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Business Cards for Freelancer
- Thread starter Jordan Ardoin
- Start date
Wise ass....
Yeah why not?
I’ve got Gmail too but I’m an internet pioneer. The AOL shows that I’m a veteran!
Well, it kinda has a negative vibe to it when you see it. It's pretty much associated with grandma and grandpa with their password on a PostIt attached to the monitor. Quick office poll with the people around me agree, don't use aol.com. Feel free to do so, I'm just trying to give you an honest critique. Why put something on you business card that would be a potential negative?
A card is good to have but Facebook is the main
contact I have to gigs. No one calls or e-mails.
I get a text or IM on Facebook.
contact I have to gigs. No one calls or e-mails.
I get a text or IM on Facebook.
Too much. You're a bass player. You have to specify that you do studio and sub work? Phone number, email and website.
In the olden days, before the interweb and cell phones, I had a business card with three pieces of info - my Name, Bass Player and Phone Number. If I had cards made up today the only other thing I'd add is website (if I had one).
In the olden days, before the interweb and cell phones, I had a business card with three pieces of info - my Name, Bass Player and Phone Number. If I had cards made up today the only other thing I'd add is website (if I had one).
To be honest Rich, I don’t see something as trivial as my email being negative.
Here’s why. People ask me for my contact info after they’ve heard me play
No one has ever said that they liked my playing but were reluctant to contact or hire me based on my email address.
Since I am an extremely busy bassist (200) shows a year, I can only assume it’s never been an issue and will never be.
Ps. If it ever becomes an issue (which I doubt) I will gladly give anyone an alternate means of reaching me
Better would be a scannable QR code on the back linking to your web presence or providing fuller info on a VCard, PDF brocure, or text file.
There’s free QR generators on the web. Just google it.
Here’s an example QR code I just created that will send you to the Talkbass website.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Not everybody is that hip on tech.
Name
address (if you want it, if not, the geographical area you cover)
phone number
email
website, bandmix profile, etc.
Name
address (if you want it, if not, the geographical area you cover)
phone number
website, bandmix profile, etc.
I would not go front and back. Too much trouble.
I would not use anything weird like a guitar pick. Standard size, white card.
Personally I think trying to worry whether using "@aol.com" willl "make people think you're old and square" is way overthinking it. You're a bass player, someone met you, got your card, he wants to get in touch. He will pull your card out and be typing your e-mail before he even sees "@aol.com". Do you REALLY think someone is going to see that tag and immediately decide to wipe the e-mail and contact someone else? If so you probably don't want to work for that person anyway.
My card has
turf3 [not my real name]
Upright bass
Jazz, country, folk, bluegrass
Phone number
E-mail address
and a little line drawing of an upright bass, just because some people are easily confused (yeah, maybe I'm overthinking that one).
Really, all you're trying to do is enable someone to get hold of you.
I would not use anything weird like a guitar pick. Standard size, white card.
Personally I think trying to worry whether using "@aol.com" willl "make people think you're old and square" is way overthinking it. You're a bass player, someone met you, got your card, he wants to get in touch. He will pull your card out and be typing your e-mail before he even sees "@aol.com". Do you REALLY think someone is going to see that tag and immediately decide to wipe the e-mail and contact someone else? If so you probably don't want to work for that person anyway.
My card has
turf3 [not my real name]
Upright bass
Jazz, country, folk, bluegrass
Phone number
E-mail address
and a little line drawing of an upright bass, just because some people are easily confused (yeah, maybe I'm overthinking that one).
Really, all you're trying to do is enable someone to get hold of you.
Another thing I do is use a QR code generator to create a vCard ( Invalid Link Removed ) and then keep that jpg/png in my photo favorites so I can find it quickly and now iPhone and Droid cameras both automatically recognize QR codes, they get my contact information in a second. It's kind like what the old "Bump" app was supposed to be but never really materialized.
Back in the day, a bass player friend of mine had the best one I had seen. It simply had three lines. I'll use a made up name for demo purposes...
Herman Munster
Bass Player
(his phone number)
I just always loved that. He was by far the busiest bassist in the area.
BnB
Herman Munster
Bass Player
(his phone number)
I just always loved that. He was by far the busiest bassist in the area.
BnB
My cards have:
My Name
Guitarist - Vocalist - Bassist
(123) 456-7890 voice/text
[email protected]
Facebook address
The back is blank for notes and such. No need for more info, since anyone requesting my card is doing it face to face.
My Name
Guitarist - Vocalist - Bassist
(123) 456-7890 voice/text
[email protected]
Facebook address
The back is blank for notes and such. No need for more info, since anyone requesting my card is doing it face to face.
I have a QR code on biz cards for my day job (writing for biotech and software). It's been used approximately 5 times in the past 5 years. As a rule, that audience is much more tech savvy than venue owners.
Still, I recently added a QR code to my bass biz card but it's too soon to tell.
Still, I recently added a QR code to my bass biz card but it's too soon to tell.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
You can get business card stock in 8.5x11" perforated sheets to use in your printer for under $10, and make your own cards, if you just want a few, or want to try different things.
