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MagicalPirate Special user Shamokin, PA 828 Posts 
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Scott:
I'd have to disagree with you. If you have the skills necessary, I can see no reason not to do your own website and promotional materials. Corel Draw, Ventura Publisher and a good understanding of HTML go a long ways toward getting these jobs done. Of course I am self taught from books. Programming in C for the last 17 years (also self taught) may have something to do with the ease at which I read other designers webpages and quickly taught myself good design practices in HTML. As a counter to all this, I have seen some awful websites for entertainers done by those so called professional designers. Martin 
Martin Blakley, CSH, DASH, CMSA
http://www.thehypnoguy.com/HYPNORESOURCES http://www.docgrayson.com/ How To Sell Anything Online http://tub.bz/?r=1z Copyright to my own words retained 100%. |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15111 Posts
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Martin does have a point to a degree. You do not have to have a degree and be professionally trained to be a good designer with skills. There are some who are self-taught who do amazing work. I must admit it is harder for someone who is self taught, but it can be done.
There are a few things you should think about when thinking about using any designer, professional or otherwise: - Self-taught or not, check out their work and samples. Ask to see their logo designs they have done for others. Regardless of how much they may say they are good, their work really does speak for itself. - Ask them how long that have been doing logo design, what their background is and what their philospophy is behind the creation process they will use in designing your logo. - Ask them upfront how they will proiduce your logo and what comes included in the pricing. Some designers just design the logo while others will include business card design and stationary. Ask them if you will also get the logos supplied on cd for yourself and for web use. Find out what you are gettiong for your money. These are just a few simple things to remember. There are more, but I will leave it at this for now and post other tips later on. PS: If anyone has not received my PDF logo samples, please send me a PM and I will get them out to you. Thanks. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Chris Thibault Elite user Massachusetts 469 Posts
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Here's a link to my website Kyle. http://www.quickerthantheeye.com Let me know what you think. Also, I was blessed to mary a graphic designer. She created my logo and my web page. If anyone is still looking for a logo to be designed PM me let me know. My wife is great at designing and she understands about what magicians want in a logo.
-Chris
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15111 Posts
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Chris:
You forgot to add in the link to the website so I can review it for you. I would be happy to review it and offer you my opinion on it. You're lucky you married a designer. Being a graphic designer and illustrator myself, it has been great that I can deisgn my own materials. It is even better that I have been fortunate enough to be able to help other magicians with their own design needs by offering both suggestions and solutions that can use. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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itsmagic Inner circle middle earth 1126 Posts
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Chris,
I checked out your site, and it's better than some I've seen. My first impression, however, is that the colors, the lettering, and the motifs, although creatively using pips of cards, kinda looks girly. There's room for improvement. Dang, I'm being mean, sorry, but just my two cents. We need to start with what kind of image we want to portray to our audience/market. Then build from there with proper fonts (including size of font), color scheme, logo, and finally layout for your site, business cards, letterheads, and press kits. Quality, well designed logos are super important. It's sad to see so many talented, busy magicians, have crappy designed logos and websites. Of course they will continue to get bookings, but imagine how much more an improved, customized logo will do for them. If logos and image marketing is not important, then why is it that companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just for one logo. Of course, a great logo is NO INDICATION OF GREAT TALENT or SERVICE, BUT IT DOES HELP WITH THE INITIAL IMPRESSION. Just like appearances, people judge us initially on our appearance. From then on, we either reinforce that impression or reverse it. It only helps when the initial impression is positive. |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15111 Posts
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Chris:
I also had a chance to check your site out from a designer's perspective. I like the logo a lot and it is profesisonal and should serve you quite well. Your wife did a good job with it. What school, did she go to if I may ask? I attended Temple University's Tyler School of Art. One heck of a tough 5 years. hehe I am glad that is all done with. I also agree that a quality logo can really be a great tool in your marketing tool box. It can really make your materials consistent and look professional. In our world of magical services, image and first impressions really are everything. Why have shabby looking materials? Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Chris Thibault Elite user Massachusetts 469 Posts
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Thanks Kyle, my wife went to UMASS. She's went to a vocational school before that for graphic design. She's had a job in the trade since she was 15 or so. I love the logo; it was my idea, and she did the designing. It is simple, easy to recognize, and represents the name of the business. I have had much success with it.
-Chris
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15111 Posts
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It goes to show you how a good, clean and professional mark can really work well for you if used consistently with your marketing materials and website. You also are right in that a logo does need to be simple, clean and easy to recognize.
It is just a shame that I see so many magicians who use such shabby looking materials in their marketing. Everything is all over the place, nothing is consistent and it looks like a 3 yr old put it together. Yet, these are the materials they send out to make their first impression with to their prospects. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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salsa_dancer Inner circle 1935 Posts
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A good website will do wonders for any business...
Be careful about doing it yourself though, unless you are overly critical of your work then it is likely you will churn out something second rate yet still pat yourself on the back for a job well done. I have looked at some of the websites her and if I was a potential client I would not book some of the magicians on this forum, including some well known professionals. You will spend thousands on props and material yet nothing on your branding or image.. hmmm... I run a web design company http://www.design.chester.com for our portfolio and I am self taught although I did go to Art school for a while (until I dropped out...lol) Spend money on your marketing and you will reap the rewards, I lecture to small businesses and start ups about marketing and PR so if you want any advice PM me. |
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nums Veteran user I have a life, or I would have more than 366 Posts
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While my logo is not reconizable by the masses, it is a very good tool that sets me apart from others in my area. I hear from quite a few customers that they called me due to my name and neat logo (it is copyrighted so please keep your mitts off). HEHEHEHEHE
Anyway I think your logo should say somthing about you and your work. A few posts ago someone said they do not know how a "swoosh" = quality shoes. It did not start out that way - just ended up that way kind of like a red octogon did not mean stop but now if you show it to someone, it does. My two cents...Jeff |
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ravi Elite user Germany 413 Posts
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I think, a logo has to do with business.
If you take care of your business and have a professional attitude towards it, your clients will feel that. A logo is part of this: it makes the potential client curious and allows to transmit your personality. My logo is a attention-getter and without saying, people will know that I am NOT into ballon animals. Being a mentalist, your personality is even more important. BUT , the logo is only a part of your whole marketing concept. Ask yourself: Who am I and what do I want to see the people in me? How can I transmit that to the client? The logo can help but is only part of it. It all goes down to: If you have a good marketing concept and a professional attitude towards your magic GET A LOGO as part of it. If you just do magic for your friends or so there really is no need for a logo. I had my logo designed by a professional illustrator/ comic book writer. His name is Charles Guthrie and the little money is well spent. You can see his wonderful art at: http://members1.chello.nl/m.koopmans5/ and here: http://members1.chello.nl/m.koopmans5/pag-1.htm ( be sure to click the other pages with the "next" button) If you want professional artwork, contact him as he does close up magic and knows what magicians are looking for (He really charges a ridiculous little amount). hope that helps RAVI
I N D R I D C O L E
DEAD AnD GONE |
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts
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From Ken Scott's recommendation I tried GotLogos.com.
No reflection on Ken at all, They have the worst customer service I ever ran into. I paid my $25 and got a logo based solely on my name and not what I do. I expressed my dissatisfaction. The reply I got cannot even be posted on this website due to the language. I do not post this lightly, this after a half dozen e-mails to ask to have my art corrected. Be for warned!
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-05-12 13:06, Bad to the Balloon wrote: Can I ask what you expected for $25?
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 22683 Posts
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I think too many jump the gun.
Act first, logo second. The one thing EVERYONE has missed is that if you don't have a product which will back it up, your logo is absolutly meaningless.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2505 Posts
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Quote:
On 2004-02-24 21:02, itsmagic wrote: I respectfully disagree - the impression a logo makes, while not zero, is pretty close to it compared to the impression you make on the phone, on your website (as a whole), and in person. The only reason Coca Cola and Toyota (etc) take such care with their logos is that their media reach many millions of potential customers, so a tiny percentage who wouldn't buy if their logo weren't 'just right' makes a fairly big dollar difference. Even Copperfield has a carefully-designed logo, but again he reaches millions of potential ticket-buyers (he's way way up near the top live-performance money-earning act in the nation). But you and I aren't Copperfield or Coke or Toyota, we're not a brand that has to establish a brand identity in the entire market, we're Joe Bazotz from Middletown Nebraska (Northern suburbs only), and the potential clients who view our media amount to a very small statistical sample ... thousands, maybe, but in any case WAY less than a statistically useful number. Quit fussing about a logo, and certainly don't spend money on it - put your time and money into active marketing and you'll make a far bigger difference in your bottom line. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 22683 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-05-12 22:27, rossmacrae wrote: The exact sentiment I was trying to express. You put it very well and in a far better tone than I would have. I am applauding this post sir.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts
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Greetings and Salutations,
Hey, I spent $25 on a logo! And it was worth every dime. I had a caricaturist create a portrait of me at a local renfest. I was in garb. I had $25. I opted for the black-and-white because I thought it was the most versatile option. I may get a color one this year, but that's for another project. I use the caricature on my business cards. I got the idea from an old Flora audiobook. Best money I ever spent on a logo. Just my $.02 (USD). YMMV Joe Zeman aka The Mage Ulysses |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2505 Posts
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Quote:
On 2009-05-13 11:15, MagiUlysses wrote: You know, that ain't a bad idea. I'd almost forgotten getting my caricature (in costume) done by a mall vendor many years ago, and how handy it came in in multiple applications. Where else you gonna get pro-quality art so cheap? |
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MagiUlysses Special user Kansas City 504 Posts
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Greetings and Salutations ross,
Exactly! As long as the "portraits" the artist produces have at least a passing resemblance to the sitter, it's worth it. I have no intention of creating a "logo." As you and others have rightly pointed out, I have no need for a "brand" logo. But the caricature idea works for me. Like I said, I use it on my business cards, letterhead, and the occasional ad (in a program or something of the sort, if it's cost-effective). It may well not work for everyone -- I do ren fairs and the like, so for me, it works like a charm. For the illusionist maybe not so much. As I said, YMMV. Joe Zeman aka The Mage Ulysses |
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ScottRSullivan Special user 874 Posts
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I've GOT to jump in on this. Being in the art industry myself and having a digital caricature artist as a wife, I think I can speak with a little authority. And PLEASE understand, this while this may sound harsh, I mean this with the deepest kindness and only wish to represent the other side of the design process.
Joe, I will grant you that having a caricature for a logo is a GREAT idea (in fact, my wife has done many caricature designs that are used for this purpose). Kyle (who started this thread before it took a nasty turn) is also another GREAT artist on this very forum who specializes in this. However, I'd like to focus on the fact that you paid $25 for a design that you are using commercially. While the artist that drew your caricature might not care, most artists do NOT allow for commercial usage when you purchase a design at a park. After all, while it is a picture of you, that artist STILL RETAINS FULL copyright of the image because THEY created it. The cheap price you paid does not allow for reproduction rights or commercial usage. For example, my wife offers a standard rate for caricature design, but also offers a commercial usage license in addition to the normal rate, which includes reproduction on items such as business cards, websites, etc. So before you go using a copyrighted piece of artwork as your "brand," I'd get IN WRITING that you have authorization to use said artwork. Otherwise, this is just plain stealing. Intellectual theft is no different than normal theft. I ask you, how would YOU like it if someone videotaped YOUR show and used it in a way you were not aware, like showing it publicly? Scott |
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Posted: Feb 18, 2004 04:54 am 
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