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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
I purchased an airport shuttle bus to convert into the “HOWIE DIDIT MAGIC BUS”
The bus will be used in local parades and driven around town as a 24/7 billboard and of course driven to my shows, I plan on storing my tricks in it so I don’t have to load and unload at my office I am painting it white and planning on covering the windows with cartoons of children sitting in seats or looking out the window, along with having my advertising printed on the sides. Does anyone have suggestions of the type of graphics that will make the bus stand out; ideas or photos of ideas will be greatly appreciated. If you’re not able to post photos here, please email them to Howie@kids-magic.com Here are photos of the bus as it looks now, before it is painted. |
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magicmaninsd Regular user San Diego, CA 199 Posts |
I think people may get confused with what it is you actually do. If I saw that with the graphics of kids sitting I would assume one of two things. The first, you are a bus driver and will drive kids around or second, the kids have to enter your mystery bus to watch a magic show.
Also, if your bus gets stolen with all your props in it you're sunk, unless you have backup. |
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Scott Burton Inner circle 1131 Posts |
One reason I never went with decaling my vehicle is that it screams "look over here...potentially some really cool or goofy stuff to steal that you won't find anywhere else right here! You know you want to!". I also fear how reliable this vehicle will be to maintain and the costs to fix will be large I assume. However, it IS a great way to be noticed! I'm interested to hear how it goes. (but, yes, don't store your stuff in it)
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Magicmaninsd;
I appreciate the input about the confusion; it’s exactly the reason I posted the thread and just did not start applying graphics. I am sure members here have in the past done the same thing; I am trying to avoid the pitfalls and avoid the mistakes of past magicians on confusing graphics. One idea you have given me by your post is to make sure I have a comment on the bus that the show will be held in a home or venue of some type, not on the bus; maybe someone reading this will come up with a resolution. The bus will have an alarm system in it that is custom built and will sound an alarm on the bus and alert me by making a noise on the fob I carry on my key chain to arm and disarm the alarm. I own it now, committed to finishing it and I am just looking for ideas of what to apply without causing confusion to the public of what it is. Thanks Posted: Apr 16, 2012 12:44pm Scott; The bus is only to be used for shows, parades and special events, no kids on it. As far as screaming "look over here” when I am parked I have life size, mechanically animated, custom characters to entertain people and kids on the curb side of the bus; business cards and flyers will also be available on a sandwich board next to the bus. The entire reason to own this bus is to advertise my business 24/7. Click on the link to see the characters http://charactersunlimitedinc.com/movies/farmer1.swf |
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sb Special user 567 Posts |
I really second what magicmaninsd said about confusing the public. That was my first thought when I saw the bus and the name: "magic bus". I think you should brainstorm some other ideas for a name of the bus.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
I know you into Characters, but puppets alone doesn't spell magic show to some. To really get the message out, you will need to include the known magic things like: Rabbits, Magic Hats, Canes, Doves, Etc. That should let everyone know it's going to a magic show. Maybe even something like, "Follow Me To The Magic Show" on it. However characters sitting on the bus (on the windows) wouldn't be bad.
Don't forget to add your name, number, and site on the rear for those behind you. (More people see the rear than the sides when moving.) As for as the props on the bus: Take out more insurance than you need to cover the props, and then in slow times, maybe somebody will steal it. The bus is a great idea. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
Howie you and I have had many converstations already and I like the bus.
a few more thoughts why paint it white!?/ why not some bright color that will make it really stand out. and instead of simple graphics on each window why not get the whole thing wrapped! this way it will be much more pleases and fluid in design in my opinion of course if you wrap it then yea just get it painted white so that it has a fresh coat of paint and looks nice. if you want to know more about graphics I can put you intouch with my friend that does this for a living. she lettered my first van and did the graphics on my custom show car. she can tell you more about the auto wrap. heck maybe you can hire her and she can fly out and put the auto wrap on who knows!? but some good points were made - people are not that bright so you need to make the bus look as magical a possible. have some full size photos of you with your props not just the dummies. yes you need magic hats magic wands and doves and rabbits to help people know you are a magician can not wait to see it all done up. sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-16 10:30, magicmaninsd wrote: Whenever I've seen any buses with graphics of children on the windows, they were buses used by child care centres (daycares, preschools, OSC, and daycamps). - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
Donald - which is why I suggested the wrap this way it is just a magic bus and can still have pics of kids but maybe have real kids instead.
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 2:08pm Not real kids hanging on the bus!! real pics of kids! just thought I should clear that up
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Thanks Tom, The characters and the rabbits are to get the public to stop and look; the flyers are to get them to read and take with them.
The one item I did forget to mention is the addition of real rabbits in one of the windows; I am having built a special cage with vents and a fan on the window that I can open, this will keep the rabbits cool during the stay in the window, but I plan on not showing them when the sun hits the window directly. I thought about your idea of using "Follow Me To The Magic Show" this would be good for my public shows, but I don’t think it will be advantages to have cars follow me to a birthday party in a home; I am going to use a car magnet sign and attach it to the bus when necessary; Good Suggestion. I have written down the addition of my contact information on the back of the bus, I will apply that idea to the bus for sure. Quote:
On 2012-04-16 13:39, Donald Dunphy wrote: Donald; There are not many magic busses around and yes most child care type buses have the kids in the window. The graphics in the window will hide the interior filled with stuff. I want the bus windows to embody subliminal advertising and click in people’s heads, children, and the rest of the bus to be magical; hopefully it will be an attention-grabbing advertisement for children’s magic shows as it is driven to shows, in parades and parked around town. The intention of the thread is to get ideas of how to make it magical. |
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Carducci Special user Denver 543 Posts |
I really don't have much to contribute here, but I have had "Magic Bus" by The Who stuck in my head ever since you posted this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl9bvuAV-Ao So, thanks for that. |
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
For a little extra attention, you may want to consider adding a musical-horn.
This one has 34 Pre-Programmed songs: http://www.realtruck.com/wolo-electric-h......al-horn/ Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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sb Special user 567 Posts |
I just googled "marketing wraps for bus", lots of cool ideas.
I would think something like a Howie Diditt tour bus would be a cool idea, as opposed to making it look like a bus. I just really see the public being confused... (btw, I really do like the idea of having the travelling billboard. sb btw, this is my favorite one on there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inagorillacostume/5993836310/ |
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ThatsJustWrong! Special user My flying monkeys are perched on 629 Posts |
Oh, come on, I can't be the ONLY one here who was thinking:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_nomura/3070133859/
Joe Leo
All entertainers can benefit from some help from an experienced stage director. How about you? www.MisfitMysteries.com |
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magicmaninsd Regular user San Diego, CA 199 Posts |
Another thought: your name could be misspelled so accommodate for that. After seeing a number of your posts in the past I thought "how do I spell that?" you might want to run an Adwords campaign specifically for misspellings and variations of your name. Especially if your hope is to get attention you need to make it easy for people who don't get a flyer to remember you. If I saw your name on the side of a bus with kid decals in the window, a bunny, and/or a silly horn I would not remember your name or even how to spell it so I could google you.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I like the idea of saying something like, "This Magical Tour Bus brings laughter and smiles to birthdays, daycares, schools, festivals, parties, and anywhere needing fun!" This is to tell them that you aren't a performer who is just doing a show at larger venues like theatres.
I think another assumption you'll have to overcome, is that when people see the bus, they will assume you are bringing a party venue to them. They think they can have a bday party on the bus, while parked out front of their home (this has been done before -- I read about it ages ago in some of Frances Marshall's books). Even if they haven't actually seen someone do it, they will assume that is what you are offering because of the bus. They wouldn't assume that with a van or truck. Others said this earlier. - Donald P.S. Have you ever seen the truck graphics that show a person sitting on a toilet seat, and it's an ad for a plumber? The driver's door had the graphic on it, and the person's real head and arm show through the window. Here. What about doing something like that, but it could be a graphic of a person riding on a flying carpet, and your real head and arm makes up the top part of the person sitting on the flying carpet? Other items and characters from your show could be stacked on the carpet behind you in the graphic. That graphic could run the whole side of the bus. Or course, you could run with the magic bus theme instead of the flying carpet theme.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
This white elephant is a lot of big bucks spent with a very small return for your money.
Howie Sam likes the idea because he is an illusionist. You can stick your ventriloquist dummy is the trunk of a compact car.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-16 15:07, Carducci wrote: Carducci; Sorry to mess with your head; the only answer I can give you is…. “TOMMY” by the WHO… Quote:
On 2012-04-16 15:25, TomBoleware wrote: Tom It's a GREAT suggestion, I ordered it today Thanks for the link Quote:
On 2012-04-16 18:01, sb wrote: SB; I also really see the public being confused; it’s why I am asking for input. I think saying it is a tour bus is also confusing since I am not touring, but advertising and want to do more than just my name and phone number. The temporary magnet sign announcing that people can follow me to the show is wonderful for days I am going to perform at a public show or an expo. Donald’s link was fantastic about placing a graphic on the driver’s door, now we need to figure out what the graphic is going to be magically; sitting on a toilet will get me on Megan’s list. The contact information on the back of the bus is a great idea and the graphics on the street side windows of the bus of kids in the window covers the inside and associates me as doing kids parties. The curb side with the figures and rabbits will be entertaining to pedestrians and party attendees when I park. I just need some great headlines and slogans to cover the side of the bus under the windows. Posted: Apr 16, 2012 10:14pm "This Magical Tour Bus brings laughter and smiles to birthdays, daycares, schools, festivals, parties, and anywhere needing fun!" Donald; You have some very good and interesting points; I am going to work on the copy you posted here and get back to you soon; it is an excellent starting point for me to go with. Thanks |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Link to photo of "Kids in the window of a bus."
And no, I'm not suggesting that you use Scholastic's copyrighted characters. - Donald P.S. I wasn't suggesting a toilet on the flying carpet graphic, but rather a clothed person (aladdin type, for example... or more modern). It doesn't even have to be called a flying carpet.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Maybe if we could just get away from the 'tour bus' thought to a 'Here Comes Howie'
theme of thinking. I do like the toilet graphic idea example that Donald mentions, using a magic theme. The door graphic could be: A Flying Carpet. Him standing in a magic hat. Him Riding on a Rabbit. ? Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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