"How much is my T-shirt worth to a brand?" is the first question everyone asks. The honest answer: it's worth what a brand bids for it — and that's why IRLSlots uses auctions instead of fixed prices. You set a starting price; the market sets the final one.
But the starting price matters. Too high and nobody bids. Too low and you might sell a great spot cheaply if only one brand shows up. Here's what drives the price.
1. The event
The biggest factor. A brand is paying for the people who will see the logo.
- Size. A marathon with 40,000 runners and a million spectators beats a local 5K.
- Audience. A developer conference is gold for a dev-tools startup; a music festival for a drinks brand. The more specific the crowd, the more a matching brand will pay.
- Media. Races with TV coverage, official photographers and big social-media buzz add a second audience after the event.
2. The spot
Ask yourself: will this spot be clearly visible in photos?
- High: front of a T-shirt, the back of a running shirt, a large bag or board, a car's rear window.
- Medium: caps, sleeves, a laptop lid at a conference.
- Lower: small spots, places often covered by a jacket or a backpack strap, and spots that face away from the crowd.
Measure each spot in centimetres. Bigger and flatter is better.
3. Who provides the ad
- The brand sends it (a printed shirt, stickers, a temporary tattoo): best quality, and brands trust it more. It needs time — list at least 2–3 weeks before the event.
- You make it from the brand's logo: faster, but it has to look good.
4. Your proof plan
Buyers see exactly what proof you promise before they bid: photos, a video, a livestream, a post. A clear, realistic plan gets higher bids than a vague one. Posting from your own social accounts adds value if you have an audience — but it's not required.
5. Your history
New creators start with no reviews. After your first completed deals, reviews and a good record make brands more comfortable bidding higher.
Setting your starting price
- Start lower than you think. An auction with bids attracts more bids. A spot with a high starting price and zero bids looks unattractive.
- Price spots differently. Your front of the T-shirt should start higher than a sleeve.
- Think about your costs, not your dreams. A good anchor: what would make the trip worth it for you — part of your ticket, entry fee or travel.
The auction never lets a price jump by crazy amounts: every next bid has a minimum step and a maximum limit, so the price grows in steps. The details are in the auction rules.
What you actually receive
You keep 100% of the winning bid. The advertiser pays a service fee on top of it — the platform fee plus card processing — and only if they win. There are no listing fees and no subscriptions. See Fees.
Payouts go to your own Stripe account after the placement is delivered and the proof is accepted. New creators' first payouts are released 10 days after the event. See How to deliver proof and get paid.
Set your price and list a spot
