Are posters valid merchandise?

[urbanrobot]

I've search this site and I cant quite find the answer to this issue.
Ive been in the hardcore-punk scene for a helluva long time. Ive made a million flyers and posters and hung them up all around the city in the middle of the night for my bands, as well as other bands, for ever. wheat paste style. Ive also had my bands show up on flyers and posters all around the country, and it always did nothing more than make me feel proud.

But now, theres a whole new dynamic. Posters are not really a big deal in NY, not like they are everywhere else. I mean I hope im not wrong in saying that its crazy to think that posters are not really a valid way to "advertise" a gig anymore in the city. so this is my question.
Is there something that's not "underground" enough about posters being mainly sold as merch? for instance, I've been in situations where an artist comes up to me (as bandmember) and says:
"hey I did a poster for your gig. I made 100. put them on your merch table. The band gets 100% of all the money for the first 25. after that, I take what ever posters are left and the balance in money."

this deal has always made me go "EXCELLENT!" This artist has essentially put his time and effort and talent into something that will add to my merch sales for that night, at no cost to me at all! why would I mind?!

is this not the case anymore? I see posts all over this site where people say "if I see you selling a poster with my bands name on it, I'm gonna kick your ass." which surprises me. Ive also seen posts that say "dont design a poster until a band hires you to do it." I mean, correct me if Im wrong, but that just doesnt happen in NYC. I design the poster, email it to the band long before they get here. if they're into It, Ill do it and sell it as merch. is this sacrilegious in some way?

what other kind of deals are there to strike up with the band?

again, I know the way forums work. If this has been discussed already, just please point me to the thread.
yeah yeah newbie, I know all about it.

[squeegeethree]

There are about a billion posters in NYC selling stuff, just not upcoming shows. I think promoters just say "Why bother" and that's why you don't see many around. Technically you have to have a license in NYC to hang posters and from what I hear there is really only one company with such a license, that company is possibly also in the "cement" business if you know what I mean.

But if posters weren't viable then why is every institution in the city hanging them up everywhere.

Your other questions have been answered in depth many times over in the forum. Funny how the search function yields only threads about bacon and cheese isn't it.

[JustinHelton]

what other kind of deals are there to strike up with the band?

Another kind of deal is to have the band pay you for your time and effort that you put into the poster. This is the case with t-shirts, so why not posters? It amazes me that people feel like they owe the band something in the form of free work. i mean if the band is making money off your work, why isn't it fair for you to get paid?

[urbanrobot]

Another kind of deal is to have the band pay you for your time and effort that you put into the poster. This is the case with t-shirts, so why not posters?

I guess this was the point I was trying to make. Thanks Justin. I guess I'm looking for the proper etiquette. I personally think its a pretty cool piece of merch to get. Bands can't make shirts for specific dates, they can only design for the entire tour. a poster commemorates the actual event you attended. which is kinda cool. but that being said, the poster was then designed for the sole purpose to sell it, not to promote the gig. In this case the poster is merchandise and should be treated as such.

There are a billion posters up, but not hand screened gigposters, are there? Ive seen some pretty cool Steven Colbert hand done things around, but its not to promote a gig, or event of any kind. There is, however, your average 2"x 4" poster with the bands name on it in 3inch letters, but again, thats not what Im talking about.