Thread: Business card layout and design

I have a few nice photos, and I would like to try to make nice business card - and I am wondering what's the common wisdom on general design guidelines for dancer business cards? I am aware that it should be readable, tasteful and unique and all that, but are there rules that translate these abstract goals into concrete measures *for a dancer*?

And, what are successful layout choices? It seems that if I have a full-body image and use portrait format, then it is hard to place the text, and if I have a full-body imagine and use landscape format, they the image will be tiny, and there is lots of empty space. Argh, traps and mistakes everywhere ..c::

What information does one need to put on there? Obviously, name, contact info, website - but what else would be useful? "Bellydance artist" or something? I would not mind communicating clearly that I am an oriental-style dancer, and not (which is around here the default) a fusion dancer.

i think the choice of picture does more for communicating the style of dance you do, than the words you use...

On one side of the card insert a large pix and your name, other side for smaller pix and more info.

Also, remember that you don't necessarily need your *whole* body in your full-body pic. As long as you show your face and give an idea of your figure and costume, you can crop the pic.

Here are two cards I've used with cropped pics:




ETA: Here's the full photo I used for the second card. My legs and feet looked awkward anyway! Notice for the card I let me hands go off the edges -- things like that feel unnatural at first, but it's OK. Just don't cut yourself off at a joint, like the knees or elbows.

Ooh Lauren, I really like both card designs! I need to get my butt in gear to update my promo material as well..

Kudos, Lauren... a tasty balance of art and type.

I've been "in the business" of design & printing for MANY years..the mistake most people make with a business card is trying to cram too much info in there. Just keep to the basics, give the website and/or phone number, use GREAT art... they'll get in touch with you if they're in the market for your services... whatever they are, roofer, dancer or graphic designer...

Originally Posted by ghazallah

Kudos, Lauren... a tasty balance of art and type.

I've been "in the business" of design & printing for MANY years..the mistake most people make with a business card is trying to cram too much info in there..

So, so true. I've done primarily magazine ads. People want to 'get their money's worth' so they buy a business-card sized space -- then they want me to put the Declaration of Independence in there!

We affectionately referred to it as 'trying to put 10 pounds of ad in a 5 pound sack.'

Remember that a business card is just a card. A card gives contact info. A picture on the card is worth a thousand words. A thousand words on the card, on the other hand, makes a bunch of tiny type that NO ONE will ever read!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

We affectionately referred to it as 'trying to put 10 pounds of ad in a 5 pound sack.

..l;,..l;,..l;,

That's funny.

I have a double sided card, with a full body pic and my name on one side and a head shot and all my contact information on the other.

I've been wanting a business card for a long, and thought I could make it myself, but I never found enough time... Then I found Haven's offer on Bhuz, and decided to go for it. In a few days I got a beautiful business card, a new logo and a postcard, and much better than what I would have done myself !

For the business card I put only contact info, and I used one side for myself and the other side for my troupe. I can't post the pictures for you to see because I'm at work, but maybe Haven will post them (or I'll post them tonight).

I've made some new bussiness cards last night because I need them this weekend. When I create promo material, I start with asking myself a couple of questions:
-what is the feeling you want to get from the card?
-what is the smallest amount of information that is absolutely neccesary?
-what color/style/picture do I want to use?

I had very little time, but I think they came out okay. They're being printed in the copyshop around the corner. The process, in short:
question one: clean, fresh, different, professional

Question two: I used to have 'belly dancer' in Dutch on my card, but I want to hand out cards when I'm in Germany/Belgium/UK too. I chose to change it into 'Belly dance artist' instead of adding the term in four different languages. I also removed 'classes, workshops, performances' because I mention it on my website and people will asume or ask you right away if you do those, regardless wether they are mentioned on your card or not.

Question three: I had several pictures from a recent photoshoot that I liked. I picked a headshot and a full body shot. Then decided that I wanted a font with clean lines for the information, and a fancy font for my name to add a touch of atmosphere. I added a curly thingy in the back of one of the cards because it matches the curly thingies on my website (I love curly thingies!) and a fade line with the headshot to smooth it out.

The result: (sorry, I can't resize them they came out this big)

I'm following this with interest and love seeing everyone's ideas, advice and examples. I'd like to toss a related question out there (hoping Steffi doesn't mind):

If you've had your cards professionally designed or if you're a graphic designer yourself, can you give me a ballpark estimate of the cost for design or design/print services? I know it will vary, but I'm looking for some real-world figures for comparison because I've seen a huge range of quotes.

Haven's offer is here, with a link to her portfolio and Sylvie's beautiful materials:
http://www.bhuz.com/forum/business-b...romo-deal.html

Originally Posted by Zana

I'm following this with interest and love seeing everyone's ideas, advice and examples. I'd like to toss a related question out there (hoping Steffi doesn't mind):

If you've had your cards professionally designed or if you're a graphic designer yourself, can you give me a ballpark estimate of the cost for design or design/print services? I know it will vary, but I'm looking for some real-world figures for comparison because I've seen a huge range of quotes.

Price will vary quite a bit. Most designers charge by the hour. I charge $65/hour, which is the low end of the spectrum (partly I'm cheap because I live in a low-cost area compared to city folk, and partly because my skills/software are getting out of date and I don't keep up with the latest thang).

A business card could take anywhere from one hour to... virtually unlimited. Depends on what the person wants, the quality of any original photos they provide, how well they communicate what they want -- and how many revisions they ask for.

Some people provide a pro photo, tell you exactly what they want, and are delighted with what you send. Price -- $65.

Others send crappy snapshots that require hours of touchup work to be usable (or aren't high enough resolution to begin with), say 'just do whatever you think looks good,' place three phone calls or send multiple e-mails full of details about their personal lives that require hours of your time but don't communicate much, and keep sending the design back saying 'Try different colors' 'let me send you another picture to work with, my dog just took one with my cel phone that I really like and my five-year-old drew a logo with crayons I want you to try' 'how about if we bold this word' 'no, I don't like it bold, try italics.' This person will spend hundreds of dollars, plus PITA fees.

That's why designers don't want to quote you a flat rate usually, or their flat rate will specify that photo touchup and revisions are extra.

Can you guess why I'm not in the graphic design biz any more?

Anyway, a typical business card price would be $125-200 for most folks, depending on whether you want one side or two, and assuming you don't require a lot of photo touchup or a logo creation.

Hee! With minor alterations, that also describes a typical day in the translation and editing business. You'd be surprised how many clients incur rush surcharges just because I know how much of my time they're going to waste with "is it done yet?" phone calls.

Also: very helpful. Thank you! I appreciate you laying this out in detail.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Others send crappy snapshots that require hours of touchup work to be usable (or aren't high enough resolution to begin with), say 'just do whatever you think looks good,' place three phone calls or send multiple e-mails full of details about their personal lives that require hours of your time but don't communicate much, and keep sending the design back saying 'Try different colors' 'let me send you another picture to work with, my dog just took one with my cel phone that I really like and my five-year-old drew a logo with crayons I want you to try' 'how about if we bold this word' 'no, I don't like it bold, try italics.' This person will spend hundreds of dollars, plus PITA fees.

I have to admit, this one really made me laugh! Especially the part about the dog taking the photo with the cell phone!

Originally Posted by Zana

Hee! With minor alterations, that also describes a typical day in the translation and editing business.

...and at my former job as tech support for a software company. A rose is a rose is a rose, I guess! ..l;,

Bellydance students are so much easier to work with!!

As promised, here is my business card designed by Haven :

Originally Posted by sylvie_aziyade

As promised, here is my business card designed by Haven :

Very hip, mod and all that kind of stuff!

Deborah