Gig posters
- Started
- Last post
- 4 Responses
- nowherehead
This is probably a really stupid question so apologies for my ignorance.
I own several limited run, screenprinted gig posters by the guys at Aesthetic Apparatus and Patent Pending and my girfriend bought me The Art of Modern Rock at Christmas which I love.
My question is, quite simply, how do you get started in this sort of area? Are the posters commissioned by the bands or the venues or do you just do them then tun up and try and sell them on the door?
I'd be grateful if there's anyone out there who can fill me in as it's something I'd like to get into.
- GreedoLives0
I have a friend ( http://www.misterreusch.com ) who's actually in that art of modern rock book, he got his start by basically going to the shows and giving the bands free schwag (posters, paintings, prints, etc) with his contact address on them. Eventually he got to know a few of them, and they hooked him up with comissions. He's also maintained a profile on gigposters.com ( http://www.gigposters.com/design… ) and he's gotten a bunch of jobs from there. His girlfriend is a burlesque dancer, so most of the stuff he does know is for her shows.
Getting work is easy, but getting paid for it, especially getting paid enough to make it worth your time, is very hard. I don't think he's ever gotten more than $50 for a poster or a variety of comp items such as free printing or free beer at the bar or whatever. He does make a little bit of money by selling the prints of his posters, but he's definitely not supporting himself that way.
Feel free to contact him (email is on his sites), he's a very friendly guy and will definitely respond.
- dress-up0
yeah, it is about hoofin' it down to your local venue and being a pain until they let you do some for them. Option B is to know people in the bands that you like and do like a B/W one-off that ca nbe xeroxed for their whole tour...
- squeegeeman0
>>search gigposters for aesthetic apparatus. recently they where interviewed and told their entire story. the link to the video was posted on gigposters.
Basically they started doing them w/o the bands permission until the night of the show. They gave the band some of the posters and sold the rest outside the venue for $5-10. Now they work with recording companies/distributers and work with the bands before the venue occurs.
I print posters and stuff...not many gig posters yet, but working towards that. it's generally getting to know people in bands.
good luck. i'll be glad to help you with the printing side if you have any questions.
tim
- nowherehead0
Shucks you guys. Thanks for the pointers, I'll chase those links up too and maybe be in touch Squeegee.