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The best feature for me by far is that I can give someone only the contact information I want them to have. A quick jotting down of the number or email I prefer them to have, and they're all set. Plus it's far more personalized.
I just wish more people would use them, so I don't have to explain it as much.
While they would probably be a little more cookie-cutter than the choices you mentioned in the article, I imagine that using VistaPrint's free business card offer would probably get the job done for those of us who don't have the money to spare. I can see a few of the free designs on there that might work for this purpose.
-doozieUp
http://doozieUp.com
Great article. I enjoyed learning the history behind calling cards.
I understand your point and agree that a man should pursue the lady. But giving a lady your card and then waiting for her to respond is in keeping with the old etiquette of calling cards. A gentleman first simply left his card at a lady's house, and then the lady had to send her card in return to initiate further visiting and contact.
Hill's Manual of Social and Business Forms (a sort of etiquette book), published in 1882, considers "Prof" to be a honorary title. So that's where I got it.
Jonathan Arnold
General Manager
I appreciate how you recommend including contemporary communication methods (Facebook, e-mail, Twitter, etc.). Just because you're kickin' it old school with the medium, you don't have to abandon all those ways we get in touch with one another these days.
If you have some extra cash and want to impress a lady who knows her stationery (even if you are unaware of it at the time!) go with the Crane & Co. option. It's the best choice for simple quality, as almost all of their paper is 100% cotton or linen-based. If she's at all into writing letters or just enjoys sending nice thank you notes, she'll appreciate your timeless choice.
Personally, I'm the opposite of Mary Catherine. Whether it comes from Vista Print or Crane, I would call a guy back in a heartbeat if I left with his calling card. In fact, I would be far more inclined to go out on a proper date with a "stranger" if I had his contact information ahead of time. It just feels safer. And I've already had the chance to be impressed by his snazzy cards! :)
I considered including moo.com, but since they are made with a photo covering one side of the card, I considered them a bit too outside the traditional calling card style. And you cannot write on the back. But they're definitely a good option for someone who doesn't mind that and wants something more modern.
I was also going to mention moo cards, but I agree with you that you can't write on them very easily. I think the idea of a modern day calling card will take some time to catch on, but the idea is incredible! Just imagine the networking and self-branding that you will be able to reinforce with a cool calling card.
Best,
Coop
If I send you a S.A.S.E, would you send me one of your AoM cards??!!
:)
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Neat article -- thanks.
I use calling cards. I don't have business cards, and well, if I did, unless I was trying to get someone's resume, they wouldn't much make sense. When I'm networking and want it to be easy for someone to remember that geeky chick who knew so much about Linux...well, the calling card with my name in both plain text on front and a pink binary watermark on back + Tux the Linux penguin on the front...yeah, should be pretty memorable.
Thank you for posting.
Very cool article. I've contracted my designer roommate to make a whimsical victorian/steampunk-esque design and a plain card with only my name for whenever that's more appropriate.
A way around the problem of having a photo on one side of the card would be to use the text tool in Photoshop or Fireworks to create a text image and use that for the photo side of the card.
Thanks for teaching me something and bringing back memories.
Johnny
Since we were acting in a communal capacity I suppose the individuality of a calling card was unnecessary and would have confused the foe.
- Vaapas
made by chiseling, in reverse, the desired letters down into a copper or steel block. the ink is squeezed into the chiseled grooves, then the block with ink is pressed onto the top of the paper, with pressure from behind, and sometimes steam, leaving raised paper with raised ink lettering, and a depression on the rear of the card.
not too many folks left who can chisel type in metal backwards. expensive.
thermography, with thick raised ink, duplicates half that engraved look, without the depression on the back.
the smallest cards are diplomatic, smaller than business cards.
They were also useful for giving any kind of information from a conversation such as the name of a recommended book, play, restaurant or tailor. I will do my part to bring them back in my area.
As I replied to a woman with the same argument above, the idea of having a man give you a card and then contacting the man if interested is in keeping with the earlier tradition of calling cards. A gentleman would leave his calling card with a lady, and then wait to see if she would send a card in return and that would initiate further visits. So it's quite a gentlemanly thing to do from a historical perspective. I think it's a good balance between having the man doing all the pursuing and giving the woman the chance to make a decision. The man initiates interest by giving a card, but then the woman decides whether she wants to be pursued or not.
Smythson of Bond St (also in New York)
Mrs. John L. Strong
-shawn
I think a man can effectively use a calling card for dating purposes, but don't just give them out and wait for the ladies to call. Your success rate is going to be underwhelming if that is your plan. Give the card, but also get her number. Then when you call her, she knows exactly who is calling because she already has your card. If she accepts the date but something later prevents her from keeping it, she can easily contact you to cancel or reschedule and you are not left sitting at the coffee shop alone for an hour.
My calling card has a traditional design with my name relatively centered in a script font that is slightly fancy but still masculine (Park Avenue BT font, bolded, 22pt. black). I also include one phone number and my personal email address in a simpler 10pt. font on two lines centerd below my name toward the bottom of the card. Just enough information to be useful, but it is still uncluttered and elegant.
A friend of mine who is an aviation enthusiast uses his cards for networking within the aviation community. His card has a background image of his distinctive airplane. The email address listed on the card contains his aircraft tail number (which is also his radio callsign). Very slick. Receiving his card several years ago is what inspired me to get my own.
I was asked to design a calling card for a friend and came upon your site. Kudos! The information is timely and modern while still paying homage to tradition. I'm now considering them for personal use as well.
With regard to using them in dating situations - I agree that tradition wins out for me. Modern dating practices (if that's what they are) leave women and girls very vulnerable with being expected to give out personal information such as a phone number to any guy who "asks" just so she's not the first to make a move. My thoughts are that if a man gives me a calling card, --and whispers "Call me,"-- he HAS just made the first move, and a very provocative, seductive, and manly one at that.
Thanks again.
But the fact is that most of us are not Sean Connery and we may need to rely on something a little more certain than the hope that we have impressed her enough during our first contact that she will be moved to call. Consider your own husband. Upon your first meeting, did he impress you that much? A lot of women I know say it took them a while to warm up to the man they eventually married. In fact, they often say they thought he was a dork at first. It takes more than a card and a whisper to clear that hurdle.
So yeah, your advice is excellent.
For George Clooney.
When I give out my personal card, the next thing out of the person's mouth is a question about where I work. I find it flows more smoothly if I first give them my business card and then if I want them to have my personal contact information, I also give them that card in addition, with the explanation that it contains my personal contact information. This seems to make more sense to people than just getting my personal card and being confused about why it doesn't have a business logo on it. So the personal card just becomes a convenience instead of having to write the information on the business card. And by the way, the personal contact information that is relevant 99% of the time is just my cell phone number, and that could easily be added to my business card layout.
A personal card is more useful for people who do not have a business card, such as retirees, students, home makers, or people who don't have the kind of job that requires a card. It would also be helpful for people who want to network within a special interest group such as an amatur musician, actor or artist and especially if the card clearly identifies that interest.
But if you have a business card, you are probably better off using that in most social situations than using a separate personal card. It's just what people expect and are comfortable with in today's world.
It is one of the best searches of the internet! very useful!
Actually, confidence and assertiveness are far more attractive to me. Just because Hollywood has coupled looks with desireable personality characteristics does not mean a good looking man will possess the ability to make my knees turn to jelly . Most good-looking men that I've encountered rely only on their looks and never take time to develop true masculine skills. The more average looking men have much more going for him in my opinion.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it true that men find confidence and attitude is the key to a woman's sexiness regardless of size, age or physical beauty? Perhaps your experience is not the same, but women I've spoken to agree that confidence, an air of authority and intelligence are the things that draw them to certain men - even short, hairy, overweight ones.
So yes, I may be a bit of a romantic, but not for the beautiful George Clooneys or Brad Pitts of the world.
Anyway, the point of my original reply was that I believe it's more appropriate for men to initiate contact and presenting a calling card is a wonderful way to do so while still giving women a sense of security.
Thanks.
sharon: your perspectives on this great calling card issue is quite encouraging :-)
I was in a situation where I was just casually getting a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop, and was just struck by the attractiveness of the barista who served me.
To make a long story short, after some brief small talk (e.g. How are you, how's your day, I'll order an eggnog latte, pls), I went ahead and asked for her phone number, assuming there the coffee company lets her do that kinda thing (you know, important safety policies that are in place b/c baristas must be asked out ALL the time by good, bad and the weird!). She smiled a wide smile at that and said she wasn't allowed to, so I just went ahead and gave her one of my "personal calling cards" that I had made on my own graphics programs, and I went ahead and personalized it a bit too for her.
~So, in my humble opinion, I think these can be handy in types of situations... where, even after doing the "manly thing" like asking for number with some degree of "class" (I hope!), and for whatever reason (in this case, employment safety precautions/afraid of losing her job...or other cases, personal safety reasons, perhaps), she can't or won't give her number. Then you still leave her with a creative memento, and a neat way to display your unique personality and a means to contact you if she wants.
Can anybody else identify with this?
As manufacturers of < personalized stationery, calling cards, like actual letter writing are newly appreciated and special becasue of their rariety.
I have to say, I'm impressed. This article was pointed out to me in January, because the mention of our company is neither bad nor entirely good, and it peaked my interest, as did the entire premise of this site.
Since then, not only have I read a great deal more of the posts and comments on this site and others that are linking to it, I asked around and got our designers to come up with a few more calling card designs for men.
Similar to a few of the previous commentors, I'm someone who handed out business cards to everyone, regardless of the situation, and since it now occurs to me that a personal calling card would be much more appropriate on many occasions... I submit myself, convinced...and I have our new Suit of Armor cards in a card case in my coat pocket at all times. ;)
Congrats on the great article and thanks for pointing out a hole we could fill. More designs coming soon!
Joshua Winkler
American Stationery
On a serious note though, the design of the traditional calling card is a great thing to look back on as inspiration for the modern version of such a device. I will certainly be looking at how I can incporporate this elegance in my future designs...