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[Scooter]

As a returning player I have been surprised how many semi-pro/hobbiest trombone players have separate "music" business cards.
Even though the world is almost completely digital. For that matter, most of the musicians on every instrument seem to have these cards.

I already have beautiful and impressive attorney business cards----but, other musicians and group leaders don't prefer them and ask if I have a "personal" card.  I guess it is easy to keep these cards in categories in order to quickly get subs and to have something "physical" to hold on to (I guess that is what made us gravitate to trombones in the first place!).  I have a feeling that everyone also likes to see a picture of a trombone and other instruments you play, so they don't even have to read the card!

Is there a consensus among (non-pro) trombone players what should be included on such exchange cards?  Does everyone have a picture or a cartoon of a trombone on their card?  How much info should go on the card?  I am hesitant to list what kind of dates/events I am available for---because that is always evolving----these cards are sort of forever

Any thoughts about these cards?

[JimArcher]

Well, I have a card but it's hardly ever shown/used.  I wave both my "flags" on it: Emeritus Civil Engineer and Bass Trombonist.  My cards used to have PE on them but I no longer practice. (No trombone, never found a suitable smallish bass 'bone pic.)

[BGuttman]

We had another thread on cards a number of years ago.

A picture of a trombone is nice.  I have a drawing I made on AutoCAD a number of years ago.

My card has my name, my address, a phone number (nowadays you also might want an e-mail and/or cell phone number), and the instruments I regularly play.  At the time I made the cards that was Trombone, Bass Trombone, and Tuba.

You can buy cardstock in a format to run on your ink jet printer, and you can create your own.  I use a lot of regular paper first to make sure the individual cards align properly before I commit one of the cardstock sheets.  Avery makes them as 8 or 10 cards to a standard sheet of paper.

Good luck and have fun.

[LizM]

Mine just have my name, trombone, cell phone and email. That's all anyone needs these days.

[mwpfoot]

Mine just have my name, trombone, cell phone and email. That's all anyone needs these days.

Yup.

 

[BMadsen]

As a returning player I have been surprised how many semi-pro/hobbiest trombone players have separate "music" business cards.
Even though the world is almost completely digital. For that matter, most of the musicians on every instrument seem to have these cards.

I already have beautiful and impressive attorney business cards----but, other musicians and group leaders don't prefer them and ask if I have a "personal" card.  I guess it is easy to keep these cards in categories in order to quickly get subs and to have something "physical" to hold on to (I guess that is what made us gravitate to trombones in the first place!).  I have a feeling that everyone also likes to see a picture of a trombone and other instruments you play, so they don't even have to read the card!

Is there a consensus among (non-pro) trombone players what should be included on such exchange cards?  Does everyone have a picture or a cartoon of a trombone on their card?  How much info should go on the card?  I am hesitant to list what kind of dates/events I am available for---because that is always evolving----these cards are sort of forever

Any thoughts about these cards?

From the receiving end, separate cards can make a big difference. I meet enough players in the average week that if the card doesn't tell me what I personally need to know about them, I forget the context. Case in point, I met a player 6 months ago who does freelance software development for pharmaceutical companies. That's the card he gave me, 2 weeks later I threw it away because I couldn't remember why I would have the card - I have nothing to do with big pharma. All the sudden, I'm getting calls from someone asking me to play with his group. Met him again, got his card again, and connected the dots. If he had a card for his trumpet playing, I would have immediately remembered him upon seeing the card.

Once I've entered the info in my computer, I throw away the cards. I used to keep them, until I realized I had hundreds of cards stored that I hadn't looked at in years. I keep good backups, so I'm not worried about losing the data.

As a player, I've noticed a trend amongst young players like myself. Most don't exchange cards, but will exchange info using smartphone software (either texting vcards, or using an app called "Bump"). A few guys I know don't even have cards. I disagree with this trend for two simple reasons. 1 - not every player you are going to meet will have a smartphone, and 2 - there is still a belief around town (in NY at least) that if you want to be considered a pro, you have a card. It's though that it shows you take yourself seriously as a player, which means others should. And, it has to be specific to what you do musically - it can cover all of your musical endeavors, but it can't branch out beyond (so, a card that says "trombonist and teacher" is cool, but "trombonist and web developer" usually isn't taken seriously). It might be different elsewhere, but that has been the trend that I've noticed here in NYC.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents.

[elmsandr]

Don't most trombonists just scribble their number on the back of your receipt when they give you your change?

Sorry, somebody had to so it might as well be me.

You can get a pretty good box of cards professionally printed in full color for $10-$15 from a bunch of on-line services.  I haven't used one in a while, so I don't remember where I liked to go last time.  Recently, I've been using some nice cards that I got from Maker's Mark whisky that I put my phone number on.  Oddly, with the whisky, people seem to remember that I'm low brass...

Cheers,
Andy

[slideorama]

This is what your card should look like.

[tbonedude89]

I just redid my cards with Vistaprint.  Attached is the end product.  I decided to keep it simple, and I photoshoped the image in the center from a picture of one of my old instruments.

[Torobone]

I can't see how putting my hobby on my professional card would help either activity.

But, as I gig a bit more, I can see how having a trombone card would be useful.

[griffinben]

It doesn't have to have a picture of a trombone...it can just say trombone.

One of the overlooked aspects is having a nice looking business card.  Especially when you start dealing with people that aren't musicians.
 
The vistaprint cards they give out for free are OK when you're a student or struggling, but they look chintzy as you move up the food chain (or you want to move up).  Having the vistaprint logo on the back ("printed for FREE by Vistaprint") tells them you don't have the money to spend on a real card.  Pay to not have it. 

Going with a finish can make a big difference in appearance.  Matte or glossy.  It'll take a ho-hum looking card with a decent design and make it stand out.  It will also protect the ink when the card goes in a purse, pocket or wallet.  Little things, makes a difference.

Things to have: Name, what you do (Brad is right on, keep it specific to one genre), way/s to contact you, website if you have one.  Be straight forward too, people don't want to have to decipher a card. 

-Ben

[ParLawGod]

I use a business card - I've always been a fan of simple, straightforward, and to the point.



Also have a separate card for my brass quintet.

[DocHoss]

I suppose if you are an attorney, you have likely already incorporated a small business.  The tax benefits you can capitalize upon when you have are incorporated and have a business card are many...  Having lunch?  Engage a member of the staff in a conversation and ask if they require musical services, for either the business or the staff member personally.  Give them a card and ask for referrals and voila...business lunch (read: tax deductible).  And yes, this advice came from a CPA.

(I am not a lawyer.  This is not legal advice.  Check with your own CPA before engaging in tax-deduction-related activities.)

Business card designs for musicians should be memorable without being overbearing.  Just text seems to be too little...I have dozens of those in my desk right now that I don't remember at all.  A card that is all picture seems to be obnoxious to me.  I have a few of those as well, and I just laugh when I look at them.  Unless you're trying to get work in elementary education programs or other kid-related areas, your graphics should be professional and be utilized as a tool to highlight your name (or group name), not as an advertisement for ClipArt.  Remember, you're trying to sell YOU as a musical services brand, not your graphic design prowess.  Make it look nice, make it look professional, and you're right on target.  There are millions (literally) of examples on the internet, so check them out and see what works best for you.

If this isn't your primary card (attorney?  yeah you're probably not making most of your money with the trombone...) then I'd keep the information simple.  Since this isn't full-time work for you, you likely don't have a Mr. Scooter's Trombone Services web site.  However, I'd bet my last dollar you at least have an email address and phone number.  Your name, contact information, and a way to describe what you are offering is plenty sufficient.  Maybe finding some way to incorporate your career (assuming you love what you do...) into the graphical representation could be memorable...Lady Justice holding a scale with a trombone on one side and the globe on the other, maybe on the back?  (with the trombone being "heavier", of course)  Something that sets you apart in the world of gigging musicians.  I know of a guy like that I played with on a gig, who spends his days designing and building industrial and commercial robots.  His card had a trombone kind-of made of gears and such (hard to describe)...very cool, and very memorable.

On an unrelated note, have you considered offering legal services to musicians?  I'm sure there are plenty of folks who could use it...and I'm sure you need to do pro bono work every now and again. 

[Scooter]

Hey Doc---Easy on us lawyers!

Music people don't want to hear anything "legal."

As for pro bono---I do a lot.  For trombone players---not so much---not my areas of law---bankruptcy, divorce, DUI's

But, I did get some inexpensive cards made.  They happen to be Vista Print, but not
the Free ones! Easy to do online. They have a picture of my vintage Bach 8ii, glossy and my contact info.  In addition, I made laminated luggage tags out of them and attached the tags to all my equipment. Looks very nice---very organized and the reaction has been positive so far.

[DocHoss]

Looks great, Barry!

And bankruptcy...divorce...DUI.....I can see trombone players needing all of those.  And possibly in that order.