Printing for Bands: 10 Top Print Materials You Need

Nothing can match the experience of listening to live music. The feeling you get on the stage, the immediacy of the experience, can’t be matched. While recordings are an essential part of the streaming economy, in-person is always best. In the same way, your tangible merchandise and promotional materials reach your audience in a way that digital materials can’t. Therefore, printing custom products for your group is a must.

If you’re wondering which products can make the biggest difference for your band, keep reading. In this guide, we’ll explain the top ten items to boost your band’s image, help fans feel connected, and make a difference at every gig.

Printing for Bands: 10 Top Printed Materials You Need

When you’re planning which products to print, here are the most important items to have on your list.

1. 1. Custom Band Posters

   Custom band posters are both excellent promotion and the ultimate collector’s items. They’re stylish, innovative, and increase your group’s visibility. In addition, they’re easy to sell at gigs, on tours, and online, and they’re handy to store and take on the road with you.

   If you want to do your own band poster printing, be sure to create an eye-catching design that encapsulates your group’s sound. If band members also like to express themselves through visual art, having artwork created by the band increases fans’ interest. Otherwise, consider working with a professional graphic designer who can interpret your band’s sound into an exciting poster.

   Consider printing multiple poster sizes that can be displayed in various locations, such as on the wall, in town, and on billboards. Printing a wide range of posters, from 11x17 to 30x40, can help you get seen in a range of locations and increase your listener numbers.

2. 2. Band T-Shirts

   Band t-shirts are an essential staple of any band’s range of merch. Consider printing t-shirt designs including album covers, your band’s logo, and a picture of the band so that fans can choose the design they like best.

   When printing your t-shirts, screen printing is a great option. This is a technique that creates high-quality designs that allow for vibrant colors and detailed images on a range of fabrics, and it’s a popular choice for bands.

3. 3. Stickers

   People love sticking stickers on everything: computers, water bottles, cars, lockers, and more. Their affordability and versatility makes them a fan favorite, so it’s a good idea to print a wide range of stickers so that fans can buy the ones they like the best.

   You can print your stickers on a range of materials. Paper stickers are optimal for indoor use and are particularly affordable to print, while vinyl stickers are waterproof and therefore a great choice for outside use.

   While selling stickers can help your band turn a profit, you can also consider handing out free stickers to show attendees and including them with other merch purchases. After all, the more you can get your name and logo out there, the more likely people are to look you up and discover your music.

4. 4. Flyers

   Excellent band flyers help you promote your shows, album launches, and other events. They’re particularly effective for local marketing within target cities, such as touring destinations or your band’s hometown.

   When designing your flyer, use an effective layout that gets your message across. Include only the most important information, such as your group’s name and the date of your performance or album release.

   Similarly to your posters, be sure to print flyers in a range of sizes so that you can hand them out, post them on community message boards, and hang them up around town.

5. 5. Tote Bags

   Everyone loves a tote bag. They’re both useful and stylish, making them great options for your merch table. Additionally, the fact that they’re reusable makes them appealing to eco-conscious fans.

   Creating your tote bag’s design gives you space to play around with imavery. The larger the bag, the more design opportunities you have, so feel free to experiment with aesthetic elements. By printing limited editions of your tote bags, you increase their value and turn them into collector’s items.

6. 6. CD and Vinyl Sleeves

   Vintage is back in style, so printing and selling your own CD and vinyl sleeves is a great way to get your band out there in a trendy way. Along with your tote bags, vinyl sleeves make for great collectable items that fans want to buy all of.

   On your CD and vinyl sleeves, you can include your song lyrics, album credits, and artwork. You can also further increase their value by having band members sign a limited number of copies.

7. 7. Lyric Booklets or Zines

   Fans want to experience your band and your music through as many formats as possible. One excellent way to reach fans in a new way is through printing your own lyric booklets or zines that lets your band express your ideas in a longer visual format.

   You can release a booklet that accompanies a concept album or that tells the story of your band, or you can create an entire book of all of an album’s lyrics with accompanying images. You can sell these booklets on their own or as part of a deluxe album package.

   When printing your booklets, remember that folded booklets are printed using folded pieces of paper, which means that your booklet’s pages will need to be in a denomination of four.

8. 8. Business Cards

   The music business is just that: a business. While playing music and connecting with your audiences is part of the equation, making connections with industry professionals, booking managers, record stores, and promoters is essential. This is where your business card comes into play.

   Your business card can include a range of components. Here are some aspects to include:

   • Your band’s name and logo
   • Contact information, such as a phone number and email
   • Social media handles
   • QR code that leads to your music, either on Spotify or your band’s website

   You never know when you’ll make an important connection, so be sure to have business cards with you at all times.

9. 9. Backdrops and Banners

   Whether you’re playing to five people or five thousand, having stage presence is essential. This of course includes how band members make an impression onstage, but it also includes how the stage itself looks. If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to make your stage pop, consider printing a custom banner or backdrop for your stage setup. As well, you can print banners for your merch tables that inspire concertgoers to shop.

   When printing a backdrop or banner, use durable materials that will hold up over multiple performances. Consider printing vinyl banners that are sturdy and work for both indoor and outdoor performances, and include your logo or tour branding to make your poster pop.

10. 10. Custom Event Invitations

    There’s nothing more luxurious than an exclusive event. When you’re gearing up for your next rollout, consider sending customized invitations to your album release party. These indicate to recipients that they’re part of an exclusive club and increase the likelihood that they attend. Band members can even sign the invitations or add personalized messages in order to add additional value.

Get Started With Band Printing Today

Custom printing for your band takes your marketing to the next level. By personalizing your band’s identity and creating meaningful outreach, you build new audiences and connect with fans.

Here at ZoePrint, we print all the items that help bands strike a chord with audiences. Our band poster printing creates high-quality collectables that bring folks to your upcoming gigs, and our easy online ordering system makes getting your materials a breeze.

Order all the products your band needs today, or ask ZoePrint for a custom quote!