In a bit of a pickle

Jacob L

Jacob L

Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
So I was reading a thread and came across a post Luis Vega said.
"you should never...ever....put your address on a business card, unless it's an office where someone can come and see you."
I ordered business cards a few weeks back and when they came in, I was so pumped about them. Unfortunately, I put my home address on there, not really thinking at the time.

So what do I do? Reorder another 250 cards and let the first order go to waste? I don't have money to just burn (my parents paid for the first set, but I don't want to have them do that again, especially at my expense). I don't want to risk someone coming to my house with potential harm in mind, but I don't want to throw out 250 cards.

Any help guys?

Jacob
 
M

mehar

May 8, 2010
857
0
Vancouver BC
www.bendingkarma.com
If your familiar with the video game "Call of Duty Black Ops," in the beginning of each mission it shows you the details like:

6400 mansion on main street
20:00 hours
Alex Mason with Hudon and George

and it'll keep going with the details.

After you have read the details it will take out all the useless stuff that it tells you. It would possibly take out 6400 main street and only keep mansion. It may also take out all the names except for yours.

I think that you may be able to grab a sharpie and kind of do that with your business card. Blank out your first name or last name, your address, area code, etc...?

It's just an idea that popped into my head when I thought about the whole problem.
 
Jacob L

Jacob L

Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
mehar said:
If your familiar with the video game "Call of Duty Black Ops," in the beginning of each mission it shows you the details like:

6400 mansion on main street
20:00 hours
Alex Mason with Hudon and George

and it'll keep going with the details.

After you have read the details it will take out all the useless stuff that it tells you. It would possibly take out 6400 main street and only keep mansion. It may also take out all the names except for yours.

I think that you may be able to grab a sharpie and kind of do that with your business card. Blank out your first name or last name, your address, area code, etc...?

It's just an idea that popped into my head when I thought about the whole problem.
Click to expand...

Interesting connection. Are you saying do all this prior to handing them out or make it an effect?
 
RickEverhart

RickEverhart

forum moderator / t11
Elite Member
Sep 14, 2008
3,637
471
47
Louisville, OH
Jacob,
It is not a huge ordeal. Just use the cards and don't do it again. Ha Ha. The "Business Card Police" is not going to come after you or anything. It's just that most people do not put their address unless people have to come to that location for a service.
 
T

TeeDee

Sep 2, 2007
1,186
16
43
London
Yeah, I agree with Reverhart. I think it's highly unlikely that anyone will turn up at your door after being given your business card.
 
Jacob L

Jacob L

Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
reverhart said:
Jacob,
It is not a huge ordeal. Just use the cards and don't do it again. Ha Ha. The "Business Card Police" is not going to come after you or anything. It's just that most people do not put their address unless people have to come to that location for a service.
Click to expand...

Haha well I know that, I just thought it was a colossal error. Thanks for easing my mind rev.
 
Justin.Morris

Justin.Morris

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2007
2,814
898
Canada
www.morrismagic.ca
Personally, I'd just spend the $40 and get new ones, and chalk it up to the cost of business.
Your address on the cards is not the end of the world, but not the safest decision either.
 
Jacob L

Jacob L

Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
mehar said:
I would do it prior to handing them out, but so they could vaguely see that something was written there. If you're creative enough, I'm sure you could think of some idea to incorporate it into a performance!
Click to expand...

Yeah good point, thanks man!
 
RickEverhart

RickEverhart

forum moderator / t11
Elite Member
Sep 14, 2008
3,637
471
47
Louisville, OH
Justin, I think that is what you and I would probably do, but this was his parents who shelled out the money for them so I think dumping them in the trash and asking for more is not the best option at this point in time for him.

I understand what you are saying though.
 
notsoltd

notsoltd

Sep 2, 2007
1,182
119
33
Houston, TX
It's hard to say what you could do without being able to see the card itself. If the address were on just a flat white background, white out could do wonders.
 
Jamie D. Grant

Jamie D. Grant

theory11 columnist
Oct 12, 2008
189
1
Vancouver
www.cardsinabottle.com
If it's at the bottom, perhaps you could cut it off?
If it's a one sided card, use them for Center Tear effects?
Out to Lunch effects?

Personally, I probably wouldn't hand them out, except to people that know my address already (friends, family, etc.)

~jamie

___________________________________________________________________________________________


Further Reading~The Essays:

Rates FAQ 2.0 (how much to charge) by Jamie D. Grant Essay #1
The single most important thing you can do... Essay #2
How many tricks should you learn? Essay #3
Tips or Wage? ~more thoughts from JDG /Essay #4
How to design a business card~ Essay #5 by JDG
Who I am~ Magic Friday ~ by Jamie D. Grant
Developing Your Sets - Essay #6 from JDG
Do you need a stage show? Essay #7 by JDG
Crushing the Haters! Essay #8 by Jamie D. Grant
 
Jacob L

Jacob L

Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
Thanks for all the replies guys, I've gotten several different suggestions.
I'll look into that Out to Lunch effect, I know Rev posted it in another thread earlier.

I still want to use them so I might just mark out the address. A bit unprofessional I know, but better than throwing away 30 bucks.

Thanks again everyone!

Jacob
 
IAmTheChin

IAmTheChin

Jan 9, 2011
48
0
Jacob,
Are you trying to become a professsional magician, or is this still a serious hobby? Because if it is still in the hobby territory, there should be no reason you should pay $40 for business cards. Business cards are meant to advertise you as a promotionalist/entertainer. However, being just a hobbyist myself, I love using business card effects. Just burn through your "unacceptable" cards for those tricks. Write their prediction on there and its theres to keep. Perform Alpha Deck, (it'll use 26 cards just to do the trick). Use the Window Effect, Out to Lunch, etc. Mentalism/predictions usually utilize writing utensils the most. Just give them out after you wrote your prediction as a souvenir. (No reason to throw them away especially if you went through all that money).

Eventually if you get low enough you can order again through VistaPrint. I pay around $10 for 250. No advertisement on back. You can create your own picture to upload on there (which I love). I even include a little sh*ts-and-giggles prediction reveal IN my background photo (or you can put it in your information, like 7 of Hearts Ln) idk. But its fun, and its cheap.

Obviously if you're a professional though, don't wait to burn through your old ones. Business cards are essential to surviving in this market.
 
Jacob L

Jacob L

Jun 1, 2009
1,066
6
Thanks so much Chin. Looking back at my order it was actually around 10 bucks, I guess I mistook those for a different purchase,whoops haha. Anyway, I like the ideas you have about using them to write on, but my address will still be there (unless I "test" the pen on the address, thus scribbling it out, hmmm...) I'll definitely look into those effects you posted.

Thanks again

Jacob
 
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