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RoryHenderson New user Bradford, West Yorkshire 75 Posts |
Hi all!
I am wanting to get some business cards designed and printed but I thought some of those more experienced may be able to offer a little help! Does anyone have any tips? Would anyone recommend either Matte or Glossy cards, bearing in mind looking classy, ability to use these cards in routines etc What about paper thickness, does it make a difference and if so, what is the optimal. I'd love to hear any other tips fellow mentalists (or magicians, I don't judge!) would like to give, whether design or printing based. Thanks! Best, RH
If a man does not keep pace with his companions
Perhaps it is because he hears the beat of a different drummer Let him step to the music he hears However measured or far away -Henry David Thoreau |
WitchDocChris Inner circle York, PA 2614 Posts |
I have what will probably be a somewhat unpopular opinion, that business cards should not be used in routines. I don't think it will motivate people to hang on to them any more than just handing them a nice one. In fact, if it's torn or written on, it's probably more likely to end up in the trash.
I think a business card should have your name, contact info, a picture of you, and a hint at what you do. Keep it simple, easy to read. Also remember that unless they are motivated to hang on to it, most business cards get tossed. The ones that get kept are often never looked at again.
Christopher
Witch Doctor Psycho Seance book: https://tinyurl.com/y873bbr4 Boffo eBook: https://tinyurl.com/387sxkcd |
E.E. Inner circle Look mom, I have 1533 Posts |
A few things that have proven to be useful:
-The colors you choose to use on your business card should match with the rest of your publicity/networking material (your website, your logo, your facebook page, etc) -Don't use the business card as a template for everything you do. Know who your target audience is and put that on your business card. Do you want to do Corporate gigs? Birthday parties? Private events? The design of your business card (and your persona) will depend a lot on who your target audience is. -Of course, it should contain your name, what you do, and a way to contact you (whether is a phone number, or an e-mail address) -You can have made a stack of glossy cards and a stack of non-glossy cards. This will prove to be very useful to you in a lot of effects. -Definitely go for an elegant design. But if you plan to use them as b*llets, don't choose a black background. Or at least, leave the back of the card white. I think actually doing something with the card is a great way of giving it away. Just don't fold them/crumple them. Using them to make a prediction for example, is, I think, the best usage you can give them. (I've written a prediction on the back this card. Take it home and look, and don't at what I wrote until you are home!) In this business we have to prove we are worthy. We are not doctors or lawyers. You don't just give them your card and expect them to call you and book you (unless you gave them your card right after they've seen you do a show) -Use the standard business card size. Don't go for a bigger size because they might not fit in your potential client's wallet. -A business card case type of p*ek wallet, such as the JOL, will be of great use for you. You don't really need anything else. The JOL is really slim, elegant, easy to use and it IS a business card holder. That's all I can think of at the moment. Best, Ever
Professional mentalist and digital artist for mystery performers. check out my work at www.facebook.com/EverElizaldeArtStudio
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E.E. Inner circle Look mom, I have 1533 Posts |
Nice to see you want to give the next step my friend.
Professional mentalist and digital artist for mystery performers. check out my work at www.facebook.com/EverElizaldeArtStudio
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Cervier Inner circle France 1274 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 30, 2017, WitchDocChris wrote: I agree that people won't keep a folded or torn BC. But I've seen a lot of them keep the card they'd written something on. I know a mentalist who has two types of business cards: real business cards he hands when asked for one (should BC be thrown like confetti or only given upon request, that's for another thread) and a thiner, cheaper stock with less info (just his name and a nice symbol) he uses for routines, whether they involve tearing, folding or just writing. I think it's a good idea. I still have a lot of cards from my last batch, and they didn't cost me much. Just a bit more than plain card stock I would use for routines, and they look nicer. So why not use them? And if it so happens people keep them to remember me and call me, well, all the better Quote:
On Mar 30, 2017, WitchDocChris wrote:I think a business card should have your name, contact info, a picture of you, and a hint at what you do. Keep it simple, easy to read. Also remember that unless they are motivated to hang on to it, most business cards get tossed. The ones that get kept are often never looked at again. Good points: "Keep it simple, easy to read". Don't turn it into a catalog: "corporate events, weddings, kid parties, bar mitzvahs and prom nights" I'd stick to <Name>, <WhatYouDo> and <Contact Info>, such as "Ras Putin, 'mindwriter', tel. 666-777-8888". I'd never thought of having py picture printed on my cards, but then I guess the idea only occurs to really good looking people This got me thinking. I wonder if I won't order a second type of BC, better looking ones, maybe glossy, and keep another type (the one I currently use) for routines...
"A friend is someone who know you well but loves you anyway" H. Lauwick
The Lynx Deck, http://jmmaries.free.fr/cervier/ Grapheeteez, on GooglePlay Telemos the peek envelope, on SkywardMagic Telemos en Francais sur TheMysteryStore |
Raum Loyal user 227 Posts |
Don't tear yours or someone else's business card.
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RoryHenderson New user Bradford, West Yorkshire 75 Posts |
Wonderful advise so far, thank you all!
If a man does not keep pace with his companions
Perhaps it is because he hears the beat of a different drummer Let him step to the music he hears However measured or far away -Henry David Thoreau |
IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Make a list of the things you want to do
spend some money on blank stock spend time on ebay if you can't find a printer buy different weights (gsm) and experiment with what works best with your hands, the oils you secrete and so on some gloss coating means you can't tear them try index cards and cut them to suit (silverline is a good make) as an alternative (a 5x3 in half is great) it also depends on whether you want to use a sw*m* too, and what kind of nib it has technically, nothing stopping you having a simple one sided design, but have different gsm, treatments to them as long as you keep them seperate inside your business card case in some way i think its wise to decide what it is you are wanting to do first, and then find the best solution from that...even something as simple as wanting to do a cen**-t**r will have a big impact on it, but if you're just after a sw**ch or p**k, then that'll be a different solution... so lots of decisions to be made I'm afraid...experiment as much as possible...
I've asked to be banned
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Nestor D Special user France (Paris) 830 Posts |
Buy a small batch first
For many good reasons including the possibility to test them if you want to tear them in the future (in fact if you want to tear them, you should probably have a special batch on a very cheap stock as Cervier suggested). |
WitchDocChris Inner circle York, PA 2614 Posts |
Quote:
I'd never thought of having py picture printed on my cards, but then I guess the idea only occurs to really good looking people I got that from Paul Prater. He made a very good point - in short, the picture helps them remember who's card it is.
Christopher
Witch Doctor Psycho Seance book: https://tinyurl.com/y873bbr4 Boffo eBook: https://tinyurl.com/387sxkcd |
giro doro New user 56 Posts |
You could use a design on the front side of the cards that
is n o t obvious “on. w..” so you have a build in classic mentalism card tool with the possibility of legions of routines without tearing the cards. I would not tear cards with my name on it. |
RexDeash New user 78 Posts |
You could have some of them m****d. There are many subtle methods by which that can be accomplished.
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Djin Regular user 191 Posts |
This may not be right for you, but I had an idea for a card that might benefit someone who reads this forum.
The killer card for a performing hypnotist would be a hypno-disk done with lenticular printing (the 3-d looking, moving hologram effect) on one side and info on the other. It would be visually high impact and more likely to be kept than most cards. It would also be really expensive which is a bit of a downside. When I first thought of this I did a quick search (first to find out that the process is called "lenticular printing") and it cost a couple hundred bucks to get started and the individual price of cards is of course depending on how many you get but it's more than typical printing. If one were to get some of these made it would be well worth it to have a similarly designed cheaper version on hand. Maybe this helps someone. |
DaKine Oregon New user Medford, Oregon 50 Posts |
Don't know if this will help, but I've used a company called PaperDirect, which produces all sorts of professionally designed stationery (business cards, letterhead, postcards, flyers, etc.) with hundreds of themed designs (not much specific to magic) that are preprinted in color, so you can run them through your black ink printer to add your personal info as needed, thereby saving time, $$ and expensive color ink. This way, you can do very small runs of business cards if you wish, maybe even produce your own prop items. Check 'em out: http://www.paperdirect.com/
DaKine |
252life Inner circle Ninth Circle, Hades 3243 Posts |
I use thick stock matte, with plain white backs.
The matte takes pencil lead (..) nicely. The thickness gives support for one handed writing. Vistaprint seems to have the best deals, and they are very generous if you're not satisfied. 252Thick:)
Look for all the world like you're counting the brain cells in his cranium.
-Theodore Annemann |
Stunninger Inner circle 2819 Posts |
Another vote for Vistaprint. I've designed and ordered 4 different business cards with their on-line service, and have been quite happy with the quality of the cards as well as the fast shipping.
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Ben Blau Inner circle 1475 Posts |
I use a substantial, glossy and heavy stock. I don't tear my business cards, but do this instead:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q4knvb8xdjfwnl......mp4?dl=0
Ben Blau
http://www.benblaumentalism.com |
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