BEST FRINGE POSTCARD CONTEST

The San Francisco Fringe Festival, thanks to a generous donation from a Fringe volunteer, will provide a $200 award for the Best Fringe Postcard as determined by a panel of graphic artists. To enter the contest, Fringe performers need to have their postcards in the Fringe Hospitality Center at the EXIT Café at 156 Eddy Street by Sunday September 9th. The Award will be announced at the Fringe Closing Night Party on Sunday September 16th.

Fringe performers around the world have found that postcards, or small flyers, are among the most useful tools a performer can have to promote their show. Give them to your friends to remind them about your performance dates. Give them to strangers to entice them to see you perform. Give them to Fringe audience members going to a show or leaving a show to entice them to see another Fringe show (yours!).

The Best Fringe Postcard Award is provided to encourage Fringe performers to create good, effective postcards which will then help them build audiences.

GOOD POSTCARD DESIGN - comments from a design professional

The goal is to capture the eye with striking artwork, tell the viewer what, and have a tag line that sells. You want the viewer to pick the card up and examine it, probably take it along.

The Artwork

Simple, striking art, not necessarily connected to the event, but bold and arresting. Color is a plus. If there is something curious about the design that intrigues the viewer, so much the better. Emotions sell - love, violence, sex, heroics, et cetera.

The Font

Must be clear and very readable. Text should stand out: i.e., letters must contrast strongly with the background.

The Text

Should pique the viewer's curiosity about the show, and appeal to an emotional hot button for most people. Direct information about the show is nice, but not at all essential. Brevity is important. Details on who, where, when, dates, and times should be on the reverse unless these contain key selling points, e.g., a well known star, a Christmas play during the holidays, a performance held at a celebrated and unusual venue.