Greetings James:
Your desire to invest time and creative energy into your band shows me
that you may well succeed in the music business. There's an old show
business adage that goes "He worked hard for 10 years and then became
an overnight sensation." lol It takes investment in yourself to
succeed at anything and you are setting a fine example early in your
career.
If you spend double what I have suggested below, you will come in at
about $100 materials investment (excluding printer ink and all
shipping for materials, if any - add that and it's probably near $100
total). Remember to always keep your receipts, too. It a good habit
to get into when you begin turning a profit as materials may be
written off one's income taxes.
***Design and print the inserts yourself****
You could do a two-sided 3-fold CD insert (total eight pages CD
case-sized when folded) using the top page as your CD cover showing
through. You'd need to simply user-define your dimensions in your
graphics program when designing and then user-define the print
dimensions in the Print Properties of your printer to accomodate the
long paper size. A CD case insert usually measures 4.75" x 4.75" 2
pages, 9.5"; 3 pages 14.25"; 4 pages 19" etc. Double number of pages
when printing back and front.
You would need a banner paper roll for your printer to accomplish the
length you need (unless you go 2-fold --total 6 pages-- with 11" x 17"
printer paper). For cost of banner paper rolls, see the Froogle
results at http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=banner+paper+printer+roll&scoring=p
- the rolls begin at $25.81 and go higher according to roll length and
paper quality. Let's assume you go with a 19" sheet for the 3-fold, 4
page. If a roll of paper is 50 feet long, you would need 1.5 rolls to
print 100 inserts. So, 2 rolls really.
You'll have to trim a bit and you would print two inserts on one
sheet. Then you'd flip the sheet over for the reverse side
design/printing. You must also be certain to keep matching layouts
(back to back in the same position) on each side as you design.
To cut them in half or trim, you may be able to ask an art teacher if
you may use the paper cutter in the classroom. This would keep the
cuts straight - you must cut slowly with scissors so as not to get the
inserts crooked.
*********
For applied CD labels, you could design and print those as well.
Printable labels begin at 18 cents each from the Froogle results at
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?scoring=p&q=cd+labels+printer - see
the first result on that page. They may also be purchased at computer
and office supply stores. I've seen various colors besides plain
white.
*********
As for shrink wrapping, CD shrink wrap bags may be perfect for your
needs. Many are currently on auction at Ebay - 100 quantity and "Buy
it Now" price is $8.45. These are the type used with a standard hair
blower/dryer that heats the wrap and it shrinks to size. Shrink tape
is also available if you choose to add that to the finished product.
See http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=%22shrink+wrap+bags%22+CD&catref=C3&socolumnlayout=3&lotr=1&from=R2&sacategory=31609&BasicSearch=
500 CD shrink bags for $19.80 is offered at
http://www.packagingequipment.com/shrinkbag.htm if you want to go in a
higher quantity and have some for later.
*********
So, the cost so far is:
$51.72 -- 2 50 ft. banner paper rolls at $25.81 each
$18.00 for 100 printer CD labels
$8.45 "buy it now" Ebay 100 shrink wrap bags
____________________________________________
Total: $78.07
Oh, and your work ----> Priceless. :)
[If you use 11" x 17" paper, the cost will be about $30 less. That's
a good-selling size and much more widely used than banner rolls. See
the 11" x 17" "brochure paper" at
http://www.intimecatalog.com/supplies/details/PAPER_HP_HEWLETT_PACKARD_C6820A.phtml?camp=Froogle&subcamp=HP_HEWLETT_PACKARD_C6820A
to see what brand title to ask for in an office supply store. Here
are some online store price comparisons for the HP C6820A 11" x 17"
brochure paper or "tabloid size" --
http://www.aimlower.com/best/price/OpID_mpbr/mTRN_TRN20021104083831266101525/sfx_6484/bot.htm
]
*********
I'd also like to suggest you visit the web site of Moses Avalon. He
is a former "big label" record producer and he has written an
extremely informative book about avioding "major label fever" in the
music industry. I believe you will learn a great deal from his book
titled "Confessions of a Record Producer." See
http://www.mosesavalon.com/index2.htm -- I hope you'll closely examine
his entire site. You'll be a-m-a-z-e-d at how little a major-label
artist makes sometimes. Many bands are discovering the value of
pressing their own CDs and doing the "busy work" assembly and
production tasks involved because it actually makes them *more* money
sometimes.
*********
Finally, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite quotes about
the music business. It is attributed to a man named Hunter S.
Thompson:
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long
plastic hallway where pimps and thieves run free, and good men die
like dogs. There's also a negative side."
;)
*********
Should you require clarification of the links or information I have
provided, please request it before rating and closing this question
and I will be happy to respond. :)
Best regards,
journalist-ga
SEARCH STRATEGY:
Using Froogle:
http://www.froogle.com
"banner paper" roll
"CD shrink bags"
"CD labels" printer
Using Google:
"banner paper" roll
"CD shrink bags"
"CD labels" printer
"moses avalon"
HP Hewlett Packard #C6820A |
