Selling Queen Merchandise at Slane Castle, Ireland 1986

With Queen playing Slane Castle there is a lot of official and unofficial merchandise on sale at the gig.

It’s the accessories that make so much money.

Bands do not just rely on ticket sales for their income and are selling increasing amounts of t-shirts and other accessories to fans on tour. The phenomenon of buying and selling official and unofficial merchandise.

It’s all part of being in a gang...

Official merchandisers Chris Cooke and Stuart Balderstone from First Flame talk about the production and design of official merchandising along with operational requirements providing staff at tour locations. They produce high quality merchandise in consultation with band management. However they are not keen to divulge how much money is made. Stuart Balderstone believes that official merchandisers provide bands with better feedback and analysis about their fans as a result of the kind of accessories fans purchase.

Despite the requirement to hold a street trading license many vendors at Slane operate illegally selling items that infringe copyright. Official merchandisers find it difficult to stop this.

Dave Fanning illustrates the differences between official and unofficial merchandise and tries to put unofficial vendors on the spot about their products, operation and copyright infringement intended for a ‘fast buck’.

In contrast unofficial vendors do not see that they are ripping off Queen arguing that official merchandise costs too much for the ordinary fan.

Queen performed at Slane Castle on 5 July 1986 with tickets selling at £15.

‘Visual Eyes’ broadcast on 9 July 1986. The presenter is Dave Fanning.