I think you've got the basis of a good concept starting here. I would simplify it down though. I can see a couple of ideas here that might work by themselves.
first one: use the guy like he is there but without effect, just a slick black/white or single colour if the logo needs it lines, leaning over " Q Club . Pool and lounge" . The thing which is the most important will be to use some very beautiful logotype. Really make that type look sexy.
second one: this is a little more tricky to explain, but it would be to use the tail on the Q as the stripe on the ball. its going to be difficult to pull off, but try and combine the ball and the Q more by making a ball out of the Q simpler. I guess i just mean, simplify :)
sorry the suggestions are not that clear, its difficult for me to say what I mean, hope you managed to get some of it lol.
Two major tips though, get rid of the gradients and limit the amount of colours you're using too. I think theres way too much going on. But it has potential ! :)
Atrium, I thought 9 balls are yellow, but the 8 ball is the famous black ball. ( or at least when i just googled images thats what it showed me lol)
But, what about using an 8 ball though for the logo, I would say that is more famous and lucky looking than a 9 ball. ( unless the club is for nine ball pool only ? ) . Imo all logos should be designed in black and white first and then colour added afterwards. Unless colour is a key part to the idea concept.
and I would add that the text under "Q Club" is far too small in relation to the rest. The guy with the cue is good, I just hope it is original and not stolen from elsewhere! I would say that the colours are wrong together too - yellow and blue, yellow and red, red and blue... they're all poor combinations really that don't look very appealing together in a logo. Look up colours and metals - the rule goes that you should never put a colour next to a colour, nor a metal next to a metal (although there may be a few exceptions), this stems from the days of heraldic shields and coats of arms and is still mostly true today. Remember that white is also a colour (a metal in heraldic terms) and should be used as part of your logo.
I think looking at heraldic images should give some good ideas as to what colours look good together; I got a book on heraldry which describes it in detail and has lots of big colourful shields and crests etc, and plenty of colour combinations / designs. You don't have to use the shapes, but the colour contrasts are great. There are a couple of design books you might like to look up, one is called Lost Logos, I forget about the other one, but basically they're just page after page of examples.
just read through some of the feedback you've been getting—i agree with a lot of it. there is definately too much happening here. there could easily be two seperate logos pulled from this one. i'd choose either the person or the ball and develop them each, seperatly, a bit more and see where they go. i love the suggestion to morph the ball into the letter Q a bit more seamlessly.
it's almost like there are two totally different styles trying to be merged, which i think it making it look extra busy. the illustration of the person is very loose and suggestive whereas the ball is so litteral...if you really want them both, try give them each the same feel. however, in the end i think the name will get lost as it is small in comparison to all the other stuff happening around it.
i agree that the gradients should GO!! as should the drop shadows. you should keep in mind that a lot of these logos are going to get faxed and photocopied..gradients don't hold up well on faxes.
definately agree with making the type sexy!! the font used for 'pool hall and loung' hits me right in the gag reflex—no offense. it's just really expected for pubs and lounges to have that font as their logo. almost overkill..it might as well be Comic Sans up there!!
play with the colours a bit more... there are three really strong colours happening that aren't from the same pallette. trying using black and one strong accent colour...or two colours that are more complimentrary. or pick one colour at 100% then try screens ie:70% or 40% of the same colour. it will give the illusion of multiple colours but will keep printing cost down—the client will love that.
finishing on a positive note the illustration of the guy is great! if you did it keep working in that direction. this is a personal opinion but i love vector art in logos.
jay hit it on the nose. stay away from piecing together images, and stick with the illustration. The vector art will be more recongizeably remembered anyhow. Nine ball, corner pocket. ;)
The "Q" with the dark blue gradient on it looks too much like the "Q" that is used for the QuickTime software app to me.
Not crazy about the font used for "pool and lounge". It's a script that is used too often, and it's not that readable or attractive in the first place.
There are lots of better script fonts available. The ones offered on Veer.com seem particularly more readable and contemporary to me.
Simplify
I think you've got the basis of a good concept starting here. I would simplify it down though. I can see a couple of ideas here that might work by themselves.
first one: use the guy like he is there but without effect, just a slick black/white or single colour if the logo needs it lines, leaning over " Q Club . Pool and lounge" . The thing which is the most important will be to use some very beautiful logotype. Really make that type look sexy.
second one: this is a little more tricky to explain, but it would be to use the tail on the Q as the stripe on the ball. its going to be difficult to pull off, but try and combine the ball and the Q more by making a ball out of the Q simpler. I guess i just mean, simplify :)
sorry the suggestions are not that clear, its difficult for me to say what I mean, hope you managed to get some of it lol.
Two major tips though, get rid of the gradients and limit the amount of colours you're using too. I think theres way too much going on. But it has potential ! :)
__
GOO
Yes, and the nine ball
The nine ball is infamous for it's solid BLACK coloring. This information actually might help you with the 'Q'.
grayscale might not be a bad idea here?? Maybe, maybe not.
I thought...
Atrium, I thought 9 balls are yellow, but the 8 ball is the famous black ball. ( or at least when i just googled images thats what it showed me lol)
But, what about using an 8 ball though for the logo, I would say that is more famous and lucky looking than a 9 ball. ( unless the club is for nine ball pool only ? ) . Imo all logos should be designed in black and white first and then colour added afterwards. Unless colour is a key part to the idea concept.
__
GOO
I agree - simplify...
and I would add that the text under "Q Club" is far too small in relation to the rest. The guy with the cue is good, I just hope it is original and not stolen from elsewhere! I would say that the colours are wrong together too - yellow and blue, yellow and red, red and blue... they're all poor combinations really that don't look very appealing together in a logo. Look up colours and metals - the rule goes that you should never put a colour next to a colour, nor a metal next to a metal (although there may be a few exceptions), this stems from the days of heraldic shields and coats of arms and is still mostly true today. Remember that white is also a colour (a metal in heraldic terms) and should be used as part of your logo.
Ooops!
you're right, jammo..it IS the eight ball that is black.
Perhaps, that's what I meant though, the black eight ball is more universally recognizable.
The striped yellow nine ball is forever in the eight ball's shadow.
Side note/question...is there any website/book that gives great advice on what colors go well together? Or what fonts are more readable, etc?
Colours
I think looking at heraldic images should give some good ideas as to what colours look good together; I got a book on heraldry which describes it in detail and has lots of big colourful shields and crests etc, and plenty of colour combinations / designs. You don't have to use the shapes, but the colour contrasts are great. There are a couple of design books you might like to look up, one is called Lost Logos, I forget about the other one, but basically they're just page after page of examples.
hmmm...
just read through some of the feedback you've been getting—i agree with a lot of it. there is definately too much happening here. there could easily be two seperate logos pulled from this one. i'd choose either the person or the ball and develop them each, seperatly, a bit more and see where they go. i love the suggestion to morph the ball into the letter Q a bit more seamlessly.
it's almost like there are two totally different styles trying to be merged, which i think it making it look extra busy. the illustration of the person is very loose and suggestive whereas the ball is so litteral...if you really want them both, try give them each the same feel. however, in the end i think the name will get lost as it is small in comparison to all the other stuff happening around it.
i agree that the gradients should GO!! as should the drop shadows. you should keep in mind that a lot of these logos are going to get faxed and photocopied..gradients don't hold up well on faxes.
definately agree with making the type sexy!! the font used for 'pool hall and loung' hits me right in the gag reflex—no offense. it's just really expected for pubs and lounges to have that font as their logo. almost overkill..it might as well be Comic Sans up there!!
play with the colours a bit more... there are three really strong colours happening that aren't from the same pallette. trying using black and one strong accent colour...or two colours that are more complimentrary. or pick one colour at 100% then try screens ie:70% or 40% of the same colour. it will give the illusion of multiple colours but will keep printing cost down—the client will love that.
finishing on a positive note the illustration of the guy is great! if you did it keep working in that direction. this is a personal opinion but i love vector art in logos.
jay
on the nose..
jay hit it on the nose. stay away from piecing together images, and stick with the illustration. The vector art will be more recongizeably remembered anyhow. Nine ball, corner pocket. ;)
Typography you used
The "Q" with the dark blue gradient on it looks too much like the "Q" that is used for the QuickTime software app to me.
Not crazy about the font used for "pool and lounge". It's a script that is used too often, and it's not that readable or attractive in the first place.
There are lots of better script fonts available. The ones offered on Veer.com seem particularly more readable and contemporary to me.