Bartending report

[xiphias]

The event I tended bar for was a reception for the political science department. A small, low-key thing, maybe fifty people. But nice.

I was kinda hoping to be tending bar for something involving the doctoral hooding ceremonies, but that's okay.

Toward the end of the evening, the woman who put the event together asked me if she'd be able to request me specifically for their Christmas party.

Damn, I'm good.

I gave her my card. It was the two of hearts, on which I wrote my name and email address so she would be able to contact me.

I probably should get actual cards printed up. Giving someone "my card" is cute and all, and I did get the appropriate info on it, but still. . . .

Comments

[fibro-witch.livejournal.com]

You can use any good word processing program to create your own business cards.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

If you want to shell out for it, you can get custom playing cards. That way you look professional and people will remember you.

[madame-urushiol.livejournal.com]

Same thought here--there's got to be a way of printing up business cards so they look like playing cards. It would be exceedingly cool, and very memorable.

[linenoise.livejournal.com]

I print my own business cards. They're not terribly fancy, but they contain all the needed info, and it looks somewhat more professional than handwritten. Most office supply stores will sell printable cardstock that's pre-perforated to tear into the right size. I use Powerpoint to design the actual cards.

That said, professionally printed cards that were designed to look like playing cards would just rule.

[dancing-kiralee.livejournal.com]

When I was job hunting I was advised to get business cards professionally printed. Apparently the "do it yourself" jobs are supposed to end up looking, well, tacky... that is, you can tell the difference, which is a no-no in (at least some) professional circles.

That being said, we use do it yourself cards... for things like Arisia, etc. I never got as far as having cards to use professionally.

The playing card thing is not a bad idea. Most people try to do something to make their cards distinctive. I wonder, though, what you would do about size / shape.

[asciikitty.livejournal.com]

one thing I've learned about business cards* is that while there is a standard size, there is no requirement that they be that size. I see cards of all sizes, and occasionally shapes.

DIY cards can look tacky, but professional cards can look just as tacky. it depends on the design. I've seen some awsome cards that were clearly DIY cards. That said, cardstock is important - cards that are just printed on printer paper DO look tacky.

neat edges are important.

Orienting the card the "other" way is one way to make it stand out.

*I help maintain a database that is primarily made up of the information from people's business cards. I've seen a LOT of the little things over the last few months.

[dancing-kiralee.livejournal.com]

I think the people giving the advice believed two things...

1) Professional printing would eliminate at least one (major) source of "tackiness"

2) It was impossible to get the edges of DIY cards neat and professional looking.

Kiralee

[cheshyre]

FWIW, I worked up a business card in a word-processing program [*] and then took it to Kinkos to have them print it on cardstock and cut it.

Smoother edges than the perforated forms, and we weren't running through our ink cartridges...

[alandd.livejournal.com]

I like VistaPrint; "Free" ($3 or so for shipping and they put their url, logo and 'free business cards' on the back) or cheap; you can use their templates or I think you can create your own.

They also run deals now and then for 'free' or really cheap ($2) "pro" cards, which basically means they don't put their logo on the back.

Check it out, if you're interested and not in a hurry let me know and next time I see a deal from them I'll forward it along...

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

Congrats on getting offered more work! And yes, the two of hearts as a business card is cool.

[danceboy.livejournal.com]

Last I checked (about a year ago) 1000 business cards cost $10 at staples if you used one of their basic formats, all black raised-ink text on white cardstock. You could get arbitrarily fancy for more money. It takes a week or three.