talkmagic.co.uk

I don't think I worry too much about the `magician and entertainer` as ( not that I don't value your opinion ) quite often people repeat themselves.

Such as "Magician & Illusionist". "Mind-blowing & Astonishing" - hard to think of some good examples, but I'm sure I read something about the helpful phycolagy of repeating yourself this way when I was designing the first lot of business cards I had.

Try moving your name/the whole purple bit up a bit and right align all the text... see how that looks. Although how it is is fine. Maybe it needs a smaller/different typeface? I dunno, there's something not quite right with it

The number should be 100 047 - the three 0s doesn't make it easy to read

Also, get a proper website/email domain

kolm wrote:get a proper website/email domain

Yeah totally, unless you actually do perform in the island nation of Nauru, lose the .co.nr domain and get a .co.uk.

Magician and Entertainer is a nice way of putting it. But the card does not say anything about you. It is a nice image, but bland. If you are a funny guy, the card needs to indicate this. If you are mysterious, where is it in the card?

Your card is a window of opportunity. I think you need to rethink it.

As for the back, on my kids cards I have magician on the front, bouncy castles on the back. For my adult card I have hypnotist on one side, psychic entertainer on the other.

If you are doing mentalism it is a good idea to keep the back blank.

Danny Joseph wrote:I don't think I worry too much about the `magician and entertainer` as ( not that I don't value your opinion ) quite often people repeat themselves.

Such as "Magician & Illusionist". "Mind-blowing & Astonishing" - hard to think of some good examples, but I'm sure I read something about the helpful phycolagy of repeating yourself this way when I was designing the first lot of business cards I had.

Maybe try to use a work to describe your magic style - Close Up Magician, Comedy Magician, Hypnogician etc sound a bit better than Magician and Enterainer - just my opinion though .

I like the design of the card, you could have just the same colour scheme but faded, allows for a hidden message, or (as has been suggested) can be used as a mentalism trick - business card tricks are VERY strong and make your card even more memorable.

As for the photo, I dont have a photo on mine, I HATE the idea of my picture on a card hahahaha, BUT I have seen some very cool cards with peoples faces on them ... personal preference

And sorry to repeat ... get a proper web address, I feel much more professional being able to say "Contact@DanEdwardsMagic.co.uk" rather than DanEdwardsMagic@hotmail.com ... the more confident you feel, the easier it'll be to hand your cards out (not that you might be having problems doing that at the moment :S)

Overal though, go you for designing your own - I'm currently using a vistaprint frame hahahahahahahaha

Dan

Agree completely with Stoner, Trevor and Tony.
What you seem to be concentrating on here is the look and feel, not the PURPOSE of the card. It's rather like the "Please look at my website" posts made by magicians who do not have a clue about what a website is FOR, and think all they need is lots of graphics, even more "!"s, a description of the age they were when they started magic, and lots of spelling mistakes.
Your card is a business tool. Nothing more, nothing less. Yours is a confusing one.
My first thought was "Glad I've got this, because for my function I'm looking for an entertainer - what else does he do, as I hate b****y magicians...? I bet he sings. He looks like a singer".
My second thought was this....
"Are you free on July 8th, as my 8 year old needs a magician for her party"? - you will have a lot of fun recommending other magicians to clients here...THEY don't know you are a "close-up" magician, the public only really thinks 1 type exist. Either that or you had better find a way to "entertain" children with double-undercuts and Faros.

Sorry - but this completely misses the mark in my opinion. You have created a card that that lets people contact someone who has an unclear business/product offering. I know that Dai Vernon had one word on his card - "Magician", however, I suspect you need something else to describe your offering.

For the moment - forget the "look and feel". What are you trying to sell, and to whom? Get that right first. Then worry about whether the font and the reflection effect are correct.

Bruce

BrucUK wrote:For the moment - forget the "look and feel". What are you trying to sell, and to whom? Get that right first. Then worry about whether the font and the reflection effect are correct.

I think that's great advice. If you had to describe what you do to a potential client in a few words, what would you say? Now put that on the card.

BrucUK wrote:Agree completely with Stoner, Trevor and Tony.
What you seem to be concentrating on here is the look and feel, not the PURPOSE of the card. It's rather like the "Please look at my website" posts made by magicians who do not have a clue about what a website is FOR, and think all they need is lots of graphics, even more "!"s, a description of the age they were when they started magic, and lots of spelling mistakes.

The look is important - a potential client will be more impressed by a well produced card than they will a cheap Vistaprint printout

Just as the client will be more impressed by a professionally made website than one the magician made himself

Personally I don't think that "Magician and Entertainer" is as confusing as you make out to be. Especially since the website address is dannyjosephmagic

The graphics on the card, while nice, say nothing. You could be offering night-time fishing trips, crystal healing sessions, or real estate with this card. That's the problem. A person needs to look at your card and know what you are offering.

Magician and Entertainer doesn't tell me what sort of magic you are doing, but at least it implies that you are not, like many, Magician and Bore. Don't lose the word Entertainer.

The look is important - a potential client will be more impressed by a well produced card than they will a cheap Vistaprint printout

Not wishing to start any sort of battle but:
1> Have you ever actually been responsible for "business" selling anything? People see through "shiny thing syndrome" rather quickly.
and
2> I am not saying that look is UNimportant, however, at the moment, this card (to me) says nothing except "Oohhh - pwetty colours....shiny font...".

I'd rather have a Vistaprint card that people understand and use to ring me up keep that a "well produced" and perhaps instantly forgettable throwaway anyday.

Personally I don't think that "Magician and Entertainer" is as confusing as you make out to be.

It's not confusing at all, absolutely the opposite.
I know he's a magician, (it says so and it's on the url), but he's ALSO an "entertainer", (it says so..), and as I really want a table-hopping singer to seranade my guests, (hopefully a bit of opera at the VIP table), I hope he does that as well. As long as he doesn't do any of that magic s**t, I hate magicians, but thank HEAVENS he's also an entertainer. It's crystal clear. We're in violent agreement.

Having the website address on the business card is all rather moot anyway until the website is up and running. Hopefully the two are going to match in stylistic terms.

What I would suggest, (if you have not already done this), is to get a few introductory books on how to set up a business, (because that is what you are doing here...), and work through marketing and promotion sections.

Just my 2p worth.
Bruce

Ok so there's defiantly differing aspects here, but I feel people have <b>forgotten a rather important detail.</b>

<b>Normally</b> I would agree completely with the purpose of the card, it's very good advice, but the reason why I do disagree (with whole respect) is because I hand my cards out at the -end- of my routines, so people <b>already know</b> my work.

So I feel tied between two pieces of advice

1) make your purpose clear
2) don't state the obvious

number 1 we already know what that is, number 2 is like writing `Curriculum Vitae` at the top of your CV ( which pretty much everyone does )

So I wouldn't want to put ( even if not in text ) `I do card magic` - when I've already pitched that to them in the best manor possible ( by doing it for real )


I hope I haven't come across as dis-respectful, I try to remember everyone's advice, take it all into account and remember it even for future projects

Once again thank you, does this help people's conflicting opinions at all?


Oh and one last thing I forgot to add, remember I settled on a blank back so I could actually use that as part of the routine, so the card itself also reminds them of what my services are.

And I'll also look into some books, thank you

Have you considered including a landline number. Although mobiles are convenient many people preffer a landline because it portrays a more professional image of stability. I remember being told this on a course I attended and the example given was travellers laying tarmac, that type of person usually only gives a mobile number, It is a matter of perception. If you are worried about not being available on the landline put both numbers or use an answer machine with an appropriate message.

I know there is also crime prevention advice being given not to use businesses that just give a mobile number. It is easy for people to hide behind a pay as you go number.

Nic

Have you considered including a landline number

I so agree with this. I was going to say it in my previous post but did not because I once mentioned this point of view in another thread and was shouted down and told I was old and out of touch.

Personally, unless I have to, I always avoid ringing mobile numbers and 0800 numbers.

Dave.

www.madetomeasuremagic.co.uk

Would be nice to see any redesigns (if applicable) given all of this feedback?

Dan

Danny Joseph wrote:<b>Normally</b> I would agree completely with the purpose of the card, it's very good advice, but the reason why I do disagree (with whole respect) is because I hand my cards out at the -end- of my routines, so people <b>already know</b> my work.

Well if that is the case you totally misunderstand the point in having a card and handing them out.

The card will hopefully be passed onto other acquaintances of the people you have performed too when they are organising an event/party or whatever.

The people you have performed to know that you are good. So whats the point in giving them a card when you could easily jot down a telephone number. If you are good, they will talk about you and pass on the details. This is what you want. I strongly advise you to listen to Bruce because you will make the mistakes he is trying to warn against.

Trust me. I've been there, done that and got the bloody t-shirt - although at a younger age than you. And you will look back and cringe.

Kev