How many post cards do you do at once?

I just put 200 in the mail today. I have just been comiling up to this point, but I am sure that I need to spread them out a bit if I want to be able to afford it. I have been trying to thing when is the best time to ping someone who is doing an event. 3 months, 6, 9 prior? Some book up a year ahead and sometimes you get these last minute so who knows.

What strategy do you use when doing post cards?

Time of year... I do a blitz in January, another in late April and another in September.

The January blitz gets my "organized" repeaters to call and confirm dates for the year... the April often gets me new bookings for the upcoming event season (May through August) and again the "slower" regulars confirming new dates, and September get the re-confirmations for the Christmas gigs and new bookings for that season.

The max I mail at one time is 50...

I also have my postcard included in the local wedding show gift bags (I'm also a make-up artist) in January which gets it out there to 1000 other people too. This gets me quite a few bookings and inquiries.