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Business Cards for Freelancer

#25
I'm most definitely non-technical when it comes to this stuff, but: Before you get business cards, build a website. Or join reverbnation (or the social media site of your choice) and use that as your site. Put all your information there. Then, consider a QR code. Potential clients with smartphones can scan it and go directly to your website. My reverbnation page is basically a resume. You can do a lot more with it if you care to.
 
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#26
I've been a graphic designer for a decade. In my professional opinion, that is way too much information for a card.

3 questions every business card should answer:

Who are you? Your name
What do you do? Electric & Upright bass
Where can I find you? e-mail and phone

Leave back open for notes. If you talk to somebody about your gig or lesson rate, you write it there.
 
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#27
I make mine on my computer. Simple and to the point. :D
Business Card.jpg
 
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#28
I’d suggest just going with something like:
Bassist - Electric & Upright. Live Performance & Recording.

I’d leave lessons off if you’re pitching yourself as a working and gigging bassist. I’d do up a separate card with lessons added to the above for general use.

Steadily working and in-demand players generally don’t have time to take on students. If you want to communicate you're a busy professional I’d leave lessons off anything you’re handing out in hopes of securing a gig.

Just my 2¢
 
#30
I agree you want to avoid clutter and give the recipient the vital information they need. If you haven't done so already, I would suggest that you have a website or some central social media page, and link all the others (like youtube videos) from that central hub. Then the card can just show name - "bassist" - phone, email, website. And done.
 
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#35
Jordan Ardoin said:
Hey everyone,

After a quick search, it seemed like this was the best place to post this. Please let me know if there is a more appropriate place for this topic!

I've been a professional bass player for the past 3 years, and I'm going to my first conference next week. I want to have some business cards on hand for potential gigs, and I was hoping to get your input!

I do both electric and upright bass, but most of my current gigs are on electric. I'd like my card to let people know I do both.

Here's the format I wa thinking front:

Front:
Name
Electric & Upright bass
Next, I would include my services
Music lessons
Studio sessions
Last minute substitutions (I often take gigs the day of or before when called and I'd like to brand myself as someone you can count on if you have an emergency situation)

Back:
Phone number
Email address
Instagram Handle
YouTube Handle(main issue here is i haven't started anything on social media but I have plenty of content for IG and I could throw some quick cover videos as well as older videos with my band)


So questions: are the services too much? If not, am I including enough? I do everything in the way of performance, so maybe there is something I missed putting down or a way I could word something better.

Should I forego the social media on the card or is important enough that I should start working on that now so people have samples to listen to when they search for me?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Best,

JA
Click to expand...
I'll go against the grain here and say that having all the pertinent info, including social is a good idea, as long as it's legible and looks professional. And as long as there is something there. Don't send somebody to a dead link.

If there is so much content that it forces you to go down below 9 pt type, then start to rethink the amount of info, or the format. Folding cards are an option.

If they're interested, it's not like they'll go "TL;DR" and throw it aside. And if they do, well, maybe you don't want to work with someone like that. The key is to have it designed legibly and look professional.

I find that a lot of people like to check stuff out before calling. So IMO, if you have youtube clips, social and all that jazz, then put it on there.

Just my two cents. BTW I'm a designer irl, FWIW, and have designed many a card. And a lot of business cards these days have a LOT more stuff on them than they used to, due to social media. Not always, but often.
 

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