Does anyone know of a good online company that does musician's business cards, mainly piano? I found a lot of them in a Google search, but the designs are pretty "dry" and in B&W. I'm looking for an outfit that does great creative designs with lots of color. I'm not concerned about the cost, just about quality...I want to get something this time around that really stands out.

Lucky

I use Vista Print for biz cards, mailing labels, etc...

Easy, attractive design interphase to use. Great prices, fast service...

Very happy with them...
www.vistaprint.com

------------------
Bill in Dayton

I use my LOCAL printer it's nice to spread the business around town.

Thanks guys, but I need to emphasize that I'm looking for a creative design that folks are going to notice so I'm probably looking more for a printer/designer type company. I can get cards printed anywhere, but the artistry is what's missing.

In the old days I would make up a design myself with computer graphics. Now I'm realizing there's a lot of competition out there these days, and I'd best leave the "designs" to the professionals if I want to be unique.

Again.....anyone know of any online companies that are creative with their wares?

Lucky


[This message has been edited by Lucky2Bhere (edited 04-29-2009).]

Larry-

Did you even go to the website I posted?

My biz cards are full color, have a nice easy to read layout, plus I have background images on both sides, with text.

You can upload your logo if you wish...

Plenty of choices for finish, sheen, grade of paper, etc.

I paid $24.20 for 500 of them...

Email me your mailing address and I'll mail you one, I think you'd like it...



------------------
Bill in Dayton

DITTO I also use Vista Print. They had some outstanding double sided business cards, price was right and the design is terrific. I used the templates they supply.

Raised letter & simple are still my personal choices....let your music be your calling card. If your good they will always call you.....but if you suck they wont no matter what kind of Business card you have.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 04-29-2009).]

Donny-

Larry has gigs coming out of his ears...

He doesn't suck...

He just wants a nice business card...

Given your reasoning, and how successful you, me, Zuki, Steve, etc. are, why would we even have any?

(pause)

Because they're a traditional part of doing business in our line of work, right?



------------------
Bill in Dayton

Bill chill dude I never said Lucky sucked ...don't put words in my mouth please....I was talking in general. Most BC's that I see are so cluttered with crap & difficult to decipher.....simple layouts has always been my philosophy & has always been successful for me coupled with real good solid product that the customer enjoys & will continue to come back too. Without that your done, its simple business 101.

_________


[This message has been edited by Lucky2Bhere (edited 05-31-2009).]

Donny...that sounds more palatable. But you have to remember that we're all not as "good" as you. I guess I wouldn't have to worry about BC's if I WAS!

Lucky

Lucky

OK....I'm a pretty open-minded guy. I'll try Vista Print since you both agree on it. I went to it last night but they made it clear you have to accept cookies or you can't peruse their site. I never use a site that "demands" you accept "cookies." But in this case, I'm probably "cutting off my nose to spite my face." I'll change my settings to accept session cookies and after the session I'll erase them again.

But.....I'm still open to other sites. There's so much competition in my area now that I'm plugging up all holes in my music presentation/advertising starting with the business cards and then, hopefully, a new arranger keyboard.

Lucky

Lucky sorry if I offended you that wasn't my intention although some here may think so.....good luck to you what eer you choose.......there is plenty out there for everybody.....go for it & enjoy!

Lucky, there are lots of OK "gang" printers out there. What's lacking is design. I'd find an independent, young design student and have one or two of them come up with a concept. They'll do the design on a Mack and the approved one will email to the company.

The "gang" process means that they'll have yours and a bunch of others printing simultaneously, amd will make a judgement about color balance of ALL pieces being ganged. That means that they usually don't guarantee exact color matches. That's usually not a problem for this kind of work.

I use a bunch of gang printers, including Modern Postcard. Most are fine and you can't touch the price at a general, local full line printer.


Pro's in the marketing/communications business NEVER go to the in house design arm of a printer for design. They're in the business to sell printing above all else. Likewise with TV, radio or print production.
The pro's NEVER use the in-house production available. Often, design is thrown in with the job and generally, you get what you pay for.


Russ

Good to see the trucking industry branching out in these economic times...!

I didn't put any words in your mouth, but he wasn't asking for general business advice. You have specific thoughts on business cards then of course share them. The other stuff comes across insulting and almost like a put down of sorts to a lot of people.

In my opinion, you do it a lot...and you don't need to. Your status on this board is pretty solid, you can back it up...but your choice of words sometimes is questionable...



------------------
Bill in Dayton

Jim (Zuki) has a really attractive card. Ask him what his source was.


R.

I finally got my business cards just how I wanted them. To start, I decided to enable my cookies so I could check out the “Vistaprint” site you recommended. You guys were right……they had some nice designs that I could even customize. I started with:
http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/studio3.aspx?pf_id=088&combo=10869.79.4.5901%7c5901%7c137%7c0&uei=5248&icparts=yes&ag=true&combo_id=51491&ssc=1&filter=4%3a10003%7c%7c1%2c9%3a10013% 7c%7c1%2c3%3a10001%7c%7c1%2c4294938945%3a4294938682%3a4294938635%7c%7c2&xnav=previews&rd=3&referer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.vistaprint.com%2fpremium-business-cards%2fmusic%2fgallery.aspx%3 fpg%3d1%26rd%3d2%26filter%3d4294938945%253a4294938682%257c%257c1%252c4%253a10003%257c%257c1%252c9%253a10013%257c%257c1%252c3%253a10001%257c%257c1%252c4294938945%253a4294938682%253a 4294938635%257c%257c2%26page%3d1%26pagesize%3d24%26sort%3dp_TO!desc%26xnav%3dgn%26xnid%3d1

Then I uploaded a partial design and filled in the blanks with their own odds & ends. I then spent 2 nights working on the design and finally the “hybrid” card came out quite professional looking.

But here’s the kicker. After reading Russ‘s primer on business card design, I searched some more and found a company in California who “will design a card according to your ideas.” They have a computer graphic artist on staff. My “new design” went back and forth by email until it was 100%. It cost $65 for 500 cards but I figured it was still good bang for the buck!

That was my “piano” card…..now I have to figure out a design for my “one man band” cards. Anyone have any ideas for that……I Googled but didn’t come up with much. I was thinking of a cartoon character playing multi-keyboards but I can see this one is going to be tough.

Lucky