I sell my CDs at shows for one dollar. It's the perfect amount. It's cheap enough to proclaim I have low self-esteem and to not prohibit people from buying, however, it is just prohibitive enough to keep people who just don't fucking care from taking one like they would if it was free. I am brilliant and I always, always, ALWAYS recoup cost of production.
I've learned a few things out and about town flyering: 1) I don't have the guts to put flyers on windshields. 2) Flyers are basically ineffective unless you have a picture of someone hot on them. 3) If you try to hand flyers to people in a crowd, it's hopeless; so many will not take them from your hand. Instead, try this technique I have mastered: a) drop a shitload of flyers on the ground in front of a group; b) step forward, hand one in the group a flyer; c) walk away as EVERYONE ELSE WHO SAW YOU DO THIS PICKS UP A FLYER OFF THE GROUND TO CLOSELY INSPECT IT.
More on flyers... When handing out flyers, I walk up to people to introduce myself (only to be a babbling, losery fool) so effortlessly that Karma is going to bring 'round someone to suck my flyering cock one of these days (i.e., I'll be out flyering and will happen to hand a flyer to someone who happens to be looking for some losery acoustic guitar playing chick to help out in a big way).
People fucking love the song "Karate." If you are in a band, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU COVER THIS SONG, because people will treat you like a rockstar when you get off stage after getting that many people to say "motherfucker." This is especially good for those of us who will nevar bay ay rawkstur.
I only really need a guitar and capo. If I forget something, the venue or the musicians playing will have a something shitty I can make do with. No one ever has a capo, though. Dude, I love my capo. <3
"No, you can't get on my guest list. Miss K. Fine is it. Wait, you wanna do merch for me? Okay, you're covered, plus one." (I wish I were this cool, dude. SO BAD. OMG.)
You cannot do this alone. If you're good enough to do this on your own you won't have to.