A good logo is an invaluable tool in the imaging and marketing of a developing artist-- so it’s worthwhile to design a logo immediately after you have settled on your name. But unlike your name, it’s more acceptable to change your logo over the years without losing or confusing fans. 311 and The Rolling Stones are great examples of bands that have either changed or modified their logos to adapt with changing times or the themes of certain albums or tours.

Of course, not every artist has a logo. But a logo can only help. Remember that your name simply and consistently printed in a certain standard font can be a fine logo (e.g. Cheap Trick ).

Good logos, simply put, are logos that look cool. I personally like logos that are minimal, easy to remember, tied into the artist’s name, and easily reproduced-- i.e. anybody could scribble the logo on the cover of their notebook, it doesn’t take a great artist to reproduce it. Like your name, your logo should somehow also be in line with the vibe of your act-- it should gel with the sound of your music and the attitude of your band members. My favorite logo belongs to Nine Inch Nails.

I would recommend that a bandmember or friend design the logo, so that there is a genuine and intimate connection between the logo and the band. On the other hand, if no one you know is talented in the visual arts, or you are unhappy with the drafts of potential logos you’ve come up with, you can seek help from local design companies, but be careful, as some of these companies can be expensive. Alternately, you can solicit help from local design schools, whose students may be willing to design a logo for free in order to gain working experience and build up their own design portfolios. Try putting flyers/posters up in the schools or posts on school bulletin boards announcing that you are a local band/songwriter looking for a logo designer.