Neale,
I notice you have a puppet in your avatar. Is she called "Eggs"? "Bacon and Eggs" would be a great name for a vent act!

Eggsactly....LOL

I know this is an old thread of mine, but I am curious what others think. When entertaining children, I believe it is so important to have a memorable name, don't you? JR

TONY CURTIS
Bernard Schwartz

Haangen-Dazs isn't a real name either.

There is a commercial for eye drops that advises you Not To Touch The Bio Tip tip to your eyes.
What the heck is a Bio Tip?

A sausage company advertised their sausage is "meatier" then the others. As they said "meatier" the sausage floated down to the plate. (like a meatior)

How cold does beer have to be to be advertised as the " coldest beer in town". Who's going to take a thermometer around to 10 liquor stores and argue with them.

No. If you're doing a kids show you shouldn't call it the "baby- hand- chopper show" or the "Children Love Fire, Magic Extranagzva" Common sence should prevail and I think most if the people here are smart enough to know that.

Since you named the thread what's in a name...
I find it quitte peculiar that you use Jolly Roger as your stage name, the Jolly Roger as you are probably aware of is the name of the pirate flag with the skull and crossed bones.
Not a name I would use for children's acts unless there is a obvious pirate theme. I think you are more into Harry Potter theme's but I might be mistaken... but that is just me.

Hello there Jolly Roger.
Glad to see you back on the magic Café, hope you will stay on, for a while anyway.
Before I became Tricky Ricky children would recognised me as the funny magician, sometimes they would remember Richard.Now, they all remember me as Tricky Ricky,even the parents call by that name.
For my banquet and stage name I use (Ricky Shaw)which was given to me by a spectator just like Tricky Rick was by a kid some years back.
Tricky Ricky

Hello Tricky Ricky.........how great to see you on here too!! I hear about you from time to time from our mutual friend in Toronto. I trust you are busy and happy as always!
As far as my own name is concerned, when I originally took on the name, I did indeed dress as a pirate. I did this for most of my shows in London back in the 1980's. It was a very simple pirate costume with a black striped T. shirt, a red neck scarf and a three cornered hat. However, I did find that the pirate theme tended to be more suited to boys than girls, so I went through a metamorphosis of costumes, but still keeping the name. Funnily enough, since I first started this thread a few years ago, I now also use the "Jolly Roger" name for my adult shows, as you will see in my adult website http://www.ComicMagic.com

The name has worked well for me over the years. When I attended Magic Live a couple of years ago, I had one of Jeff McBride's students introduce himself to me. He told me Jeff had asked him to seek me out as Jeff loved my stage name, and he wanted me to impress on the student the importance of having a catchy name!!! I was quite chuffed!! JR

I've gone by The Amazing Spaghetti for a long time. It seems to work well. I have it on the front of my magic cases too. Seems to work well and suit my very silly approach. Kids ask what my real name is sometimes, I say "my mom named me The Amazing Spaghetti - it was going to be The Amazing Ravioli - but someone took it." I'm not so sure it's the best name for getting gigs just for older kids (10 & up) though, but I don't try for those too much right now anyway. .

Except for a short time as a kid, when I went by the name Cabrini, I have always used my real name. The show itself is now named "The Magic and Mayhem of Mike Maturen" to highlight both the magic and comedy aspects of the show. I do a bit of serious magic along with a lot of audience participation comedy stuff. My target audience is kids and families.

I have considered developing an alter ego type character, but haven't found one that I like, or isn't too close to being a ripoff of someone else.

For many years I used the name Caddwynn the Magician. Caddwynn was a family nickname and I liked it but it did nothing for me as a Magician. It made more sense in the past when I was working as an Apprentice to a Wizard Character

Recently I added the name Magical Mary for Children's shows. I'm getting a great response. People know how to pronounce and spell Mary. The Kids seem to enjoy saying Magical Mary.
Mary may be a plain name but it is getting the job done.

I'm having some trouble keeping the names separate, I.E. Caddwynn for adults, Magical Mary for kids, what about mixed groups. What about people who have known me for years as Caddwynn.

Also, knowing how much better response I'm getting for the name Magical Mary I'm wondering about dropping Caddwynn altogether. But should I find a new name to use for adults (mostly Close-Up)? My partner is resistant but He's not seeing the change in response I'm getting over the name change.

-Mary Mowder

Mary.......stick with Magical Mary for kids and adults, and drop anything else. IT AS A GREAT NAME!! It took me years to realize that Jolly Roger works for everyone, and I bet it is the same with Magical Mary. GOOD Luck!!! JR

Kids have to remember the name, though a cheesy name might not work with the adults. The busiest man in Limerick - where I was based for years - was The Great Padini. He is elderly now, but still getting enough gigs. I have got calls from Limerick asking me am I the young Padini or the old Padini. His name has become synonymous with magician in the city.

I use Tony Baloney for kids, and Tony Black for the serious adult stuff. But I often use Tony Baloney for the comedy hypnosis show too. I thought it was a very memorable show, but one gig I have been doing for ten years still bill me as Tony Maloney, so perhaps not as memorable as I thought!

I came up with the name Danny Kazam because it was catchy. I also use the word "Kazam" as my magic word.

The idea came to me while I was rebranding myself as a children's entertainer, and after I created my character based on my own childhood experiences with adults I related with most.

I have been compared several times to Mr. Dress-Up on uppers. Mr. Dress-Up was a big influence for me while growing up so I take the comparison as a compliment. I like performing routines that empower children, while making fun of myself. I make mistakes but always bounce back with the help of the children.

The name really sticks with the children. When I am sometimes out in public and get recognized by children who have seen me perform, they shout out, "It's Danny Kazam!"

Danny Kazam was an orphaned child who was adopted by a former magician and his wife who was a puppeteer. My best friend was a stuffed penguin that was left to me by my real mother when dropped off at an orphanage at age 4.

My penguin and I made new friends with my adopted mother's puppets. I wanted to be close to my adopted father so I was always trying to get him to put on a magic show for me and my friends. At first he wasn't interrested, but he eventually gave in by surprising me on my 16 birthday. I was so happy and amazed that I wanted to be just like him.

Two years later, my adopted father was diagnosed with cancer. He spent the rest of his life trying to teach me everything he knew. I was never able to fully understand how he was able to make the tricks happened, but when he passed away, it was all I ever wanted to do.

I started off performing for my penguin and my puppet friends. I visited the old orphanage when I was 20. I met a young girl who was very sad because she had no friends. I introduced her to my best friend the penguin, and she immediately fell in love with him. I seen how happy they were together and let penguin live with her.

I performed my first real magic show at the orphanage, and athough I would flub up some of the trick, I discovered that the children were able to help me by shouting out a magic word. That magic word was Kazam, the name of my best friend, the penguin.

Okay Guys hows about this lot?

Al Beback
Alec Tricity
Alf Abbet
Ali Kazam
Anthony Ant
Arry Astra
Barney Bazooka
Barney Cool
Barry Bonkers
Benny Fishery
Bill Board
Bill Poster
Billy Bongo
Billy Goat
Billy Bamboozle
Charlie Chuckles
Chester Drawers
Chris P Duck
Cliff Hanger
Crispin Even
Denny Dazzler
Diddy Dazzler
Duncan Biscett
Fan Tastick
Frank Furter
Frankie Fumbles
Freddy Funjurer
Gary Baldy
Ivor Soredd
Jack Koozie
Jester Minute
Jim Nasium
Jimmy Bean
Joe King
Joe Veal
Johnny Zizzle
Julie Dewdrop
Justin Case
Justin Time
Ken Woodmixer
Kenny Dewitt
Lance Lyde
Luke Out
Luke Warm
Mat Trix
Mick Stup
Micky Take
Mike Crowfone
Mike Mystery
Milkshake
Mr E. Mann
Oliver Sudden
Penny Whistle
Ray Vaminute
Ray Presto
Rex Rainbow
Rick O’Shea
Russell Leeves
Shamus Notfriday
Sparky
Stan Still
Stu Pitt
Terry Bull
Terry Merry
Tim Burr
Twizzle
Wally Wonder
Will Amaze
Will Ting
Willie Dooit
Willy Gofarr
Zoltan Pepper

John

Hey John.........I didn't know you were a member of this forum!! Great ideas. Were you at Blackpool this year? I didn't see you. JR

John Breeds,

If these are all yours, I'm thinking you're on the lam.

-Mary Mowder

I was called Magic Mike for quite some time...but since the male stripper movie by that name came out...I don't think I can use it...NOT a good name for a kishow specialist!

Roger
For the past 15 years I have suffered with a bad lower back (Sacroiliac joint). It got so bad that I couldn't lift my magic box. I had to quit active magic 4 years ago, which is just as well because I'm fast approaching 70yrs old and don't want to be seen as another old codger doing the rounds.

I now earn a crust by manufacturing some of my original stuff (see my web site).

Penny and I have booked into Trix in the Stix next year - I can't keep away from magic nuts!

John

Mary

Please enlighten me - what is lam?

Cheers

John

I was wondering the same thing, John, but I thought that if I asked I would show ignorance! Maybe it is an American word, used by young folk under 60!! JR