Starting my own studio..

[Anna]

Hello Everybody..

well here's the news, I'm starting my own Street Latin Studio - we'll be teaching Salsa, Bachata, Lambada and Samba..

the studio has been found, the teachers have been found, the website name has been booked, the studio name decided on, what remains is the advertising..

and I can't decide which (out of the 10 or so designs I have created thus far) which one I want to use for flyers, tshirts and posters.. - I could use a different one for each.

HELP!!

Opinions please ...

here are the first 5..

ps, they may be uber sexy.. but sex sells and that's how we advertise latin dancing over here..

[Anna]

and here are the rest..

[bigdjiver]

Piccy 2 has most impact - the less words the better, and they should be the ones you need them to remember. "Latin Heat dance class".
+ url, which should be as short as possible and directly related to the name "Latin_heat.co.nz"?

[Rhythm King]

I think I prefer the first batch to the second, which look a bit fussy and crowded to me. Of the first batch I like the centre top one, but as bigdjiver says, it needs some basic contact details. I also liked the top right one but think the colour balance needs a little sorting as the main text gets lost on the dark side. The bottom left one's good too, possibly with the "cos some like it hot" added. I thought the centre bottom one was a bit too dark and the top left one didn't really connect with me as a dance flyer - party night possibly, but not classes.

Oh, and like WOW! Well done, I hope it's a great success for you

R-K

[Cruella]

Yep the top middle one definately caught my eye, but i agree it needs a little more info on it.

[ChrisU]

Yep No 2 on the first set for me.

DJ Chris Uren

[Anna]

Thankyou muchly!!

Much thought is being put into this as our competition is highly sophisticated..

ie. www.latinissimo.co.nz/first.html

keep the advice/opinions coming !

and remember to look at the designs zoomed larger, cos theyr going to about half A4 sized..

[ducasi]

I agree – I think the second pic is a good choice for t-shirts, and such...

But something nearer the third one is needed for flyers, though you could put the plain design on one side, and the details on the other...

If these graphics are going to be printed larger, you're going to have to get them tidied up. The fonts are quite jaggy, and the outline of the dancer is very rough. This is where a professional designer with the right tools can make a big difference.

One thing I noticed with you competition is they have a good stand-alone logo for their "Latinissimo" name. They then use it to good effect to "badge" images. You could also imagine them putting that alone on t-shirts, both as the main design and on the sleeves. You'll notice the same thing with the Ceroc logo that you see on every page of this web site. Again, a profession designer will be able to whip something up for you in no-time.

I'd say your tag-line "Auckland's Hottest..." is maybe too similar to their "Aukland's Premier ...", which may get you some extra hassle from them.

Sorry if that lot sounds a bit negative.

I think it's great you're doing this, and wish you the best of luck.

[Lory]

No2 and No3 caught my eye but No2 wins as, after the initial glance, I had the information there, telling me what I needed to know!

Good luck! It all sounds very exciting!

[wayaay bird]

3rd pic looks good for a flyer and 2nd pic for a poster as there's not too much writing!!! i definately prefer the silhouette pictures.
Xxx

[RogerR]

In London at least, Latin classes (except Arg Tango) are successfull IF they have a good number of Latino men who can dance. You need to find and hold your first few people very carefully. Lone dancers will not go into a class unless it's nearly full! Use a small room at first - its full sooner! Good luck
RR

[Anna]

Originally Posted by ducasi

I agree – I think the second pic is a good choice for t-shirts, and such...

But something nearer the third one is needed for flyers, though you could put the plain design on one side, and the details on the other...

If these graphics are going to be printed larger, you're going to have to get them tidied up. The fonts are quite jaggy, and the outline of the dancer is very rough. This is where a professional designer with the right tools can make a big difference.

One thing I noticed with you competition is they have a good stand-alone logo for their "Latinissimo" name. They then use it to good effect to "badge" images. You could also imagine them putting that alone on t-shirts, both as the main design and on the sleeves. You'll notice the same thing with the Ceroc logo that you see on every page of this web site. Again, a profession designer will be able to whip something up for you in no-time.

I'd say your tag-line "Auckland's Hottest..." is maybe too similar to their "Aukland's Premier ...", which may get you some extra hassle from them.

Sorry if that lot sounds a bit negative.

I think it's great you're doing this, and wish you the best of luck.

My bad I forgot to mention that these are NOT the final copies.. this was just me attempting to create a rough estimation of what I want, I have a friend in advertising who is going to smooth them over for me n all that jazz.

Latinissimo are actually not the only people claiming to be "auckland's premier..." there are 2 other studios which already use that line, hence why I have no problem claiming to be Auckland's hottest or sultriest - at least I'm not lying, we may not be premier (YET) but by god, do we have sabor or what!!!

Latinissimo began in Australia and then branched out into NZ, therefore why they totally own us with their professionalism (damn them) .. but I actually know Gian and Masha (the instructors) well (particularly Gian ) so I think they will be okay it / get over it fairly quickly...

funny how no one likes the ones I do glad I asked on here before sending off to the printers !!

[ducasi]

Originally Posted by Anna

My bad I forgot to mention that these are NOT the final copies..

OK, that's cool.

Which ones are yours? I quite liked the one with the woman on the beach... Now that's sabor!

[bigdjiver]

Why "Auckland"? Don't your customers know where they are? Aren't you planning "Tomorrow the world"? If you are going to hype yourself up do it big - "New Zealand's most sextra~ous dance class"? (I don't believe for one moment that you will want it, but, copyright me, just in case. If you do you want it you can have it. )

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by bigdjiver

Why "Auckland"? Don't your customers know where they are? Aren't you planning "Tomorrow the world"? If you are going to hype yourself up do it big - "New Zealand's most sextra~ous dance class"? (I don't believe for one moment that you will want it, but, copyright me, just in case. If you do you want it you can have it. )

You can't copyright a phrase or tagline like that. You can apply to have it registered as a trademark, but that costs money and you have to be actually using it, or planning to use it, in trade.

[Andy McGregor]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

You can't copyright a phrase or tagline like that. You can apply to have it registered as a trademark, but that costs money and you have to be actually using it, or planning to use it, in trade.

However, you can claim the rights to use a trademark by trading in that item. You then have a trademark and you can use TM to assert your rights to that mark. However, you can not use R in a circle as that claims that your mark is registered.

[philsmove]

Number two for me as well

If you want to register a trademark go here or get professional advice

If the artwork is not yours checkout the copyright situation

[bigdjiver]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

You can't copyright a phrase or tagline like that. You can apply to have it registered as a trademark, but that costs money and you have to be actually using it, or planning to use it, in trade.

Quite right, but not everybody knows that. "Ignorant" misuse of intellectual protection symbols seldom incurs any real penalty, but often deters competitors. They are the business equivalent of the bogus burglar alarm, or "Beware of the dog" signs. It also shows intent to possess, rather than to give it away, which may tilt the balance in some cases.

[bigdjiver]

Originally Posted by philsmove

... If the artwork is not yours checkout the copyright situation

I would say: If the artwork is not yours, then get your own.

From the book "The Emyth - why most businesses do not work, and what to do about it." by Michael Gerber - "Pretend that the business you own ... is the prototype for 5,000 more just like it. ... In other words, pretend that you are going to franchise your business."

This is why I suggested dropping "Auckland". From day one you are trying to build a brand.

Poster 2 could be produced as in three colours. Red, yellow and black. As a logo it could be produced as a small sow on badge using just 2, 3 or 4 threads. It is distinctive enough to be recognisable from a distance even in a small size, and has, as been said, a wow factor if put on a T-shirt. It needs something else, probably on the bottom, to make it obviously unique.

An example, rescued from the bin - change the name to something like "Latin Fheet". This is not a real word, and could be trademakable. We still have the "heat" connotation, so the image still acts a memory aid, but now the bottom of the logo could look like a footprint. This would probably make the image unique and even more memorable. I would think a court would be more inclined to give such an image copyright protection, and to stop competitors "passing off" their products and services using similar imagery.

I suggest that you think about intellectual property from day 1. If thinking small it helps prevent larger competitors rippingyou off, and if think big, it is what you will one day be selling to your franchisees.

[RogerR]

Welcome to the shark tank! This is where the art takes second place to the business. Make sure you own all you use, especially copyright in the elements of your design. Make sure you protect your Unique Selling Points as far as possible. If the trade marks are yours, keep them that way. Be absolutely sure who owns what among all your friends colaborators and buisness associates. There are frequent references to the Ceroc Model here be absolutely certain of your (Latin Heat) model.