Live Show Posters
Over here at Camp LH we are getting ready for my shows this fall. One of the things we’re working on are posters to put in record stores, coffee shops, and clubs to promote my live performances. We got a cool new design done and I’m trying to decide between 2 versions of the poster. I’d love to hear your thoughts about which one you think works better. Is there one you can read easier or like better for any reason? They are very similar, pretty much just the font on my name is different. In the blank space, we’ll put all the details for the particular show that’s coming up. Here they are:
I have to tell you that I would be SO happy if I could do this work without having so many photos of myself involved. I mean, I don’t really know anyone who loves to have their picture taken. It used to be pretty uncomfy for me, but at least I’ve been doing this long enough now that I’m pretty used to it and can have some fun with it. But the main thing is that I don’t like all the emphasis on the self, you know? On the other hand, people like to connect with the person behind the music and most people you work with in “the biz” want to see photos. It just gets tiring and sort of ridiculous looking at photos of yourself after a while. Thankfully, most of my work is about writing, recording, playing, and getting to connect with people. Yay!
August 29th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Hey Laura. The second poster is better, by far. The way the words intersect makes it look more dynamic. At least that’s the word of a web designer.
I know what you mean about not wanting to show your ego. I do have a friend in NYC, though, who tried to be an actor and didn’t make it, and tells me, “You need to have an ego if you’re going to make it as an artist.” I believe him. I don’t know what Baha’u'llah thinks about the ego. I know that in the Seven Valleys He talks about the valley of … well, I don’t remember. But it’s the valley of personal obliteration, where only the selfless part of ourselves remains.
The journey toward actualization, in a spiritual sense, means the journey toward non-self. Yet how can an artist make it without self? Ever since the re-birth of the individual (during the Renaissance) the person has been paramount, and art has been seen as the product of our selves. Certainly your art, like the last song you put on your blog, speaks to a tremendous loving spirit, and yet it still speaks to the person, and you can’t do gigs without your mug on a lot of posters.
That’s my thoughts. I’m havin’ a crummy day, but I hope you’re doing well.
Ian
August 29th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Hi Laura,
My reaction was I was immediately drawn to the first one - direct, powerful, simplicity. I felt like it drew me in, while the second is more interesting, but I didn’t have an immediate connection with it - it made me work. When I glance at something for a second or two, making me work may not be a good thing. I hope this was helpful.
David
August 29th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Great posters! I like how your first name is bigger in the second one, not so small compared to your last name, but in the second poster you can’t read your first name very well, I think it needs a stroke or outline or glow of some sort so it is more readable without requiring you to study it to figure out what that name says.
Maybe both names should have that?
And I definitely do think you can be a successful artist without an ego, it’s just that I think it requires so much detachment from others and from ones own ego that it seems impossible…
Hope this helps.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
i like the first one. i’m no designer. but, there’s just something about the small lettering that makes it look cleaner.
August 30th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Hi guys,
Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts on the posters! These are all very good suggestions. I will be thinking about them as we make a decision.
And thanks Ian and Jarome for your thoughts about the whole self/ ego issue. Very interesting. It does seem like to share one’s art, most of us have to be willing to promote it to some degree, and this requires some showing of who we are, and therefore, emphasis on the self. But I think it can be done in moderation so that the emphasis is on the music, the message in it, and on the experience people have with the music. At least, that’s what I try to do. And thanks so much, Ian, for your kind words about my song and such. I really appreciate it :). I’m sorry you had a crummy day and hope your week is getting better!!