DELFEST 2024 | Merchandise preparation a family affair

Greg Larry, Cumberland Times-News, Md.
·3 min read

May 23—CUMBERLAND — Merchandise day is a family affair at DelFest with several members of the McCoury family pitching in to help prepare nearly 1,000 T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts and hoodies for sale.

The four-day DelFest bluegrass and Americana music festival kicks off Thursday at the Allegany County Fairgrounds with nearly 30,000 people expected to attend the event.

The festival runs through Sunday and each year on the Wednesday of DelFest week, it becomes merchandise day.

More than 30 people assist in opening dozens of boxes and folding the shirts that are arranged and readied for transport to a tent beside the main Grandstands Stage where they are prepped for sale.

Several members of the McCoury family along with numerous volunteers pitch in to help on merchandise day, which is managed by Del McCoury's wife Jean. On Wednesday, Del and Jean's daughter Rhonda and her son Jacob Van Buer were helping.

"We dig in and try to get it sorted," said Rhonda McCoury. "We have to know the different sizes. Mom likes everything nice and neat so we fold every shirt. We have to inventory everything."

Van Buer has been helping with the merchandise since the first DelFest in 2008.

"I was 13 at the first DelFest," he said. "So I've spent more than half my life coming to DelFest."

After a slow start in 2008, DelFest has experienced a steady growth.

"It's been great," said Van Buer. "The first year I came here we had only a few hundred T-shirts for sale, now look at it. It keeps getting bigger and better every year."

Rhonda McCoury said selling merch is very different at DelFest than for The Del McCoury road show playing in theaters or at other festivals.

"It's definitely different from the road shows," she said. "Mom handles all dad's merch and always has. It is a much smaller scale on the road.

"Here it is not only Del McCoury Band and the Travelin' McCourys, it's DelFest and we also take care of all the other artist's merch they send or bring. We make sure it is out and sold as much as we can."

Rhonda said it takes several makers to produce all the merchandise needed.

"It's very hard for one company to do it all and get it here on time," said Rhonda. "We use a few different companies. We got people that make hats, posters, T-shirts, clothing and whatever we need."

Rhonda said the companies design the logos and artwork and the McCourys OK the final designs.

Van Buer said some bands, particularly groups getting started, can gain more revenue from merchandise than music sales in this day of downloading.

"Merch is vital to the health of the band," he said. "If you're not selling merch and getting your name out for people to see it can be tough. It's a necessary thing. You have to brand yourself.

"It's year-round advertisement. I've been far away from home on vacation or something and if I have a band T-shirt on someone will say 'I love that band.'"

"Some people volunteer to help and work a shift," said Rhonda McCoury. "We have a great army of people that put on DelFest and we're very grateful for everyone and the fans that support us."

Greg Larry is a reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4951, email glarry@times-news.com and follow him on Twitter @GregLarryCTN.