CHECK IT OUT! A more detailed (and more up to date) description of the logo creation process is now detailed in the Aazurn Publishing section of Comic Artists Direct at http://www.comicartistsdirect.com/aazurn4.html.
Below is typical of the creative process, when a customer wants ideas and I go in different directions. Notice, though, that because this is for a sports bar, I work with a sports bar "look." It's important to me that a logo is not only attractive - balanced, kerned and easy to read - but communicates something about the business, too.
I've forgotten more logos than I could find for this webpage! Below is a representative sampling of those I found to display. After all this time, it's still kinda fun to see my creations pop up around town. All logos are copyright © by their respective companies.
Here is probably my most widely recognized graphic in my immediate area. The local prosecutor's office had signs made of this to put around the "school zones," where punishments are doubled for illegal drug possession. I've always thought artwork should be useful, and hey, if there's a moral component too, so much the better.