I was wondering how much effort bands should put into the design of their fliers for shows. I know they need to catch the eye of the (would not normally go) peeps, but when are we going overboard or just posting boring pieces of paper?

sex sells!

Sex sells.

Death sells.

Combining Sex with Death is a surefire winner.

I like to apply myself when making flyers. It's just fun for me. Not only is it a creative outlet, but it also gives me lots of practice with Photoshop. Have fun with your flyers. Make them loud and good to look at. Make sure they're accurate too...I've been known to screw up in this area from time to time.

Don't make 'em too loud or complicated though. It's fairly annoying when you can't even find who's playing and where within a few seconds of looking at a flyer.

i think the BEST part of a flier is where the recipient is confused and almost angered by the busy, overly crowded ones . . .
of course, i have also titled releases "commercial suicide" and "tempo negotiable"

We're all musicians, so most of us focus on the sound side of it, but visual aesthetics are a big part of the overall affect your band has. There isn't any reason why "the look" is less important or even less valid in judging a band. Ignoring fashion and design is like looking great and listening to 98 degrees: it's missing a whole sense. You aren't going to get anywhere by smelling or tasting great, so you should take advantage of visuals even if music is your whole point. Even if you think you can ignore that stuff, ignoring it is making a statement in itself, especially since punk and metal and goth fashion is mainstream to the point of uniforms. You don't "own" that look, and you really should. (It's not the same as the way most musicians think they are artists and actors though....)

and yes: good design should be legible.

I have bought or not-bought albums for their covers and seen or avoided bands for their posters (sometimes it was a mistake, but I still do it). At the very least you make people look at your name. I think that's the second biggest part of promotion short of actually sounding good. The more they look at your name the more it will stick. Most people will respect you a lot more if they've "heard of you." Market saturation, blah, blah, bullshit.

Of course, I'm biased, since making shit for bands is my day job.
So what I really mean to say is QUIT FUCKING WITH MY MONEY.

iheartmachine.com

I’ve always enjoyed making the flyers for our shows. In fact.. I’m using local models to place in my upcoming flyers. I never saw that coming..

But, I put a lot of depth and layering into the work. But simplicity is essential! You can have an ultra hot chic or a rotting corpse in your flyer as long as the fonts, colors and other propaganda come out eligible. That they don’t distract from each other. When it comes down to it..

ANY FLYER IS A GOOD THING.

Here are some examples of my work.

I have some flyers that are like 10 years old. Some of them are just too cool to throw out. There was one for the cramps at the sunshine a few years ago that is still on my fridge (2001?) I think if you can make a really cool flyer and have it printed well it can def. help get your name out there.

I totally agree.. Some of them come out to be really good art work. We are lucky enough to have access to a full color "laser" printer and are able to print everything up nicely.

I've been seeing alot of good coming out of the local scene here.

quote:

In fact.. I’m using local models to place in my upcoming flyers. I never saw that coming..

Local models, eh? Man, you and I need to hang it out! So, I can work on my flier skills for the ladies!! I know this sounds wierd but next to making music and watching The Simpsons, I get pumped when it comes to making fliers! Albeit, that they're more on the crappy side but it gets my mojo going! Ever make a flier with the wrong date only to watch all your fans show up to another bands gig? Sucks! I'm still not living that one down.

--Third Hour
www.myspace.com/3rdhour

Not to brag or anything, but im armed to the teeth with MS Paint and well, Open Office Draw. I know I know, your jealousy is overwhelming you.

These fliers are Picasso's in terms of detail to the one im working on. I wish i was computer literate enough to post a pic on this site cuz id show what i've got so far.

oh well, I need sleep...

I get a friend to do them because my experience with fliers is going to the public library photocopying some f'ed up pictures and making a collage.

Fliers are pretty important pieces of marketing material. They should represent the band's style and sound. You really only have two seconds to capture someones interest otherwise they'll just toss them in the trash or on the streets if they haven't seen the "Toss No Mas" commercials.

I don't enjoy the stereotypical flyers. If you're a metal band and you are constantly using skulls, blood, battle axes and rigid font faces that are impossible to read, then you come off as cheesy in my taste. Then again I am not in to metal music so that stuff may be appropriate for your target audience and you wouldn't want a pansy like me at your show anyway.

I also don't like bands that feel the need to riddle a flyer with marijuana leaves. But again, that's just my taste.

Some cool flyers I have seen are from the local bands
romeo goes to hell,
death valley days,
gingerbread patriots,
cobra//group,

just my 2 cents.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveFame:
I get a friend to do them because my experience with fliers is going to the public library photocopying some f'ed up pictures and making a collage.

Public Library? Models? Skulls? Ninjas? Thanks for the tips fellas! That gives me an idea for one kick ass flyer!

--Third Hour
www.myspace.com/3rdhour

OK how do i get an image off lets say my desktop onto any one of these forums. Ive tried the image UBB code thing but im obviously braking it. hahhahaha, my computer skillz are unrivaled.....yo

quote:

Originally posted by nicholasTAB:
OK how do i get an image off lets say my desktop onto any one of these forums. Ive tried the image UBB code thing but im obviously braking it. hahhahaha, my computer skillz are unrivaled.....yo

You will have to host the image online somewhere, or just find an image online. You cant really link it from your desktop. You can find the specific URL of an image that is on the web by right clicking on the image and going to Properties. The URL in properties is what you would use (copy and paste) to post a pic up on these forums.

How about this one?

Yeah. Yeah. Shameless promotion. Except I feel so ashamed...

quote:

Originally posted by Levi Eleven:

Most people will respect you a lot more if they've "heard of you." Market saturation, blah, blah, bullshit.

I think this is a good point. I think the flier thing is really more about exposure than anything else...that's why we love to see our fliers from like 6 months ago still up on a pole.

Also, I'd recommend something in your posters that sets you apart...be it a theme, a wicked logo, or hot dead corpse chicks. Identify.

take that computer illiterate-ness!!!