Brochure 11 X 7 versus smaller brochure

[MIKA]

My friend a magician suggests to save money and get a smaller brochure. I am a little undecided about it, should i keep my 11x7 format for my new brochure or change to a small three fold the size of a DVD. Nevertheless you can fold a 11x7 brochure, can't you.

I got a lot to explain as i am a comedienne, juggler and diabolo and hula-hoop artist and with 45 minute show and additional two more 15 minute shows. So i wonder if it is better keep it on a 11x 7 because it is easier for the reader.

[Evan Young]

who are you marketing to?

[MIKA]

market

well, i have done a few college gigs and just started doing cruises and was going to market towards corporate, college and theme park special event buyers.
I was first going to keep the size, I had for my old one but now i wonder if i am maybe wrong and don't need it...Curious what others think

[Evan Young]

I think brochures are 1995. It's 2009. In the college marketing scene I do (marketing to student activities councils *NACA* *APCA*), NOBODY uses brochures. It's all about your website and video. For printed material there are postcards of various sizes, and 8.5"x11" glossy pages packaged in nice folders. There are other college markets (alumni associations, etc.), and I don't know anything about them.
I can't speak from experience on the other markets you mentioned. But, to me brochures are only good if you are marketing to county fairs which are run by a bunch of old guys who still think it's 1995.

best wishes

[Rachel Peters]

Agreed. And it's way too easy to crumple up and throw away a brochure.
...It takes effort to crumple up a post card.
I've tried it, and poked myself really badly, so I resolved to instead look at it and admire it.

[scot]

sounds like your problem is not knowing how to communicate with your audience.

1) What kind of materials do they want?
2) How to effectively describe your services?


What kind of materials?
Talk to other people in your market (like you're doing here) about what they use. Talk to past and prospect clients about what they want.

What do they need to know?
The bookers only need specific information in order to hire you. The more you give, the foggier your message. You might think you're adding value by adding more info, but the chances are, you're taking away clarity.

Go through this pamphlet, do the steps
http://scotaganda.com/pickup/StartingAnyMarketing.pdf then, when you have a good list of benefits, take your material to some people you trust to edit you. You should be able to fit your sales message on a postage stamp.

Whatever promo you decide, it's a sales piece, like an ad in a magazine. Look through a magazine and find the ads that look good and make you interested. Think about all the self-control and all the info they left out of that ad.

[Mr Qwirk]

Originally posted by Evan Young
I think brochures are 1995.

you obviously haven't worked Europe....




no offense intended.

[scot]

I think Europe's 1995. Ha ha joking.

[Frisbee]

I think brochures will be obsolete at one point...are they already now...maybe, but if you do have one or think you want one, make it 11x17 one fold. Make it on thick paper so it can act as a folder for materials.
if you send them postcards or updated one page inserts they can put them into your brochure.

I find some clients like them still and require them.

I agree with what was said already, especially Europe being so 1995.

but seriously, everything is heading to web and interactive dvd.

you can have everything for your clients there and if you create templates for them they can print the materials themselves if they really want it.

It is good to print small runs to have on hand in case a client asks for hard copy and most international clients do want hard copy.

A lot of fairs and festivals also want hardcopy because they present acts to a board and they can easily pass your materials around the room and then show your video.

Believe it or not, I had a client recently ask me for a VHS tape.

I always keep a few of various formats on hand so that you can always say: "Yes, right away, it will be on your desk next business day."

-Greg

p.s. You can print short runs and one offs here:

http://www.quantumdigital.com

and any order over 45$ is free next day shipping.

[MIKA]

I have the same opinion when it comes to press kits and its good to hear my general experience confirmed. Although nine out of ten people have got a computer, there are still many talent buyers (especially those who have been around for over 20 years) who would like a "standard package" with picture, brochure, DVD and letter. But i think and hope that brochures will be obsolete at one point- it's a waste of paper in my opinion. Most Themepark expect you to have a brochure and, if you ask "Would you also like my brochure?- most entertainment directors will answer "Yes please"!

I was gonna get new postcards and a page insert going inside the brochure.

And yeah, if you want to perform in Europe (Germany, France and the UK) they still require a brochure-consider it a must.

I was going to put my brochure as a template on my homepage too.

I think in America Themeparks, fairs and festivals want hardcopy because they have more than one decision maker involved and sometimes they decide by looking at the brochure if they are going to watch your DVD.

I will look at quantum digital