Artist's business card

[joannekwan]

I fully support the idea of having the back of the card be devoted to a whole picture!
Here are my past cards. I like to change up the backs each time I run out.
I like leaving blank space on the front in case a note or something needs writing down.

I don't hand out cards at cons, since I don't want to impose myself on others if they're not interested. I just leave mine out on the table for people to take if they want. I definitely also take the cards of people I want to look up later.

[Azifri]

For the last business card I had I put my info on one side and a whole picture on the other side. People seemed to like that, and it's also a good conversation starter. I personally think they are useless, but they seem to be part of our social protocol, and for some reason when I don't have them with me people ask if they can have my card

[nostalgicroxas]

Well. Good thing I'm here. the hoarder of all the business cards. i actually had to go through my tumblr to find this post JUST FOR YOUUUUU (so you're welcome)

Nearly There

I honestly go into it more on my post there, but basically there's a LOT of options and they all do different things.

This does motivate me that someday maybe I should like... scan all of my business cards in. I literally have at least 200-500 by now...

A good trick is what catches your eye and holds it? TalisX and YayaHan's are both good examples of can be read from afar - but that Dango Dewdrop pokemon one is suuuuper specialized and adorable.

[Nachi]

@punkarsenic
I was thinking to put a picture with simple background and contact info on the front side, and use the other one maybe for something like experience or what I do by drawing a cartoony sketch of myself and putting down skills and equipment like you would have in a character sheet. I don't think I need a super serious business card. But I worry it will be like "too much" and too crowded. But I will try some sketches.

@JeanGuillet
Thanks for the tip! I may want to find a local print, but I will check the link out!

@Samuraiflame
A link to my portfolio is a mus, of course. I put it with the contact info, but I forgot to mention it, sorry about that.
Social media is something I am thinking about,too. I am, however, not really super active and maybe will skip them. I am still deciding, though.
Yes, that kind of title will definitely be there, I have space prepared for it, too Thanks!

@benji
I have never attended a con, yet, but in the small likelihood that I ever will, I still think I should have business cards prepared. I am also tinking about attending some networking freelance events I heard about. Sometimes in the future. And I think business cards would be really useful, then. Ir just have a few for any occassion. I have never needed them, so far, but they can be a great way to give to people and maybe someone would like what I do

That is also an interesting idea! Thanks I will probably still try to do the business cards, but postcards may be omething I'll want to add. After all, they are rather big to carry around just in case.

@joannekwan
Thanks, those look great! I am thinking of a full picture, too, actually a bit similar, to what you have, and I have picked one with a simple background where I can put some text. I am planning some changes yet, but then I will put it here so you all can tell me if it looks too busy. Which is probably will, but I'm still gonna try

@Azifri
Nice! I've never had bussiness cards before so.... I just want to try, even if it takes me years to hand the few out!

@nostalgicroxas
Ooooh, coool! Thankssss! I am so going to check all those ideas carefully!

[Nachi]

So for the picture side, I did several versions and ended up with this:

I suppose it may look a bit too busy, so I made a simplified version, too:

I think the image itself allows for some info there and you can't look at the image without seeing the contact And I can think about something for the other side. I have another idea, but will think it through. What do yo guys think?

[punkarsenic]

I was thinking to put a picture with simple background and contact info on the front side, and use the other one maybe for something like experience or what I do by drawing a cartoony sketch of myself and putting down skills and equipment like you would have in a character sheet. I don't think I need a super serious business card. But I worry it will be like "too much" and too crowded. But I will try some sketches.

oh a little character sheet for yourself?? thats extremely cute!! id love to pick up a business card w smth like that, it shows a lot of ur personality and ingenuity

you could also add smth interactive, like a dot to dot or colouring in

[joannekwan]

I would personally keep the info to the essentials so as not to detract too much from the gorgeous painting!
If I may—

(excuse my very quick patch tool ps job)

Here you have the name, descriptor, and main site at an easy glance while keeping it a bit cleaner. I would save the nitty gritty details like e-mail for the other side of the card.

[punkarsenic]

seconding @joannekwan 's edit

if you keep the text to one colour and a straightforward font, itll look a lot more professional, and let the visual focus be your art

[Nachi]

Thanks for the tip and a visualisation, too!
It does look a bit busy, will probably try to redo it accordingly. I would just try to find a font color or adjust the background so the text stands out more.
I think you are right that the first most important info should be the most eye catching and this does the job.

[Nachi]

Yes, the problem is that I have nearly never done the art style I have in mind for that and I will have to think the idea through so it looks good. But thanks for your opinion! I am glad it does sound interesting

[nostalgicroxas]

From what I've seen in my hoards of cards, some of the best that keep my attention are when the name pops out almost equal to art, but doesn't overpower it. Unless your name is the thing you're selling (like Yaya Han's card). I do agree that the rest should be visible, but not as attention-grabbing. If you hide it too well, no one can see it. Cards are meant to be read pretty fast - they aren't TCG cards.

[skicoak]

How useful do you folks using business cards find them?

Back when I was doing physical stuff like chalkboards/murals, they might have been handy but even then the majority of people who contacted me through owners were crackpots looking for free stuff/work.

With the majority of my commissions now being online contacts, not even sure how I'd use them now.

Is it mainly, a convention thing?

[nostalgicroxas]

Conventions or conversations, like the old timey stuff. I keep some for my book specifically in my wallet so the few times it comes up in conversations I can just hand someone a card with the site info on it. It then is up to them to go and check it out themselves and takes the pressure off them looking it up right then - which can stress out some people I've noticed.

Of note: if you want to get into business cards but don't want to invest a lot, buy the one-sided versions off VistaPrint when they have a sale for like 500 for 10$+shipping. (happens a few times a year) You can put a custom design, or modify an existing design. i recommend them as a "starter" because it's cheap cards and on a decent cardstock/quality and you won't be butthurt if people lose them.

[Wumbl]

I've got one that I designed. I was careful to give it the kind of aesthetic that would draw in a certain audience. It's a generally good idea to have one side with a logo and/or name to catch attention, and to have your details on the back. That, or minimise the amount of details you put on it.

[ben]

That is another thing I wanted to add but forgot to! I think business cards are useful but the way they end up being used 90% of them time isn’t.

I wouldn’t dream of giving a certain type of professional contact a postcard. Though I think I’m my entire career of making comics I maybe have only really needed a business card and handful of times.

The way I see them used most often is on the convention floor when somebody sees a book or a piece of merch they like but they’re not 100% sure they wanna buy it yet. The likelihood of them either coming back around to the table OR even buying it online later that week if you give them a free postcard or little poster with your info on it is absolutely more substantial.

Heck, I’ve gone to cons with the intention of serious networking where I forgot to bring business cards and instead gave people like Cartoon Network execs my Instagram and they still follow me and keep up with my work. Nowadays so much of the big useful networking can be done online and social media is just a much more effective business card.

There’s also the factor of how there are some countries where the ~business card~ culture is stronger so I can’t forget to neglect that!!!!

[punkarsenic]

personally i just love collecting them like a goblin. ive also stuck business cards on my wall before, i love the little mementos - though i totally know what you mean abt postcards and posters. bookmarks another good one - can be stuck on a wall or stuck in a book, and theyre not much bigger than a business card.

mb you could even make a bookmark that has a lil dotted line where you can cut it to turn into a business card, if you did wanna keep it in your wallet.

[ben]

I don’t think people who are just kinda passively interested would really take the time to do all that.

I’ve always liked posters and postcards because most people who want art also want to put stuff on their walls and then they have a really easy daily reminder that serves a more decorative function so it’s a win/win for everybody. And posters tend to be a little less ignorable.

My publisher also gives away tote bags with purchases which looks really good when you see people walking around with them to do daily errands. Another constant reminder that serves a purpose for them!!!

[murphybridget837]

i love this idea! it prolly doesnt cost much more neither

smth ive been toying with is the idea of business cards bookending a little accordion zine, so youre getting a piece of Content with my contacts. incentivises picking up too

spose its worth having a few different designs for different purposes

Best of luck with your creative endeavors, and I hope it brings a lot of positive attention to your work!

[joannekwan]

[joannekwan]