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Post subject: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:33 am
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Alrighty...it seems I have a massive case of "writer's block" (or the artist's equivalent). I'm trying to put together a logo for my new band and I'm sitting here staring at a (more or less) blank screen....and I'm coming up with zip, so I could use some fresh suggestions and maybe a touch of inspiration (particularly since my Muse has apparently gone shoe shopping again!).

The name of the new band is Black Haze Now...it's an anagram of Walczak and Bohne, myself and the bass player who are the founding members. Since our last band is on hiatus as the front man now has other obligations, the bass player and I have put together a new group. It's rather eclectic - we're an all cover band playing mostly Classic Rock and Oldies (with a measure of blues and a country tune or two thrown in for flavor). We're actually doing a bit of everything from Chuck Berry and the Kingsman to The Kinks and Janis Joplin to John Melloncamp and Skynard to SRV and Clapton...even a few newer tunes. The band is fronted by myself and our female singer/rhythm guitar player. We're mainly going to be playing local bars/clubs, however we haven't ruled anything else out (except weddings...I will NOT do weddings). Our main emphasis is on "easy" and "fun" :-)

While I will throw together some poster designs for later use, right now I'm essentially working on the logo specifically. I'm leaning towards a rather Art Deco style...at least regarding the typeface/font. While the use of color isn't out of the question, I'm mainly leaning towards a black & white logo that would look decent on an average black bass drum head (will likely do that in vinyl in a week or two). The logo will have the band name as well as some kind of cliche/catch phrase (I have a few, but am open to suggestions), it will have a graphic of both an acoustic guitar and a Strat (to reflect the mix of influences as both electric and acoustic) as well as some degree of decoration...something "classy"...and this is where I think I'm getting stuck!

The logo I had done for the last band, Under The Gun, was rather elaborate and it actually came to me rather easily (and proudly sits in my artist's portfolio), but I think that because of it, I've maybe psyc'd myself out a bit. Not quite sure where I want to go with this. I have a couple of ideas down, but nothing that's really getting me excited and I could use some creative input here.

Ideas/Suggestions?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:55 am
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IMO, you're over-thinking it.

It all sounds waay too complicated.

IMO, the name is a disconnect from what you describe. Black Haze Now conjures up images of Mystery, Black Sabbath, Satanism, Ozzie, Voo Doo, etc. But that's not the vibe I get from your description of the band, a cover band (which doesn't cover Sabbath or Ozzie). Might as well call it Maple Syrup. The anagram is 'clever', but not catchy. Besides, no one is gonna get it anyway without a detailed (and boring) explanation, so what's the point?

Also, are you doing a logo or a mural? I think you're trying to convey too many images/messages here. It's too busy and therefore unremarkable and forgettable. A simple identifying graphic should suffice.

I realize that this offers nothing in the way of help, but maybe some things to think about.

Good Luck

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:55 am
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K.I.S.S.

I'm also sure there's a correlation between sales and how easy it is to (a) remember the name, and (b) its placement in the alphabet.
A short name with either the first or the second letter being an A is likely going to do better than a long name that can't easily be conveyed by a DJ or friend, and which can only be found in indices by continued browsing. Of course that's only going to be two of the factors, but nevertheless, Velvet Underground might have sold more as Vacant Underground, because then they would have fronted the V section.
AC/DC picked a good name. ZZ Top did too, by going to the other extreme, ensuring that they can usually be found last.

I firmly believe some bands are under-appreciated because they picked a truly WTF name, like "Einstürzende Neubauten" and "Banco del Mutuo Soccorso". Both rather good bands. And let's not forget "The The" and "!!!", which can't even be searched for with most search engines. True, they preceded the search engines, but still...

Anyhow, my band logo is as simple as they get - just the name in a not-too-common and not-too-hard-to-read font. The lack of success is attributable to the lack of chops, not the name or logo.


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 11:51 am
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Here is our album cover:
Image
and this is our first name change:
Image

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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:02 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
IMO, you're over-thinking it.

It all sounds waay too complicated.

IMO, the name is a disconnect from what you describe. Black Haze Now conjures up images of Mystery, Black Sabbath, Satanism, Ozzie, Voo Doo, etc. But that's not the vibe I get from your description of the band, a cover band (which doesn't cover Sabbath or Ozzie). Might as well call it Maple Syrup. The anagram is 'clever', but not catchy. Besides, no one is gonna get it anyway without a detailed (and boring) explanation, so what's the point?

Also, are you doing a logo or a mural? I think you're trying to convey too many images/messages here. It's too busy and therefore unremarkable and forgettable. A simple identifying graphic should suffice.

I realize that this offers nothing in the way of help, but maybe some things to think about.

Good Luck

cheers!


Hey Lightnin'
I am actually grateful for the feedback. As far as the name goes...honestly, I'm not gonna sweat that aspect of it. The band has already talked about it and yea, we tossed the pro's and con's back and forth there, but ultimately any given person is gonna have a different take on it from "psychedelic" to anything racial....and from that view point, it actually fits (LOL). Either way, everyone in the band was cool with the name and that's really the important thing.

I'm SURE I'm over-thinking the whole design aspect of the logo itself. No doubt about that AT ALL, LOL! On the one hand, as a dumbass guitar player, it's really not THAT big of a deal. We'll likely only be doing 2 or 3 gigs a month at most and people will either remember us or they won't. On the other hand however as a freelance graphics designer and a locally award winning artist, I can't help but have thoughts that identify this with "brand". Think about the logos for Pepsi, McDonalds or (gag) Apple Computers...in fact I suspect you don't even have to "think" about them as the moment you read those names, a visual image of the logo already popped into your head. At the risk of going blue here, any real question about what the Playboy Rabbit looks like? LOL! VW, Shell Oil, NBC and of course the Nike "swish" (where the designer actually made a whopping $50 commission). As a graphic artist and designer, brand identity is important and when done well, can leave a lasting impression. The same can really be said for bands as well.

The guitar player in me says, "no, we're not at this level" (and probably never will be), but the designer in me looks at iconic brand & band logos and realizes the importance...the "lips" of the Rolling Stones, the Kiss and AC/DC logos...just an iconic identification with "the band". I suspect most Beatles fans can still identify with that early logo that was on the front of Ringo's drum kit on the Ed Sullivan show. All of these are of course rather simple. On the other hand, there's also Queen with that heraldry like shield, Aerosmith's Flying A and of course the infamous flying guitar spaceship of Boston. The guitar player in me KNOWS this isn't THAT big a deal. The artist in me however says, "Yea...it is".

Aside from the band issue, this type of work also reflects myself as an artist and as such, I really wouldn't approach this any differently than if a "company" or any other business was paying me for the work.

...and yea...I'm a bloody perfectionist to boot.


The truth is that I'm sure the band will likely be completely tickled pink with just about anything I come up with. That said this is as much about personal pride as an artist as it is anything else and my local reputation (as an art student at least) for REALLY over-the-top work. I'm sure this is horribly self-centered, but I take a rather great degree of pleasure in hearing someone say "WoW! OMG! That's really incredible work...".



Quote:
A short name with either the first or the second letter being an A is likely going to do better than a long name that can't easily be conveyed


I appreciate the sentiment there, however I think to some degree that over-looks the number of great bands over the years with the long names that have had their degree of success...Pure Prairie League, Blue Oyster Cult and Electric Light Orchestra certainly come to mind. Particularly with the latter, it also over-looks a popular tendency to use acronyms...E.L.O. If we were talking about something truly lengthy and obscure...say "Exodus from a Dessert of Other-Worldly Inhumanity", I'd probably be concerned, however I think that ultimately any success (or lack there of) regarding any individual band, commercial or otherwise, is really more a result of that's band's quality of music more than anything (subject of course to the ever fickle response of popular public opinion, LOL).

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Anyways, again I am grateful for the comments. If nothing else, kicking stuff like this around helps me think thru the tangled knot inside my head :-)

Thank you.


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:08 pm
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For the sake of reference, here's just a few I did for the last band....

http://www.walczak.altervista.org/portf ... sters.html


While I borrowed a few themes for the posters themselves (some more than others), the logo and layout work is mine (with the exception of bar/restaurant logos obviously). I'd like to think that most of it looks fairly professional.


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:24 pm
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How about a black cloud with the words

BLACK
HAZE
NOW

stacked on the cloud in white, all being the same width so Black ends ups being smallest, Haze a little bigger and NOW the biggest?


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:52 pm
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Generally speaking, when it comes to commercial graphic design, especially logos, Less is More. :idea:

The logos you mention are sheer simplicity, a good reason why they're so instantly recognizable.

Some of the Band logos you mention aren't logos at all but Cover Art from one of their albums which then became a symbol (as opposed to a logo) for the band.

Understand your need for artistic expression. But with due respect, save that for your first Album Cover. :wink:

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 12:59 pm
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I think this would be a Smashing name for a Band...

Image

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:07 pm
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Highline wrote:
How about a black cloud with the words

BLACK
HAZE
NOW

stacked on the cloud in white, all being the same width so Black ends ups being smallest, Haze a little bigger and NOW the biggest?



I've actually been noodling with the cloud part of that idea....mentally at least. I may play with the letter spacing idea there too and see what it looks like. I'm working with a very Art Deco font...bold, stylish, but easy to read, so I'm not sure how that's gonna look.

Two minds on the same idea though...that might count for something :-)


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:40 am
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I'm a big believer that your logo is simple, but used consistently and a LOT, ever time it's seen. That's what gives you an identity. I've seen some logos that people see the design, but not the name. In our case we just use a very unique font, but it's the same on stage banners, posters, etc. To me simple is better.

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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:04 am
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The logo doesn't have to have anything to do with the band's name, either.
Led Zeppelin's logo does not feature a zeppelin. The closest they have to a logo is the winged figure, for the Swan Song record label.
The Rolling Stones - lips and tongue.
The Who, The Beatles - stylized lettering, but no logos.

Don't think about a logo as such too soon anyway. Worry more about a visual style, colour scheme, typeface, etc. for album art, posters, web site, merch, and so on. A logo (or something that functions like it) may emerge out of all that.

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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 6:11 am
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If you need a artist , let me know. Here is a sample of my work.


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 12:36 pm
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John L Rose wrote:
The logo doesn't have to have anything to do with the band's name, either.
Led Zeppelin's logo does not feature a zeppelin. The closest they have to a logo is the winged figure, for the Swan Song record label.


No, they have a logo, or one for each bandmember, actually. Combined, they're known as the "crop circles" logo:

Image


John L Rose wrote:
The Rolling Stones - lips and tongue.
The Who, The Beatles - stylized lettering, but no logos.


Blue Oyster Cult: Cross with a hook
Nirvana: Stoned smiley
Steve Miller Band: Pegasus
Ramones: Great Seal

... and many great bands don't have a logo, or even an official font for their lettering. Pink Floyd may be recognized by the prism or marching hammers, but neither is a logo, just artwork fans have taken from their albums. They're famous for not having a logo, font or anything else that survives between albums. And you can't get much bigger than them.

John L Rose wrote:
Don't think about a logo as such too soon anyway. Worry more about a visual style, colour scheme, typeface, etc. for album art, posters, web site, merch, and so on. A logo (or something that functions like it) may emerge out of all that.


Indeed. Rush' "Starman" logo (nekkid guy scared of a pentagram) became their main symbol that way.


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Post subject: Re: Band Logos...could use some inspiration...
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:23 am
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First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone for their input here...while I'm sure as though it sounds like I'm arguing a lot of this, it really is helping.

To address a couple of the comments/concerns here, please understand that there are absolutely no intentions of doing anything like an album (CD, EP, etc), let alone any associated "cover art". This is really just a few older "weekend warriors" (and one young hot chick...don't ask) who just enjoy playing good music...and getting payed for it. -If- some record producer shows up and wants to sign us, great...but I'll worry about that once I see the first royalty check (or at least when said check doesn't bounce, LOL!). Mainly this is all about just establishing a bit of an "identity" that sets us apart from the dozens and dozens of other cover bands in this local area - Cleveland.

With that, there are a few reasons I'm doing this now. Our first show is going to be this next month (February) and I'd like to have everything in place here before we hit the stage (small as that stage will be). I'd like to establish that sense of identity right from the git-go. Aside from the MANY bands that come and go in this particular area, since this band is essentially comprised of members from two previous local cover bands, The Centurymen and Under The Gun, right from the start I'd like people to know this is something a little different and not just a re-hash of one of the previous bands.

Along with that, since we are going to be playing out in just a couple/few weeks, I'd like to have some posters done A.S.A.P. On that note alone, I try to have any advertising posters done at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance (like to have them on the bar walls and windows for AT LEAST a week or two before the gig)...this way I can actually focus on the gig and being a guitar player. Also, if I can get this kicked out right away, this also saves me time down the road too...once I have the logo/moniker and the first couple of posters done, I can just make alterations for future gigs down the road as needed. Since I'm working in vectors here, once I have the initial logo down I can just copy that to variations or new poster designs. Keeps the posters looking reasonably fresh, but consistent and recognizable without a whole lot of work involved.

Now with all of this in mind, to me, the design of the posters should be based on, or at least symbiotic with any logo or moniker (maybe I should have just used the term moniker from the start...)....hence the immediate focus on creating a suitable logo (moniker). As a designer, I tend to find it easier to do the posters/ads once I have the style established...with a fairly stylized logo, the rest pretty much falls into place pretty easily. For myself, it really is a matter of putting "the horse in front of the cart"...the logo needs to come first. I could VERY easily just slap the band's name, along with the relevant gig/date info on an 11x17, but that just looks soooooooo cheesy and unprofessional to me (not to mention, it's been done to death by every lazy hack out there). Again this is more the designer in me talking along with my sense of pride as an artist, but I really want something that looks reasonably professional...it is after all, the first thing people see...including bar owners...before the band ever takes the stage. It seems a lot of (local) bands these days seem perfectly happy with some cheap piece of crap that was thrown together by someone's kid who had a hacked copy of Photoshop. As an artist, I will NOT allow my own work to come off looking like that.

In a nutshell, since I/we do need those posters pretty much right away (by next week) and since I do want something on the front of the drums for that very first show and since I do want them to look decent, yea...I do need to come up with something fairly soon here. Again, that all starts with this logo (moniker).



Anyways, I have tried doing the whole "less is more" thing here, with some different variations on just text...and it really did not work for me. When all is said and done, I have to go with my gut...and my gut said it really needed more. That said however, I have pulled back some from my original full-blown art deco concept and I do have a couple of ideas down now that I'll print samples of and run past the band this evening at practice...run them up the proverbial flag pole and see which one get's the most salutes. I've stuck with a pretty specific art deco font/typeface (bold and stylish, but easy to read) and for two of them, I've done the letters stacked and a bit of simple decoration, with "Classic Rock and Beyond" under the band name. One has an acoustic guitar, the other has a Strat (not sure which I like better yet), with the letters of the band name, rough shaped to the outline of the guitar. While I think they could use some kind of outline, both are pretty cool and would work well. The third, which I'm learning towards has a bit more of a "Big Band" look to it...kind of a marquis, with the band name and such inside a music staff. Kind of cliche, but pretty cool. Any of the 3 would look good in black & white on a drum head and any of them would also look great colorized for use in posters and such.


The important thing is simply that I'm no longer staring at that all intimidating blank page! I -really- hate writer's block! LOL!!! Again I do thank everyone for their suggestions...even if I didn't use them. One way or the other, it gave me the push I needed.

Thanks!


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