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gdw Inner circle 4884 Posts |
I have seen threads with individuals asking about their specific cards and such, but I thought it would be a good idea to have a single thread specifically about business card design.
Basically, post your thoughts and advice on business card design for magicians. Post pics of your own cards as well. I think it will be a good resource and will serve well as a unified area for people to also seek advice about their own card. I guess I will start with a question, what do you think about having your cards done on playing cards? I know it has been done before, and is being done by many still. I have been considering it for my own cards, but I see an inherent logistics problem with what to put on them. As ordering custom decks can be pricey and requires a large number to be purchased, what would one do when their contact info changes? This would limit the information that you could include. Also limiting their effectivness then. However the appropriateness of having them done this way is very appealing. As for design, I personally like the idea, in a playing card, of having the design being something that does not draw too much attention to itself so that they are more acceptable for regular use as well. But as for non playing card designs, I feel a simple, and yet recognizable design is key. Not so siple that it is unclear what it is, or what you do. For example, a logo like that of the Nike swish would be terrible for a magician as it says nothing and means nothing. It works for Nike because they have an established following. For a magician, or anyone who would not be imidiately recognizable, the design and any images/logo's that appear should be very clear. Simple enough that people don't need to look closely to figure out what it is, but not so simple so that it is abstract.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
joshlondon17 Special user San Diego, CA 685 Posts |
I like this thread, but fear that many will say they want to do this trick or that trick with their card.
I think it really looks tasteless when someone asks for your card (or otherwise) and you pull out a hole punch and go into Mike Close's awful Pot Hole routine. Josh London |
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
This is a great idea for a thread. A business card may seem like a simple thing, but an effective business card is far from simple!
The problem, as I see it, is that after you add a graphic and your contact information, you have a very limited amount of space left to explain who you are and exactly what you do. So you need to boil it down to one or two very succinct phrases that instantly describe you and your business. This is a lot tougher than it sounds, and will probably require lots of thought and repeated drafts. In my case, I went through about 4-5 versions before I found the wording and the design I liked. I think the finished card contains all the essential information, yet doesn't look cluttered or crowded, and is very readable. My suggestion is to use a graphics program like Print Shop or Microsoft Publisher, and play around with various fonts, graphics and layouts until you get something you like. Then you can take it to a commercial printer and let them finalize and print it up for you. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Just for my own education Josh, what's the problem with the pothole routine? when I saw Mike do it at a lecture, it completely blew me away.
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TroyRoark Loyal user Springfield IL 282 Posts |
Remember Josh, just because you've seen every b-card trick out there, doesn't mean the potential client has. I'm not selling my show to you.
I've been using the same business card for years now, like 20 years now. Call it laziness, but I've never changed it. It's basically (all centered): My Name (Bold) Comedy Juggler/Magician Phone number Then in each corner of the card it says Schools & Libraries, Walk Around, Corporate Events, Close Up Magic It seems to do a fine job, as long as people don't mind the hole punched in it |
gdw Inner circle 4884 Posts |
I think what he means is when someone asks for the card, they would just like the card. They weren't asking for a trick.
Doesn't mean they won't ejoy it, juts that sometimes, they really just wanted your card. I take the times that people ask for a card as less of a moment to do a trick witrh it, unless it is something very quick and off hand, like Hot Leads. Other times when you introduce it perhaps, and are in a different situation, then a more drawn out effect is less obtrusive I feel.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
TroyRoark Loyal user Springfield IL 282 Posts |
I completely agree. I don't show someone a trick everytime someone asks for a card, but I have cards ready to go if someone spontaniously asks me to do a trick. Then I'm killing two birds with one stone.
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magic113 New user 30 Posts |
Your Bus. Card should be one of many strong marketing tools...Cool looking cards won't get you as much work as a card that is straight to the point and benefit oriented...The card needs to be targeted like all of your marketing and should tell the prospect the benefits of using your magic services...It should have your USP and two methods for contacting you...Just my opinion...To each their own...
Ted |
gdw Inner circle 4884 Posts |
USP?
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
churken Regular user California 199 Posts |
My cards are black on the front with red and white lettering. I use a tag line and a USP. The backs are blank.
Josh: I also don't understand your thinking on using a business card for an effect. Personally, when someone asks me for a card it's usually because I just finished showing them an effect - or several effects. Therefore I do not show them another one when handing out my card. That said, I do use my cards in other effects such as billet work, magic square or the center tear. It seems that your attitude, from this and other threads, is that you feel that doing a trick with your business card is, in your words, "cheesy". Why is this so? What makes any trick "cheesy"? I have seen magicians do effects with their business cards that floored lay audiences. To me any magic effect that gets a strong response is a "good" or even "great" magic effect. It doesn't matter if it uses business cards, sponge balls, coins or a white tiger. Again what exactly makes something cheesy? To me using "The Cooler Magician" sounds cheesy. But that's only if it were on my business card. On yours, or anyone elses, it may convey exactly the attitude and image you are going for and be very effective. But to me, it's like Frank Sinatra putting "the cooler lounge singer" on his cards. Cheesy. Just an opinion. |
joshlondon17 Special user San Diego, CA 685 Posts |
Churken,
I really have nothing tosay o that, except that, "A Cooler Magician!" is a way to seperate myself from all the other (mostly people like you) who have cheesey marketing material and cannot entertain to the level I can. Or don't command the fees I do. Furthermore, a cool card is not that hard to make. Believe it or not, people make assumptions based on what you give them. What does my card tell people? Hopefully that I don't do kid shows or shows for less than $XXXXXX. Or that I take pride in my promo shots, website and promo video. It is more than just a business card people, it's an identity! For the Pot Hole trick I speak from appearance. I used to do it. And learned to hate it. I did not get the reactions I wanted. Rather I got, "That's nice, but you're cheesey." That's why I feel that way. Josh London P.S. The squat in front of the brick wall with card fan is not original and pretty cheesey (I think). |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
There are really 2 approaches to take with a business card. There is a branded calling card approach, and there is also a "business" card approach. I have done both for myself, as well as designed both for magic clients of mine. Both are different and do different things for you. The choice is really up to the individual and what he or she wants to get out of the card.
So, one thing you have to determine is if you want your card to be a true "calling card" or more "business" card. There is a difference between the two, and they both can work for you. It really is a matter of personal preference and what you want your card to do for you. A calling card is mainly a continuation of your brand message and brand identity as carried across all forms of your marketing. It may have your logo identity on it, as well as your various contact information, website, phone number, etc. A business style card is one that will have this information on it but will actually work as a way to generate business for you. It becomes more of a marketing vehicle and might include using the back of the card in some sort of way to give the person an incentive to take action to call you, go to your website, etc. Also, business cards do more than convey the information that's printed on the card. A card that's ugly, dirty, printed on perforated paper, or full of corrections screams loud and clear that you're an amateur. No matter how many wonderful services you offer, if your card brands you as unprofessional, you lose business. A clean, creative, professionally printed, and visually attractive card on the other hand, conveys a positive first impression that lingers long after your initial meeting. Still, a savvy businessperson knows that adding your unique marketing-oriented text to a business card, in addition to contact information, pays off. One strategy is to add text that gives your unique, specific customer benefits. For example: 1) Easy to PAY "Credit Cards Accepted" 2) Easy to get AHOLD of "Requests handled within 24hrs." 3) Easy to get ADVICE or INFO "Use our simple Information form." 4) "Present or mention this card for a free magic trick." 5) "Receive your first show at 25% off by requesting a promo kit." 6) "Log onto kyleandkellymagic.com for current discount coupons!" 7) "Free upgrade to our deluxe package by mentioning the number on this card." 8) The back of the card can be a useful calendar. 9) Survey, redeemable for a free gift - could direct them to a web page survey, where they fill it out and get a free gift or discount. 10) Punch card for frequent clients - acts as a referral rewards system. 11) A fun optical illusion, magic trick, or question where they can be directed to your website for more like it or for the answers. 12) A calendar of your upcoming public performances. 13) The card could be a magnet to be used and seen on the fridge by the prospect. 14) Could have a listing of most common measurement conversion chart - gives them a reason to hold onto it for their use. 15) A list of your top 5 tips for a successful event. There are many more, but I will leave it at this for now. These are all methods of being able to make your business card work for you. Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with having your card be just a "calling card". If you have other marketing materials that have a call to action that you use, then a calling card may not be a bad way to go as it is a continuation of your brand identity. However, you could have your business card doing double duty by not only listing your contact information, but by having an effective call to action as well. No matter which direction you go in, always remember that your business card is a direct representation of what you do, what you are about, and the services you provide. Do not settle for second best or for a card that looks "cheap". A professional and high-quality card will say a lot about your services long before they even begin to read it. Make your card work for you. It is hard this day and age to get folks to understand that the first impression you often ever make on a prospect is in the materials you send out to them. If this is the case, why wouldn't you want these materials to be designed in the best way possible? Too many folks have PCs and desktop publishing software. It is too easy to create artwork and get them done up that everyone thinks they can do it. What they forget to realize is that graphic design and communications through graphical means is a learned skill, and one that takes a long time to understand and to do well. I take pride in the fact that I spent 5 years in art school getting a double degree in graphic design and illustration. Those hard 5 years were spent studying, learning, and applying design ideas and principles to give me the knowledge I need to design print material that communicates the message of my clients the best that it can. Design is not about making something look pretty. There is so much more to it than that. This is why I take pride in the designs I create for my clients. It is a process where I really find out what makes the person, service, or business unique, and then create graphics that communicate this message clearly to his or her marketplace. In this ever-growing world of technology and the Internet, there are even more ways of getting business cards and other materials printed for your promotional needs. With the advent of the World Wide Web, there has also been a huge growth in online printers who can print your materials at a fraction of the cost of offset printing. However, it is very important to know that not every online printing place is the same. This is why, as a designer, I can not stress the importance of always doing your homework upfront before going with any online printer. Always ask for samples to be mailed to you. If they say they only have samples online, then move on elsewhere. You need to have real samples on the paper they print on. Seeing the product in your hands will be the only way for you to really understand the quality you will be getting and can expect from them. If they are a legit and professional business, they will have no problem with your request. Another thing you will want to keep in mind is that you can and should ask for a proof. A proof is what they run off for you after they have set up your card for printing. This way you can see exactly what it will look like, and it is your way of fixing any problems before you are stuck with thousands of cards that are not right. Spend the extra money to have a proof done. Now, sometimes they offer you online PDF proofing. This is OK ONLY if you want to proof the type and text and make sure the elements are where they need to be. However, a PDF proof is NOT an accurate display of actual color and quality of the color being printed. For this, you would need a live proof sent to you via mail. This is the best way to make sure the color is exactly what you want it to be. Once you sign off on a proof, you are telling the printer you are OK with what they have. If there are any mistakes on the printing, and you did not catch it on the proof, then you are stuck with them. Make sure to take your time examining the proof thoroughly before signing off. If there is a mistake that was not on the proof, then this clearly means that they messed up. The proof then becomes your proof to them that what they printed is not what you approved. This is the value of a proof and why I always request them. Yes, they probably will charge you for a proof, but it is money well spent. Another topic I would like to mention is to find out what exact process they use when they do their printing. There are so many types of digital printing these days, and they all produce vastly different results. Find out ahead of time by reading their site or asking a question to them. You will want to do this anyways, because you will need to be sure to find out all the details on file submission. This is a key area. A lot of mistakes on cards coming out wrong can be from the customer uploading a file that is not set up properly. Find out exactly what size they need the cards to be. Find out if they need you to add room for bleed objects. Find out what format they need it in (CMYK or RGB). Find out what format they need it saved as (.JPG / .EPS) or others. All of this information is critical for you getting exactly the card you want as an end result. I hope this information is of help to some of you. If anyone has any questions pertaining to anything I covered, please let me know. It would be my pleasure to help you and give advice if I can. Here are 2 recent business card designs I have done as well as a new logo created that will be converted into a business card within the week. I hope it helps. My 2 cents worth any ways. Click here to view attached image.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
gdw Inner circle 4884 Posts |
I love the one with the shadow.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Thank you so much for the kind words. That one was designed for a twin act and one does comedy and the other magic. The logo I designed for them shows this unique quality of being twins but also the fact that although they are one in the same in appearance, they are vastly different on stage.
When I design business cards, I really strive to find what is the essence of what the client does that makes them unique. This is what I try to convey in the design of the card. Something that communicates who they are, what they do and why they are different. Hope these samples help. I have others in case anyone would like to see etc. My please and hope my information above is of help to some. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Christian & Katalina Elite user 407 Posts |
Kyle,
What a great response. It would be fun to sit down with you and debate the whole business card philosophy. I find that I agree with most of what you said and what I do disagree with is more about personal tastes than your solid business advice. For anyone seriously looking at creating a business card for themselves, they should read Kyle’s post a few times and really let it sink in. I personally do not like the idea of using the business card as a “calling card”. I want my business card to be a business card. Too many people will use their business card like a piece of advertising material, cramming as much information as possible on it. That is not the purpose of a business card. There are other vehicles for that type of advertising. Usually, this is done by the person who has decided that the $50 bucks they spend on their marketing campaign, will be their business card. In fact their entire marketing campaign is their business card. Poor decision. Only when you are branded can you start using your business card as a “calling card”. This is only after you have determined your product, market, and USP and have a presence in the market. Too many magicians try to be everything to everybody. I know, because I read it on their business cards all the time, “Magic for Every Occasion”. It does not work like that in the real world. To properly engineer a successful marketing campaign will take time, thought, and money. Many times you will need to contact outside sources to help you. It will also take a certain self-awareness. Who are you and who will want your services? Too many magicians and mentalists are oblivious to the persona they project. Your business card will be an extension of who you are. How are you giving out your cards? Different social and business situations will require various methodologies. Back in my restaurant days giving my card out with a trick connected to it was great. It fit the purpose and context of the moment. Very seldom, does that same paradigm exist for me now. So what is the proper business card for you? It is hard to say because each business (read that as magician) is slightly different than the next. I think it is easier to say what is not right for you in this kind of forum, since they are usually universal rules. So, go back and read Kyle’s post. He really said a lot. Just Thinking out Loud Christian & Katalina
Milbourne Christopher Award for Mentalism 2011
The Annemann Award for Menatalism 2016 Author of "Protoplasm" Close-up Mentalism |
jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
I want a business card that people will hold on to. It's my contention that the overwhelming majority of business cards wind up in the circular file as soon as someone either cleans out their wallet or empties their pocket. If the card has some sort of a gimmick attached to it, optical illusion, discount, etc. (see Kyle's list for some ideas), I believe that you stand a better chance of producing business with it. I worked from time to time with Harry Albacker. Before going into magic Harry did publicity for Barnum & Bailey. One of the first things that he did to help establish himself was to buy an offset press. (It was a long time ago. B.C. before computers) Harry made up every type of gag card he could find and gave them out by the thousands. People held on to them and showed them to others. Lou Tannen once told me that he thought that Harry was one of the busiest magicians in the country. Lou used to keep track of the number of shows Harry did by the number of Soft Soap boxes Harry ordered. I have some of the old Tommy Windsor Publicity Packets. In them he but put publicity pieces from various magicians. Looking through them recently I realized how many big name magicians used all sorts of gimmicks on their cards. Not necessarily tricks but it gave the recipient a reason to hold on to them.
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
Wow...Harry Albacker - now there's a name that I haven't heard in a long tme. Thanks Jake!
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Kipp Sherry Elite user Boise, ID 477 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-05-20 17:39, jakeg wrote: jakeg, Take a look at Kings Fool. It's not the right solution for everyone but it may be what you are looking for. Until we appear again, Kipp Sherry |
Kipp Sherry Elite user Boise, ID 477 Posts |
Oops! double post.
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