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(courtesy of Colin Dussault)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Colin Dussault is mostly known for being a blues harmonica maestro and the lead singer for his band, Colin Dussault's Blues Project. But he's recently made forays into the topical T-shirt retail market. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July has him at it again.
"I thought about this T-shirt two weeks ago. Could not get my regular stable of artists to assist, as they were too busy. I was annoyed, as I knew I had a good idea here," he said earlier this week. "So I did it myself quickly. But it ended up looking pretty cool.
"Within 45 minutes of posting images and intent to print on Facebook, I sold half of my initial order. By this morning, I had sold out of my full first run. That's almost 300 shirts."
Dussault's new shirt design is a little controversial. The shirt says "Greetings from Cleveland," with Cleveland in big letters like album cover for Bruce Springteeen's iconic 1973 album "Greetings from Asbury Park N.J.." Underneath the word "Cleveland," in smaller letters, it says, "It's Gonna Be a A Riot."
"After I posted the design on Facebook, there was lots of fun back and forth, both pro and con on the subject," Dussault said.
"Some people were laughing and enjoying the humor. Other people were bitterly opposed to me 'promoting' and 'encouraging' rioting.
"My reply is simple. I do not condone any violence whatsoever. However, I will seize the day and take advantage of the market that has been created by the comments, inflammatory rhetoric and the off-chance that there is rebellion at this event being held in Cleveland.
"I think [Donald] Trump would be proud of how I saw an opportunity and built my castle made of sand on top of the garbage heap."
This isn't Dussault's first go-round with T-shirt design and marketing.
"This is my third successful T-shirt design. The first being the 'Goosenecks' shirt I came up with while watching the Cavs and their three-pointers. I could not believe that nobody, not even the Cavs, had a lock on that idea.
"I copyrighted it. Had it drawn up, and pitched it to the Cavs. They passed on it, so I put it out on my own, with great success."
Inspired by the volume of sales on his first shirt, Dussault tried another one.
"The second was the 'Quitness' T-shirts. Again, I copyrighted that . . . when the Cavs lost to the Celtics in the playoffs [in 2010]. Again, I was way ahead of the curve, and that shirt sold astronomical numbers. It blew my mind how many I moved on my own."
The idea for the new shirt came to Dussault like a lightning bolt, he said.
"This 'Greetings From Cleveland -- It's Gonna Be A Riot' idea came out of the blue. Usually, just before I wake up and am in that realm between sleep and waking, I have clarity and ideas pop into my head. I write them down or I spring up immediately and get to work on sketching them out.
"That is how this came about. And within three hours of thinking it, I had a design and images on Facebook. Within 45 minutes, I knew I was onto something."
Dussault is thrilled with his own success this third time out.
"Once again, I was way ahead of the curve . . . months before the convention. It was handed to me. I am glad I am able to capitalize on this moment in history. I am simply selling the program, shirt, popcorn and cotton candy to the big show that they are creating.
"I hope nothing serious happens, but as Trump so brilliantly stated to the nation, 'I have no control over this.'
"Shirts are selling out, and I am reordering a second and third run at this point."
He plans on selling them right up to the convention dates printed on the shirt.
For more Dussault's RNC shirts, which are $20 each, go to colindussault.com.