Try some variations without the guitar. Its a very overused image for a band. Maybe the reasoning behind the name will inspire some more ideas. Get Yves to give you some feedback since he is a musician. In terms of the type and banners everything looks boxed in and stiff, is this what their music represents?

Lance,

maybe is a good idea to make a typographic composition in the shape of a guitar (since this is the main instrument). The work of Herb Lubalin could give you brilliant examples.

christos

my friend told me it needs to be an electric guitar instead of an acoustic guitar... but i'm thinking maybe to not use one at all, thanks dan, and just have cool words. but words in the shape of something always cheeses me out. hmmmmm...

Lance - I really enjoy a lot of House of Blues work that I've seen,
in print mostly, but some of it Tshirt designs.

http://www.hob.com/

In this specific design, where there should be soul,
I feel a rigidity in the colors and in the layout.

The scroll, if you use it, could be freeflowing.
I have some examples I could send you.

With a two-word name, I wouldn't break it up like
you have done.

Have you sketched anything out.

1 suggestion

try sketching out Hobson's Choice,
hobson's choice and HOBSON'S CHOICE.

...on a straight line and stacked in the
varying Case Treatments.

This will give you a feel for the letters you have
at your disposal, the shapes the letters make
together, etc. Look for harmonious interplay.

From that, figure out a general 'flavor' that you would
like to convey. I would also pick your friend's
brain a little more and show him/her some
type samples.

The current typeface choice seems more
classical than bluesy, in my humble opinion.

For some reason, I see possibilities here:

http://onewayout.com/fonts/font.html

http://www.letterheadfonts.com/

Also, Hobson's Choice, as you prob. know is
a misnomer ... perhaps you could play off that?


bj

I agree about the rigidity factor.

Check out the posters at this site for inspiration:
http://www.thebirdmachine.com/
I lost a few hours here the other day getting stoked about sketching and screen printing.

Also check this free type:
http://www.fountain.nu/catalogue/anticca.asp
Could have a a bluesy feel.

Randy

Blues makes me think Hand Lettered
and that makes me think, Art Chantry.

www.artchantry.com/

his site is not up, but his work has been featured
in plenty of books.

he hangs out at
www.gigposters.com/

What I like about some of the HOB stuff is the hand-lettered quality.
This quality isn't necessarily conveyed at the website,
which features Countryhouse prominently.


bj

Lance also go to the iTunes store and check out some of the covers of Blues CDs maybe it will provide some inspiration and as BJ says get away from the computer and make some scribbles. The best ideas I ever come up with are scribbles on paper with a pencil.

here are some sketches and other approaches... these all came before the blue one posted above. eh?
1.

____________________
2.

____________________
3.

____________________
4.

____________________
5.

I like these ... No. 3 i like the best.

for the Tee design,
is there a graphic element to go with the
lettering/type.

#3...nice.

The arrow makes a logic link with the "choice".

What if (in the same manner) you would put the words in the shape of a guitar ending in the arrow?

christos.

hey lance - I actually really like the top blue design just as is.

its got something awkwardly nostalgic and feels crafty in a homemade sense. kind'a reminds me of Neil Young and stuff - havest moon time.

?

For people not familiar with the term, Hobson's choice refers to a hostler, someone who would rent out horses, named Hobson who allowed customers only to take whichever horse was closest to the front of the stable. (Similar is the slogan about early Ford cars - you could get them in any colour, so long as it was black.)

The ragged one-way street sign looks like a good start. Perhaps the left end of the box could be left open, and the shaft of the arrow could turn into the neck of an electric guitar, an effect I've tried and utterly failed to get across here:

Darren - oh, I wasn't familiar with the term at all (don't blame me, I'm finnish..). I just thought Hobson was an imaginary character or the name of the lead of the band.