Flyer design?

[jordak]

Does this seem good to hand out and post in places?
My first time making one of these.

The actual size is a cd cover

[jgroh]

Sorry but, no. Its hard to read IMO. And most people that might see it could have an adult beverage in them by then and that makes it even harder!

[jordak]

Originally Posted by jgroh

Sorry but, no. Its hard to read IMO. And most people that might see it could have an adult beverage in them by then and that makes it even harder!

It's kind of funny to imagine a drunk guy getting dizzy trying to read it, but is it really too hard?

Obviously, we will hand them out when we play the first date. Besides that what are good strategies to handing fliers out (to strangers/non-fans or in places for strangers/non-fans to see them).

[richtea]

Too easy to read is too easy to ignore, I read it, was a little annoyed by it because I had to concentrate, (that’s not all bad, as it the info is more likely to stick), but at 45years old I doubt I am your target demographic.
That said if you pick two different fonts one for each of the band names, it would clear it up a lot, (or two colours if you are doing colour) without making it boring.
I am assuming that “price” & “headlining” are the two bands, If not, then nothing makes sense to me and it’s a proper fail. (not that it makes me an expert, but I have done this kinda thing for a living).

[jordak]

price is my band - the only one on the flyer.

We are playing two different dates in the same place. The first one, opening, the second one headlining.

Embarrassed that it wasn't self evident.

[richtea]

no need to be embarrassed, that's why we show our work to other people, you can just get too close to it.
I would then drop the word headlining, it might be important to you but its not really to the crowd, and pick a separate font or the band name as price is a word that could easily feature on a flyer regarding door/beer/food price. when is done print one out an show it to a few people, I cant help you now as I know what is what and I can no longer be objective. hope this helps.

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by jordak

Does this seem good to hand out and post in places?
My first time making one of these.

The actual size is a cd cover

As one who designs my bands fliers and posters, it's not the worst I've seen, but my criticisms would be:

(1) You've used just one font, good, but you've resized and slanted and changed the ratio's of every line, making a multi-font effect, which is generally a graphic design no-no.

(2) Too many angles - my eyeballs are doing somersaults trying to read it, only angle one or two short lines, if you must.

(3) It's poorly laid out - I can't focus on what the most important thing is, that there's a heavy metal gig happening. You have to do is ensure that comes across in 1 second!

(4) give visual clues by font size and colour to what the important this are:
(a) what is it? Heavy metal gig, and band's names
(b) where (Venue name, address smaller) and when
(c) price, restrictions
(d) other (websites etc) can be much smaller. 99% of people won't really care about it!
The font sizes you used are all too similar. Cut out all irrelevant info (no one will care that much that you are headlining or not, for example.

(5) "Price" is a name that you have to make sure people understand that it's the name of the band. I looked at it and thought "Price of what?". Use a bold HM type font perhaps.

(6) It doesn't look very "metal". Rather more like a discount clothing store flier, I'm sorry to say.

(7) I prefer "October 22nd" to "10/22". More readable to my British English. Maybe Americans are similar? Having the day of the week (Sat) is good. Some people miss gigs because they don't know the date, especially younger people.

Try to read up and look at other posters/flyers and maybe some graphic design books.

PM me if you like I could rustle a better version for you if you like.

Oh yes, good strategies for hand fliers out are:
(1) Have a hot chick do it ;-)
(2) Speak to the person, "Do you like music?", then "Seen any good bands lately?". People will ask you what your band is like, have some well-known, well-liked bands of your genre that you are like. Don't mention the bands that divide opinions when you do. I don't know metal, but for my band I say "Talking Heads/B52's/Dead Kennedys" everyone seems to like them.
(3) Don't get bored with saying the same thing over and over, because you will be!
(4) Smile.
(5) Target who you give them to. Groups of friends are good. Talk a word to everyone in the group if you can.
(6) Making entry cheaper with flier - then they KEEP it!

Do it the day before and then the DAY. Too long before and people forget.

Put them in places metal fans go. Record stores, clothing shops, graveyards (joke) etc
Good luck

[jordak]

Did some clean up, then read Britpicker's thorough post which really shows some experience in design. I don't really want something that comes across as too metal looking because although we play metal music, we don't fully buy into the aesthetic cliches. Also, a lot of our friends could be turned off by aggressive fliers.

[Saetia]

What everyone has said is definitely right on key with what I'd say.

I would add the bands who are playing, if it's an opening gig, well the band closing the show will most likely be a band who is recognized. Not saying ride on someone elses recognition, but it does help when making fliers to post the bands... you're exposing yourself to other bands fan bases as well that way. Plus in the whole hardcore and metal DIY culture, it's always nice to pay it forward and expose all the bands on the bill. You'd want the same consideration right?

I've always tended to add graphics to fliers and work around the graphic that I'm using.

Keep your font in check by using the same font. If you have to deviate from the font, use the bands logo. It's something easily recognizable (even in metal where they're usually illegible).

Be concise. Use the information you have to your advantage. Clearly seperate information from eachother. What it is. When it is. Where it is. Bands playing. and cost. Don't forget times, a lot of bands like to leave that information off of the flier.

You want something that catches the eye and delivers all of the information you need to in a manner condusive to reading it. You not only want them to read it, but you want them to retain it and tell all of their friends.

When reading what I typed, I know you have some of these elements on your fliers already. Just make the aspects "pop" so to speak. Make sure people know what they're reading.

-Benny

[Saetia]

Here are a couple fliers that are pretty clear on what's going on. They arn't that great. If you want, do a search and find the band fliers thread. There's ton's of awesome examples and very artistic ones at that.





-Benny

(p.s. I would have gotten some better ones, but I'm unable to access myspace at work, so you"ll have to do with what I could find without logging into a social network.)

[Stealth]

Props for Kaneda and his bike from Akira. Now THAT is something that draws attention.

[jordak]

I'm going to do one from scratch keeping readability in mind. I also sent a pm to Britpicker since he seems to know a lot about this stuff.

[jordak]

because it's a flyer for 2 separate shows, Listing every band might be too crazy. Maybe front and back would work, but I don't think the venue has even told us who the other bands are yet.

I just don't know how to get all the info onto the paper, maybe I should concentrate on the later date because that one is more important of the two.

[Saetia]

Originally Posted by Stealth

Props for Kaneda and his bike from Akira. Now THAT is something that draws attention.

Thanks, my old guitarist actually made that one. MOB isn't around anymore, he's in a new band called Maidens.

We had one with "Chunk" from the Goonies doing the "Truffle Shuffle."

lol.

So many different ones. I know it can be goofy using other material, but if I didn't physically draw up a flier we'd make ones from graphics of odd thing, or our favorite things.

-Benny

p.s.

I'd likes to see what you come up with from scratch,

[Substandard]

Joel's Flyer advice:
Dimensions: 4" x 5"
Color: White if printing color, dayglo if b&w

Font & stuff: Do whatever you want that compliments the aesthetic, but HAVE AN AESTHETIC. The flyer posted is far too bland and unappealing and just looks like an add for renting carpet shampoo machines or some other banal service/good.

I'm not saying be flashy, my band typically uses a clean font for our name. But you want to consider branding when doing the design.

Here's a few designs I've done for my band Substandard:




Now you'll notice a variation in the typesetting, where some have the standard font (DIN black ftw), I've changed the one to fit the aesthetic of the design.

I would suggest that you either focus on one show or work the design for be cleaner and more attractive/easy to decipher.


PS: turn off the LIKE requirement on your reverbnation band profile. No one wants to have to like something before they even hear it. I was going to check out the music...

[Saetia]

Originally Posted by jordak

because it's a flyer for 2 separate shows, Listing every band might be too crazy. Maybe front and back would work, but I don't think the venue has even told us who the other bands are yet.

I just don't know how to get all the info onto the paper, maybe I should concentrate on the later date because that one is more important of the two.

If you do it clearly enough you can scale it down and get 4 pages per sheet of paper. Will require some manual cutting (we purchased a paper cutter on the cheap from a school who was getting rid of a lot of supplies).

Otherwise go purchase bulk colored paper and do full pages. Full pages are great for windows in stores, kiosks and the like. Plaster everywhere with them.

eNASCO Online Catalogs Worldwide Service To Education, Health, Agriculture, Industry

Check that place out. I grew up in the town where they have their national headquarters (they're actually an international company now). Worlds largest online arts and crafts supplier. I used to get reams of paper on the cheap (as I could just stop in and grab it). But you can order online. Do the printing yourself at home then.

If you design the flier properly you should be able to fit the bands aand all the information you need to convey clearly and get 4 fliers per ful size sheet of paper.

-Benny

[jordak]

am i doin' it right?

[jordak]

Originally Posted by Substandard

Joel's Flyer advice:
Dimensions: 4" x 5"
Color: White if printing color, dayglo if b&w

Font & stuff: Do whatever you want that compliments the aesthetic, but HAVE AN AESTHETIC. The flyer posted is far too bland and unappealing and just looks like an add for renting carpet shampoo machines or some other banal service/good.

I'm not saying be flashy, my band typically uses a clean font for our name. But you want to consider branding when doing the design.

Here's a few designs I've done for my band Substandard:




Now you'll notice a variation in the typesetting, where some have the standard font (DIN black ftw), I've changed the one to fit the aesthetic of the design.

I would suggest that you either focus on one show or work the design for be cleaner and more attractive/easy to decipher.


PS: turn off the LIKE requirement on your reverbnation band profile. No one wants to have to like something before they even hear it. I was going to check out the music...

wow that stuff is amazing - reverbnation thing noted (I don't maintain our page)

[Substandard]

Originally Posted by jordak

****poster***
am i doin' it right?

That's much better. You guys brand with the star of david? OK.

Color is expensive and unless you are making bank, not worth it (unless the club is paying )

I usually use color for web stuff then have a variation that I use for print. I will hammer off a few color ones to hang in the club and at a few key record shops here in seattle.

I've mocked up a quickie poster as an example of a way to do a two show poster in my mind. Obviously everyone has their own styles.

This is Black & White and will print cheaply and look great on most any color paper.


EDIT: I went on the assumption that people in brooklyn know where The Place Bar & Lounge is. Hence no address.

[jordak]

My latest efforts