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When networking and marketing, one of the most common ways to introduce yourself or pass along your contact information is through business cards.

I'm wondering though, since the sound industry has so many titles in it, what do you currently have as the title on your card? And what did you have it as when you were starting out?

Should a beginner be vague and put "Sound Guy", or go a little more specific with something like "Sound Effects Editor", while not jumping to the mighty "Sound Designer"?

NOTE: I apologize that this is in the same vein as this question regarding when to call yourself a Sound Designer, but I felt weird answering one question with another, slightly different, question. If anything, I can see this being the fact answers (what you actually have on your business card), while the other question covers the opinions/reasonings of title semantics.

Thanks!

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Hey Bryan, legit question even despite mine - it's a nice follow-up that I can learn from as well.

For the business card, I would try something like "Sound for _" where the blank is the media you want to work in. Shows some aspirations for a specific field but doesn't oversell yourself as a crazy 10th dan Sound Designer or anything. That's what I'm thinking, anyways.

"Sound Guy" is honestly what I see some Craigslist posts looking for and what most people will be referring to you as when they pass your name around to interested parties ("Hey, I have this sound guy who might be able to help...") but strikes me as a little loose for professional representation purposes.

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  • Great idea! I like "Sound for _" because it covers a lot of bases at once! And thanks for tying the two posts together :)
    – Bryan Ploof
    Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 17:37
  • I actually like "Sound guy". It is totally what people call us for any sound role, it doesn't sound too specific, and it can be a bit of an ice breaker.
    – Miles B.
    Commented Aug 28, 2011 at 3:59
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Personally, on my card, I have "Sound Editor" because that term is specific to what I do yet general enough that I can be a chameleon of sorts - does it mean sound effects editor? dialogue editor? supervising sound editor? It merely comes down to how I choose to market myself to that person, and sometimes it can be all three simultaneously for different shows - since the title is general enough, there's a lot of leverage and I haven't deadlocked myself.

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This is actually a pretty timely question as I'm redesigning my card right now, and all of these answers have me hesitating on sending them to the printer.

Currently I have "Sound Edit | Sound Design | Re-recording Mix", which I changed from "Sound Editor | Sound Designer | Re-recording Mixer". For some reason removing the "-er" from each makes it feel like less of a pompous declaration of ego. Also, I find it a little more specific than "Sound for Picture" as I am neither a Location Mixer nor a Boom Op.

Problem is, I want to market myself to the widest number of possible clients, but don't want to appear as a "jack-of-all-trades, master of none". Also, I'm moving to LA, where they have actual "Sound Designers" and wouldn't dare put myself on the same level despite going through similar processes.

I had considered making up some ostentatious title like "Audician", which I truly like, but don't want to have to explain every time I hand out my card.

[potential client] - "You misspelled "Audition" on your card."

[me] - "No see, it's like Acoustician, but with audio rather than acoustics"

[potential client] - "Wouldn't that be the same thing?"

[me] - "They're related, but no, not really. You see acoustician refers to someone who deals with the physics of sound in a space, they're typically more of a scientist. I work with audio, or recorded sound. I record sounds, then edit and mix the audio to create a soundtrack."

[potential client] - (glazed over) "So you're a Sound Designer? You should just put that on your card. It's far less confusing. I look at this and I'm like, 'What's he auditioning for? And why is it printed on his card?' "

[me] - (restraining the #facepalm) "Yeah, I thought about that too."

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  • Audician does sound cool! But I think you're right in that it causes more confusion than not. We want the card to be memorable, but maybe not in the "he misspelled something" or "I don't even know what he does" way haha. Also, I like the idea of listing multiple titles with the "|", I just don't know which ones I'd choose because I'm just starting out and am interested in everything! For a person with experience like yourself it works though!
    – Bryan Ploof
    Commented Aug 25, 2011 at 17:00
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    I've been thinking of getting some new cards too, and have considered putting "Massive Audio Nerd" on it instead of a title. Probably not specific enough though. lol
    – Shaun Farley
    Commented Aug 25, 2011 at 17:00
  • Haha, awesome idea.
    – James Bryant
    Commented Aug 25, 2011 at 23:54
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I have some cards that say Simply "sound design" on the back and my contact info in the front, some that say "passion for sound", and others that say "Hire me.". These actually work when i've hit it off with someone in a more casual setting

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  • Interesting idea of having multiple cards! Does that mean you carry all the different kinds at once though?
    – Bryan Ploof
    Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 17:45
  • I like the last two ideas a lot.
    – Dave Matney
    Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 17:52
  • @Bryan, yes, ia usually make 100 of each and carry a few of each in a holder, and hand out the one wich is more appropriate to the situation
    – Filipe Chagas
    Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 19:09
  • I could see a real case for having multiple cards, each with their own focus. That way you can market yourself appropriately to the specific client. The clinch is making them distinguishable enough so that you're not fumbling for the "right" card.
    – Steve Urban
    Commented Aug 25, 2011 at 14:48
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I've listed my self as Audio Ninja for years on my cards. It's a bit vague but it's memorable.

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    I have that on a t-shirt! (which I cant bring myself to wear around other audio engineers, thanks wife ;) )
    – Brent_in_Sydney
    Commented Aug 25, 2011 at 6:36
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I use "sound + designer | recordist" on my name card. For the keen eyes, yes I stole the first part from the soundplusdesign website! I'm sorry!!! but it's just so cool.

one thing that I wished I had done however, was to use the word 'sound' in my email address. Think it tells or reminds your clients what you actually do.

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I've always had "Sound Guy" on my business card. Whilst meeting someone at a networking event they said there "isn't enough Sound Guys around". I liked the way he said it, so I stuck it on the card.

Since then, giving out the card everybody see's it and has a giggle. It shows that you have a sense of humor (I've had industry people say this to me). It gives the gist of what I do. If I meet someone who needs to know my specific area's of expertise then I can write it on the card for them.

Although having said that, mine are due a redesign and I have been contemplating a new title.

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    I like the idea of showing that you have a sense of humor :) And in combination with Felipe's multiple cards idea, I'm thinking that having a "Sound Guy" titled card, on top of a more specific card, will provide some good variety depending on who you meet!
    – Bryan Ploof
    Commented Aug 25, 2011 at 23:23
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I don't have a title on mine, just "Music and Sound Design" because that's the legal name of my business, and I feel it says it all.

alt text
(source: davematney.com)

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  • Very nice card! Thanks for posting it! And that seems the best way to go if it's the legal name of your company. Once I get to that point I'll try it out :)
    – Bryan Ploof
    Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 17:43
  • Getting the name was pretty hasty.. I was doing work for a church, and they wanted me to bill them, so I quickly did the paperwork to get it started. Dave Matney Music and Sound Design had a nice ring to it, so I stuck with it. As for the card, my little brother does flash web design for a living, so he hooked me up.
    – Dave Matney
    Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 17:50

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