic. I'm not certain there is a perfect indie-web solution for songwriters like me, who sing but don't have any desire to perform. My most difficult task is making those critical contacts who can help me get my songs into the hands of artists needing material for new albums or singles. To my way of thinking, social networking does not work well... most folks participating are lower echelon writers or performers... or wannabees. They may pat you on the back and tell you "great song" but they just want you to return the favor on their song(s).

There are numerous sites where a songwriter/singer can post his/her music for free (or for an expense if you wanna pay extra) but that does not directly ring the cash register. My primary interest is two-fold: 1. I want my songs to be around long after I'm gone... generating income for my widow and orphans... LOL! then 2. I want to create income while I'm still working hard at songwriting and recording so I can continue without tapping into the few remaining resources I have after the market's demise, bailouts and ill-directed stimulus funds.

Because the internet is so fraught with hackers and schemes to rip off everyone, I don't even care to use pay-pal or similar money transfer systems. Songwriting has never been easier due to all the available technology but "getting one's songs to market" has never been so difficult. All the doors to major publishers and artists are closed to those of us without passwords or friends in high places... LOL!

I can't wait to hear some fresh ideas of others who experience this same quandary on a daily basis. Thanks for bringing it up.

Dave

Joice,

Thanks for the reply! I did give the site a once-over. Do you use them? My suspicion is that even if I got them set up, I still would have to ship my own CDs, is that right?

My dream solution has 2 main elements: 1. No shipping of our own stuff, and 2. Integration of multiple on-line stores into a single shopping cart experience for the customer.

What different kinds of products do you sell?

Cheers!

Ken

Ken

Hi Ken

No - I'm still working toward a first cd and I have been looking at what people do do....... because I will offer other products..... I believe that you will have to set up a mailing house in addition... but that seems to be something that has been going on forever through even small local services -- we have one near me, for instance....

OR another option might be -- to choose an agent to MAIL from your close fan base who might do the service in exchange for a percent/tickets, product etc.......

here's the artist that I got the reference from.... I have ordered a T/Sheet music and a cd and I am waiting for delivery --- I paid with paypal....

http://www.ravenmarchingband.com/boutique/


I hope when you choose your solutions that you will post again to share what you find.

Thanks for the post - jm