Last time we said that the first thing you need to have are written goals.
The second thing may sound so basic, but you’d be surprised how many artists go without it.
The second thing is BUSINESS CARDS.
I don’t mean business cards from your “other job” where you write your contact number on it for someone interested in your art or design work. I mean a set of business cards specifically designed to identify you as an artist.
Why:
Think about it: How many times expectantly in conversation it comes up that you’re an artist? What should come next is you passing them an eye catching card so that they can not only remember you, but so that they can follow up with you.
It also allows you to stand out in a sea of artists that may be out there.
Here’s a website that allows you to create your own custom designed business cards, even in non-standard sizes: http://www.zazzle.com/businesscards
January 7, 2009 at 2:34 p
Ain’t it the truth. I still need some, and have just failed to set aside the money to have them produced. Thanks for this, Tony.
January 7, 2009 at 3:49 p
Awesome post, and SO TRUE!
Rather than spending money on cards, though, here’s what I do- I visit The Avery Templates Page and download templates for Microsoft Word and/or PhotoShop (these can be opened with OpenOffice.org and The GIMP, which are what I use instead) and then I design the cards on the pre-sized templates.
I print the resulting, perfectly sized, ready-with-lines-to-cut-on images onto card stock and use huge office scissors to cut them out.
Because Grouper is a thrifty fishy.
January 7, 2009 at 4:14 p
Tony, I completely agree. Every business owner (artists included) needs business cards. There’s nothing worse than having someone hunt for a piece of paper and borrow YOUR pen to wite their number down, which of course ends up in your pocket and then the wash.
Now as far as the Avery templates…DON”T DO IT!!!!! that’s the cheap way out and everybody knows it. You know it, the people you give you “card” to know it…so stop being cheap and get them professionally done…doesn’t have to be elaborate but it does need to be professional. There are too many websites dedicated to “cheap” cards that still look professional. Although I don’t like them, http://www.vistaprint.com gets you an inexpensive business card but still lets you look professional and legitimate and not like some guy doing work on his kitchen table.
Ok, now i will step down from my soapbox. Whew!!!
January 8, 2009 at 11:23 p
[...] See part 2>> [...]
January 12, 2009 at 4:50 p
I guess this is the future of business cards, digital, exchange via mobile phone: http://nameo.org/
January 17, 2009 at 12:11 p
maybe – as artists – we could figure out other ways of making bizcards that [i]don’t[/i] require the use of templates (or even printing at all)? you might be better off looking at more DIY approaches (such as using stamps and stickers). after all, we are talking about [i]impact[/i] here, right?
alternatively, find someone whose design work you like and cough up a little extra cash to get someone with the talent for it make one for you. just because yer an artist don’t make you a designer…