Point-of-Sale Systems
The merch line should move quickly even when the lobby Wi-Fi does not.
Accept realistic payment methods
Cards, mobile wallets, QR checkout, and cash may all matter depending on venue and audience.
Use secure, reputable systems.
A slow checkout turns an excited buyer into someone walking to the parking lot.
Cash
Cash still appears at merch tables and creates counting, change, security, and deposit work.
Start with a bank
Carry enough small bills to make reasonable change without hauling large amounts of cash.
Record the opening float.
Treat cash like inventory because it disappears just as easily.
Cards
Card payments increase convenience but carry processing fees, chargebacks, connectivity needs, and settlement timing.
Price the fee
Know the processing cost by transaction and whether your displayed price includes it.
Do not discover margin after the tour.
Convenient payment is worth paying for when the system remains secure and the margin supports it.
QR Codes
QR codes can move fans from a crowded merch table to tickets, mailing lists, tips, downloads, or online stores.
Give one obvious destination
A giant menu of twenty links can recreate the problem digitally. Use a focused landing page.
Keep the page fast on mobile.
Every QR code should answer 'why should I scan this?'
Selling After the Show
The best merch window is often the few minutes immediately after the audience leaves the performance space.
Design the flow
The table should be visible on the natural exit path without blocking doors or staff.
Products and prices need to be readable before the buyer reaches you.
The merch table is part store, part meet-and-greet, and part final scene of the show.
