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Dan Rodriguez, a local Minneapolis musician, has been a frequent customer of Copycats Media over the years and we had the opportunity to sit down and ask him about his experience working with us, his background in music, and his expertise on physical media.

Not familiar with Dan Rodriguez? Well here’s some must-know info direct from the man himself:

“Hi, I’m Dan. I’m a whiskey & beer drinking, fishing & hunting loving, motorcycle riding, quality food eating, hippie sympathizing, people loving, husband & father who lives in Minneapolis and shares a life with my amazing wife and two adorable sons named Oak and Alder. I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, MI, and moved to Minneapolis when I was 18 to study music, and I stayed because I’m one of those crazy people that enjoys the snow and cold weather.”

Now let’s dive into his experience with us, his expertise, and more:

How was your experience with Copycats?  

They’ve always done great work, and the customer service is above and beyond anything I’ve ever experienced before. My products are always pristine with super professional designs.

What’s the most important thing about having a physical media product?

When you create a memorable concert experience, people naturally want something to commemorate it.  Having a product that they can walk away with that night is imperative, and can actually help bring them back again to your next show.  Not to mention the obvious financial gains when you have something quality that you’re selling.

How important do you think it is to have good merch for your fans to purchase?  

Nobody wants to purchase a low quality shirt or a vinyl or CD that looks like you put it together in your garage.  Having good, quality merchandise will set you apart from low budget indy bands, and boost your brand. And when it’s good quality, and you’ve done your part to have that merchandise coincide with a song or a concert moment, the hardest part will be keeping up with the demand.

For people who might not know a lot about you, what are five things everyone should know?

I’m a singer/songwriter from Minneapolis MN.  I’m an avid outdoorsman. I’m a husband and father.  I don’t think people need to much about me, but I hope they check out my music at danrodriguezmusic.com.

How important is it to put new music out on a regular basis? 

Today, more than ever, the general attention span of the average person is short.  Very short. While some of your biggest fans will put your songs on repeat for years, most people get bored and are ready for something else.  Especially with the streaming services today when endless options are before them. Out of sight out of mind has never been more true. Releasing a constant stream of music is important for fan retention, as well as brand growth.

What’s your favorite piece of merch that you’ve had made and why?

While my t-shirt, appropriately titled “The Douchebag Shirt,” is the most popular item, my actual favorite item is my vinyl. There’s something special and magical about it.

If you could choose any other genre of music to be a part of, what would it be?

I for sure would love to be in a Black Keys meets Jack White kind of band.  I would absolutely be in an old school country band as well.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration? 

As cliche as this may come off, my family has been my biggest inspiration for a long time now.  The intricacies of marriage & parenting have enough inspirational content for endless albums.

Do you have a favorite performance so far? 

Opening for OAR at Milwaukee’s Summerfest was pretty great, but my favorite happened this year at Mile of Music in Appleton, WI where 7000+ people gathered for our show in Jones Park.  It was a milestone for me. It was also THAT MOMENT. That moment when I stepped away from the microphone and realized thousands of people were scream singing my lyrics. It was astounding.

What is your favorite album that you’ve worked on?

I did a record a few years back called “Come On Home.”  Drove down to Nashville with my 3 best friends and we worked on it all together while living in a house together.  It was one of my favorite musical experiences to date.

What would you say to those who believe that CDs/vinyl records/etc are obsolete?  

Come stand by my merch table after a show. That will change your mind.

Check out Dan’s website and social media for all information on his upcoming shows, and be sure to subscribe to our blog for additional featured artist spotlights!