Logo design: The process

May 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is the design process I use when working on a company/business/band logo.

  1. Design brief: Send questionnaire to client.
  2. Research & reference: Research the industry, its history, its competitors and logo designs that have been successful.
  3. Sketching & conceptualising: Develop the logo design concept(s).
  4. Reflection: Take breaks through the design process and let your ideas develop. Get feedback.
  5. Presentation: Present a selection of logos to the client or a whole collection.

Step one:

I Send out a few questions to start the design process off. This is standard questionnaire I send to clients…

  • Your company name – as it should be used on the logo design
  • Strap line to go with your logo – if required
  • Please provide a little information about what your company does
  • Key words that describe your company – eg. friendly, reliable
  • What do you like/dislike about your current logo (if you have one)? Please can I see it.
  • Who are your competitors/Other Charities in the same field please give links if possible?
  • “Look and feel” required such as contemporary/traditional/brash/minimal/corporate/fun/
  • Any definite ideas you have about the logo design + examples of logo design you like/dislike (links if possible)?
  • Who is your Target audience?
  • Colour preferences if any. Should the logo be single colour/two colour/full colour/no specific preference?
  • How/where will the logo be used?
  • Any other information you would like to add

Step two:

On receiving the questionnaire back I conduct some research based on the answers given. Namely on the company/band, their market, their competitors and peers, their target audience and the logos they have provided as inspiration.

Step three:

I start by brainstorming with a sketchbook, pencils and a drawing pen. Select a few strong ideas from the sketches and start to work them up to a standard I’m happy with then I draw the best few ideas in Adobe Illustrator and play with colours and tweak shapes about to get a strong memorable design to show the client.

Step four:

Take a break and relax, let the ideas develop and mature. Work any new angles into the design and wait for feedback from the client. Adjust anything desired by the client if it’s needed and effective.

Step five:

I present the logo and or logo variations to the client and party in celebration of a job well done.


Contact ASYLUMseventy7 for your logo design work now!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

What to include in your band website

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You now have your band web hosting and domain name sorted, you have a good web designer, but what pages should include?

  • Home Page: This is the first page most visitors will see, have interesting content linking to other areas of the site.
  • Biography: Include the band story, members story, influences, equipment etc..
  • Contact Details: Band members, Booking, management and any other relevant people such as the webmaster.
  • Gig Listings: Dates with the gig information – ticket price, venue information, directions/map.
  • Gallery: It’s good to have as many good pictures as you can, use thumbnails linking to full size images, maybe have a fan folder too.
  • Links: Remember to use text links and alt tags on banners to help with SEO
  • Blog: Showing the latest news and updates, an rss feed is essential, Remember to keep it updated regularly.
  • Downloads & Merchandise: MP3s, video, images, photos, lyrics/music tabs, t-shirts, stickers, badges…
  • Reviews: Include as many as you can find (even the bad ones). If you don’t have any Don’t write your own.
  • Lyrics: This will help people to know your music and sing along at gigs feeling more part of the live experience
  • Press Pack: include, Biography, Press Release, Photos,  Demo, Copyright and contact information.

Get committed to creative web design with ASYLUMseventy7.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

CD album artwork and design: The process

April 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

This is the design process I use when working with bands on their album artwork and design.

  1. Design brief: Send questionnaire/chat to the band.
  2. Research & reference: Research the genre, its history, the bands peers and artworks that have been mentioned by the band as influential, listen to the new album/rough cuts if they are available .
  3. Sketching & conceptualizing: Develop the cover design concept(s).
  4. Reflection: Take breaks through the design process and let the ideas develop. Get feedback from the band.
  5. Presentation: Hand over the cover design and rock out to the new CD when it arrives!

Step one:

Most projects start with a discussion with the band members about any ideas and concepts they have. Then I try to gather some keywords, influences and work they’ve already seen.

Conversations usually start and revolve around these planed standard questions:

  • Your Band name – should be dominating  the design and concept?
  • Album name – if required?
  • Please provide a little information about  your band
  • Key words that describe your band – eg. Metal, rock, indie, gore, fast, heavy, melodic etc
  • What do you like/dislike – bands, films, books, games?
  • Who are your peers in the same field please give links if possible?
  • “Look and feel” required such as horror/surreal/old/grungy/clean/mimimal/fun?
  • Any definite ideas you have about the design concept + examples of album artwork design you like/dislike (links if possible)?
  • Who is your Target audience?
  • Colour preferences if any. Should the album art be single colour/two colour/full colour/no specific preference?
  • Any other information you would like to add?

Step two:

Once we have had a chat and got the questions answered I relax, think it over and chill with some of the bands music where possible. I use this time to think up ideas/concepts and how and what I’ll need to create the design.

Then I begin collecting parts and bringing together photography, textures, found objects that may help from my extensive collection of stock imagery. (I nearly always have my camera with me on the off chance I see some interesting texture, object or element I may find useful on your/future projects.)

Step three:

I then play with ideas and rough sketch’s discovering what works and build up a couple of design ideas using key elements I think would be useful and communicate the overall concept.

After getting some more feedback from my collected ideas, I start the actual design. This part of the process can be fast or slow it really is the unpredictable part of the creation, happy accidents leading paths to new elements are always fun and can take a project to a new level of creativity.

Step four:

I take a few breaks through the creation process to let ideas develop. I get more feedback from the band and finish up the design.

Step five:

I then send off the cover design and rock out to the new CD when it arrives!

Job done!


Contact ASYLUMseventy7 with your creative album artwork needs now!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design, Illustration, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Band promotion on Twitter

February 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

Twitter is a great promotional tool, and a useful way to get new fans and traffic to your gigs and other web presences. Following these 10 tips and hints to get your band promotion rocking on Twitter!

Make your bio interesting

Make your bio interesting, this doesn’t mean try to fit your bands life story into the allowed 160 character bio allowance (this is 20 more than a standard Tweet) You are trying to get peoples attention and show them why you should be followed. Maybe try using a strong lyric from one of your best songs or an interesting profound message.

Use a relevant Background image

Make your background interesting, try using a good design featuring a band photo or base it around your latest CD release.  *If you are doing this yourself I have made a useful Twitter background template to help you lay out your design here >>> http://www.asylumseventy7.co.uk/blog/2010/11/customize-your-new-twitter-layout

Spread the word

Now let the world know you have a new outlet for your gig info, band updates and general rantings For example, you could also add your Twitter URL in your site’s Footer, so it will appear at the bottom of every page of your website.  Also add your Twitter URL and follow me message to any other online presence you may have: FaceBook, Your Blog, YouTube, MySpace, Bebo, Tumblr, etc (For example: “Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ASYLUMseventy7 “) Don’t forget about your email signature as well!

Remember your URL

Twitter has a space for you to add your website’s URL to your profile. This doesn’t mean you have to use the main page of your website, you could use your Myspace, facebook or maybe the gigs, contact, bio or blog page of your site.

Try to use keywords in your tweets

Phrasing in your tweets can be important for SEO . Try to start your tweets with a keyword/phrase to theme each message. Don’t fill your tweets with keywords and search able phrases ignoring the interesting relevant info your followers are looking for.

Make your Tweets retweetable

By having interesting and useful Tweets as well as keeping the character limit down, allowing for retweeting space. This means leave room for your followers to add RT @YourHandle in front of the tweet and maybe add a short comment as well.

Tweeps love links

Add links to interesting and relevant things such as gig dates, other interesting events, news updates of your favorite/influencing bands.

Run a Twitter Contest

Contest are great for getting engaged followers. These can be run really easily and simply, giving away a prize (such as, sticker, T-shirt, CD etc) for Retweeting the competition or promotion is just one commonly used idea.

@ people/band/labels/venues/promoters

It may sounds obvious, but if you want the attention of a certain twitter account/person (or Tweep) try Retweeting a post of theirs or mentioning their Twitter name often brings you up on their radar.

Be aware of basic Twitter etiquette.

Be polite to people and follow these 5 tips

  1. Reply back to people asap.
  2. Don’t use Auto DMs.
  3. Don’t swear.
  4. Don’t just tweet your own stuff and Credit people  using Via @whoever.
  5. Follow back, this way people can direct message you and feel more welcomed to your band/twitter presence.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Music industry and publishing must-read books

February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There is a lot more to making it in music than being able to play a good riff, sing a strong note or bash out a catchy beat.Here are some top must read books on the industry, publishing, business and some must have contacts to help you find what you need…

  • Industry

Working in the Music Industry: How to Find an Exciting and Varied Career in the World of Music by Anna Britten (Paperback - 29 May 2009)

The Music Management Bible by Music Managers Forum (Paperback - 4 Aug 2003)

Music: The Business: The Essential Guide to the Law and the Deals by Ann Harrison (Hardcover -7 July 2011) (Pre order at time of publishing)

All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman (Paperback - 31 Jan 2008)

This Business of Music Marketing & Promotion (This Business of Music: Marketing & Promotion) by Tad Lathrop (Hardcover - 1 Oct 2003)

How To Make it in the Music Business by Siân Pattenden (Paperback - 9 Aug 2007)

  • Publishing

The Plain and Simple Guide to Music Publishing by Randall D. Wixen (Hardcover - 1 Jan 2010)

Making Music Make Money (Berklee Press) by Eric Beall (Paperback - 30 Nov 2007)

Music Publishing by Ron Sobel and Dick Weissman (Paperback - 31 Aug 2007)

Music Publishing: The Real Road to Music Business Success by Tim Whitsett

  • Business

Music: The Business: The Essential Guide to the Law and the Deals by Ann Harrison (Hardcover - 1 May 2008)

Making Music Make Money (Berklee Press) by Eric Beall (Paperback - 30 Nov 2007)
  • Useful

Musicians’ and Songwriters’ Yearbook 2008: The Essential Resource for Anyone Working in the Music Industry. By Jonathan Little (Paperback - 31 Jul 2007)

The Unsigned Guide The UK’s leading music industry directory. The Unsigned Guide is an essential tool for unsigned bands, emerging songwriters, musicians, music managers and music students.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Band promotion: Press Packs

February 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The main idea of a press pack is to be attention grabbing. Presenting your bands information in an interesting way that gets the full attention of managers, labels, Gig Promoters, Venues, Labels, Press (on and off line), Radio DJs and anyone else in the music industry.

Sending a hard copy of your press pack is much better than sending an email with your Myspace/soundcloud URL.

Press Packs should 
include:

  • band name
  • genre
  • email address
  • website URL and social media links.
  • Photographs
  • CD/DVD
  • Business Card
  • A small bio not your life story.

Band name: This is obvious, no need to explain this one :p

Genre: Keep it simple and not overly confusing with really bizarre sub-genres only your band has heard of “coat-hanger chutney thrash,” ” lollypop jazz grind” and  “sub yogurt crunk”

Email address: It is best to use your Manager’s if you have one, Also using a band domain email address (such as contact@yourband.co.uk) will help show you are a committed band

Website URL and social media links: Having your own domain website will show you are a committed serious band. Include your Myspace as well as a couple of your other social network URLs showing how you interact with fans but don’t go overboard and list 100′s!

Photographs: Get a professional to take some photos of the band for press and promo purposes as well as using a professional for some strong live shots, you will see the difference! (photos at 300dpi +)

CD/DVD: You shouldn’t judge a CD by it’s cover but… make a good first impression by taking a bit of time over the packaging and presentation. Include 2 or 3 tracks and lead with your strongest song! Most people will only give you a minuet to impress them, remember they are getting loads of songs thrown at them everyday by loads of bands.

Business Card: This is good to have included so promoters, managers, venues and labels have your contact details to hand on a pin board or on file with out taking up to much room.

A short bio of the band: This should be kept short. Your target is only after a brief intro to the band, your style, aesthetic and not your bands favorite foods and first pet. If you think they may want more just wet their appetite with a brief intro then direct them to your website where you can put a mini bio for each member and go into more detail if it is an interesting story.

  • Tip: Do your research and make sure you send your press pack to the right people.
  • Tip: It’s a good idea to contact the recipient of your press pack first, to find out if they want it, and how best to deliver it.
  • Tip: Create different versions for different targets.
  • Tip: Keep it simple and direct.
  • Tip: Make a PDF copy or single web page press pack for those not wanting a hard copy.
  • Tip: remember to double check spelling and grammar.

Contact me to get committed to a creative eye catching press pack.

Read more on press packs and what to include here (Via www.unsignedbandpromotion.com)

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

50 tips for band promotion

January 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Band promotion is one of the keys to success in the music industry, you need to get your band out there and heard by potential fans, promoters, managers, labels etc…

Here are my 50 top tips to promoting your music!

  1. Follow and get the @unsignedguide for lists of venues, promoters venues and help
  2. Join Myspace, start a Myspace group, start a band fan group/profile to support the main band page.
  3. Do the same with facebook
  4. Do the same with Twitter
  5. Regularly change your profiles avitar
  6. Network a lot, add friends, comment and @ people
  7. Tell your fans and followers about your website and social networks
  8. Join relevant forums and interact
  9. Start a blog and keep it up to date with your activities, good practis stories new songs etc
  10. Get a proper website and use your bands name for the URL
  11. Use your URL and social network URLs everywhere and on everything, CDs t-shirts, stickers etc..
  12. Start a street team to help promote your band and upcoming gigs.
  13. Start a mailing list.
  14. Take part in #MusicMonday on Twitter.
  15. Give away something for free.
  16. Give away exclusive material in return for joining a group.
  17. Run competitions where you give away merch in return for promo activity such as RTs.
  18. Sell cheap CDRs of your gigs.
  19. Make a video and put it on Youtube or VimioLook for keywords related to your genre and use them on your Website.
  20. Start a e-newsletter about your band and/or genre.
  21. have a facebook Share button on your site
  22. Have a tweet this button on your site
  23. Keep it all local to start with, and from this grow your fanbase out.
  24. Design your fliers with a striking image/artwork and the minimum of legible text.
  25. Brand your band!
  26. Make an  PDF Promotion Package.
  27. Optimize your band websites front page
  28. Link to other bands from your Website and blogs.
  29. Write a controversial and or political song.
  30. Ask your fans to retweet, share and talk about your music, blog, site etc
  31. See if your local record/music shop will give away your free CD/demo.
  32. Make a Shared promo CD with other local bands of the same genre
  33. publish your lyrics and tabs in a blog or eBook.
  34. Trade links with other bands and appropriate websites
  35. post fliers and posters around your town in local shops and venues
  36. Dress for your music genre
  37. Give away band t shirts to popular and cool members of your fan club to wear when they are out and about.
  38. Get some good band photos
  39. Get a strong band logo
  40. Look around for E-zines as well as Magazines looking for content.
  41. Ask your Myspace fan page to target venues, music magazines, other bands, promoters.
  42. have a lot of photos of fans, gigs, practising, nights out even, let the fans know you.
  43. Sell your band with your personallities, so have member band Twitter accounts too.
  44. Sell your music online.
  45. Ask friends, fans and family to text your gigs and releases.
  46. Make a link page with with reviews
  47. Let people know the kinds of events/gigs you’re happy to play next to your contact information.
  48. Search the web and Myspace for similar bands, make friends.
  49. Network with other similar bands for gig swops.
  50. Follow me on Twitter @ASYLUMseventy7 I usually retweet and help out where I can :)

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

10 steps to great gig posters & flyer design

January 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Live gigs are pretty much essential in getting people to notice your band, and a key factor in how successful a gig will be is the promotion work you put in leading up to the event.

Posters and fliers, whether distributed offline (in the town, in pubs etc) or online (on your website, on Facebook invites etc), are a key promotional tool.

The idea is to create a flier that works: clear, informative and easy to read text, with interesting and eye-catching graphics.

Here are my top ten tips…

  1. Spend some time planning the wording. Make sure you highlight the selling points of the gig e.g. is there anything special about the lineup or venue?
  2. Think about the information fans and gig goers are seeking from your flyer e.g. venue address, start time, admittance.
  3. People love the word FREE, so if you’re not charging for the gig, make sure it’s very clear!
  4. Create some alternative posters/fliers/banners. Don’t stick with the same old design every time – mix it up and get attention.
  5. Design your flier to A6 (102mm x 152mm), postcard size fliers as these are easy & cheap to print. You can fit four A6 fliers on an A4.
  6. Don’t leave the design work until the last minute. Planning, creation, print and publicity is the order to work to.
  7. Avoid common design mistakes that make the flier too busy e.g. using to many different fonts, sizes or colours.
  8. Speeling mattrs. Keep proofing your work, then check it again. Once it’s printed, there’s no going back.
  9. Get a good, reliable printer. Your hard work will be wasted if it’s still sititng in the print queue come gig day.
  10. Get your work out there. It doesn’t matter how well designed it is if people don’t see it so hit the streets (and the net). Carry fliers with you to hand out to everyone you know and change your social media profile pics to reflect your latest promo.

Of course, if you’re not the designing type, it’s far easier to get a professional graphic designer to do the work for you leaving you free to shout about your gig and get the word out about your music. Get in touch with me about your project and get committed to creativity!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Marketing your music

January 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Whether you’re in a band, a manager, producer, sound engineer, promoter, or in music marketing and PR, it all comes down to contacts, and the best place to start is with a marketing strategy.

There are several steps you should follow.

  • Step one: Have something to market!

“The fist bite is with the eye”

A band logo is a key factor in getting your band noticed and remembered. Think of the Iron Maiden logo, or Areosmith, Oasis, Megadeth, or NIN, their logos are known all over the world.

Band photos are also a strong visual element to band identification, Think of the press pictures from your favorite bands, you don’t need to listen to the music to know what style and sound they are going for. for example you wouldn’t see a photo of black metal band Emperor and think its going to be in the same style and sound as Mumford and sons and vice versa.

CD album artwork and design can all be tied into the look of the band and carry alot of weight in identifying with your fan base. think of Cannibal corpse, Fear factory and Queens of the stone age album covers and their strong visual relationship with the music genre they inhabit.

  • Step two: Get online.

Next you need a place to direct people to hear your music and see your band so sort out a band website and social media.  There are lots networking sites to choose from these are the 4 most popular and  therefore get your message to the largest audience.

Remember to include your band logo, Photos and music where possible, a small bio and of cause up to date contact information. If you don’t have a website yet, use MySpace or Facebook as your link, remembering to change it when you have a .com/.co.uk/whatever domain hosted site.

  • Step three: Get networking and find some good contacts!

You can have the best songs and the strong coherent look of a top signed touring band, but if you don’t have any decent contacts and fans you’re not going anywhere fast. The way to do this is with a good strong marketing plan, just like you would in any other business venture.

Here are some of the basic guidelines to help you get started.

  • Know who your future fans are.
  • Know where your future fans are.
  • Know who can help you.
  • Know where you can find help
  • Know who your competition is.
  • Know where your competition is.

There are many types of marketing you can use and you will need to focus on in your marketing plan. The three main types are…

  • Brand marketing,
  • Promotional marketing,
  • Online marketing.

I plan to go into these and other helpful tips and advice over the coming weeks in this new series of band/music promotion, information and advice.

If you have any questions on anything in this or future articles feel free to contact me.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The blood, the sweat, the tears! Band promotion

January 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I have been designing artwork for bands, DJs and record labels for about 8 years now and I’m always getting questions about the music industry and how can bands get more exposure so after going through my emails and reply’s I decided this would be a good subject for a new series of blog articles explaining promotion, marketing and branding your band.

In this series starting on Monday 17th January I plan to cover various subjects from SEO (Search engine optimization) for band websites, the process involved in CD and logo artwork & design, places you can sell your music, ways to promote and advertise your music, press packs, band photography, good record labels to follow on Twitter and lots more…

If there is anything you would like to know about or read more on then get in contact or comment below.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , ,
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