I can do a really great job of explaining to you where the paper towels are in our kitchen, but I don’t need to.
You know where they’re going to be.
Knowing what information to spare your audience of is just as important as the information you decide to share.
Here’s a good example:
If you make a show poster for your next gig, the reason you go around and hang it up is so that, ultimately, people who see it will come to your show.
So what purpose does the poster have? What needs to be on the poster?
Your name. The date. Possibly the venue (but probably not).
It’s not the time of the show. You can leave that off.
It’s not because you listed the city. If I see your poster on a street pole in Nashville I already know the advertised show is in Nashville with out you telling me. You can leave that off.
It’s not how artsy the poster is. A poster is to inform, not persuade.
If the poster is hanging in the venue, don’t use up space on the poster listing the venue. If you’re poster is hanging up at Exit/In, I automatically assume that’s where the advertised show is.
It’s not the price. For sure not on the show poster anyway. Leave it off.
If I know who you are and what date you’re coming to town via your show poster I have everything I need in order to take the next step. And truthfully I’ve probably already made my decision with those two factors.
Don’t over complicate.
Your audience is smart. They connect the dots. Their eyes see and remember the most important information and discard the rest, so you can do them a favor and not tell them things they’re going to discard anyway.
With this idea in mind…sorry this post was so long.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com