Who are you calling "odd people," mister?



0pus

I wonder if David Copperfield would have been as famous if he went by "The Magic of David Kotkin"

Or, Amazing Jonathan if he went by John Szeles

I'm lucky. My last name is Salazar, which, people told me is a great name for magic.

Hi Salazar Magic:

As I said before, I don't like stage names FOR THE MOST PART. I think stage names DO work sometimes, especially if you have a hard to pronounce name.

Mostly, it's names like Joedini the Great that reek of amateurism.

Ron

Stage names can be a problem if you are on the road and trying to cash the check that someone made out to "the Amazin Funkidini"--cheers!----Jimeuax

Re: Checks,

My bank has cashed checks to Nearly Normal.

I was at a garage sale yesterday.(Great place for props)

The man who was having it saw me and said, Hi Nearly Normal.


Harris

Hi,
Here in the UK you would have to have a buisiness account anyway and cheques made to Marvo the amazing or whatever would be no problem.
Phillip

I once had a cheque written to Bilbo The Magic Clown.
because the cheque wasn't crossed the bank told me that I (as Bilbo The Magic Clown) would have to sign ownershop of it over to myself (Nicholas Johnson)!

Nich:
That is crazy but does not surprise me any. That is why I always make it written in my contracts and conformation letters that payment in check should be made out to Kyle Peron and not The Magical Illusions of Kyle and Kelly.

I think an important thing to remember in stage names is that it should reflect the styule of magic and the market to which you are aiming to target.

For example you would not see a jewlry store on 5th Avenue selling to high end and rish people and having it called Joes Discount Jewlry Emporium.

I now have all cheques for all events written to "Funny Bones Entertainment"

Although, on an interesting side note, I once had a company accidentally send a cheque for $2500 to a company called Funny Bones Plumbing (not actually plumbing but I don't want to cause any trouble)

Their bank ACCEPTED the cheque despite it being written to Funny Bones Entertainment!!!!

(BTW I got paid in the end but the company is still trying to get their money back)

HI Kyle,
Personaly I would expect to make the cheque to the name of the store if I went to an upmarket shop/store and bought an expensive item it would lower my image of the store for them to say "oh can you make the cheque to "F Bloggs"
Phillip

Names Do Matter

"Look ma, it's the balloon guy"

Not magic man, "the balloon guy" They could have impressed me and called me David Copperfield or some one famous.

Take clowns, as an example, Blippo, Mr. Twister, Sparky, Silly Billy, etc. they use names that sound funny or focus on their character. Many, many famous actors have names easily rememberd. So do famous magicians.

I changed the name of my seminar business to focus on the key topic I was teaching and it made the difference in ten's of thousands of dollars. NAME MATTERS.

If it works with clowns, magicians, actors, and corporations with great success, then it to will work for you as an entertainer. It should be meaninful, easily remembered, and/or focused on character.

I use my first and middle name as a stage name, because so many people have a difficult time pronouncing my last name Dennis Michael Dowhy

It is my choice and I like the ring to it. It sounds like an actors name and it is easily pronounced. It is easier to remember.

Den brings up some nice points. Names do matter indeed. It is a part of the brand that you are sending out to your marketplace. Like any good product, you want to be remembered and you want people to recall your brand in their busy marketplace. Use a name that they can remember and one that fits your style and personality.

The right names also make it more memorable because it sends a visual picture to the memory.

Mike is right. A good name is one that the client can remember easily. You want them to try and retain as much about you as they can.

I posted an explanation for my name elsewhere.
I am an amateur magician, but I take performing seriously.

I like El Lamo because it lowers expectations, then provides me with a larger opportunity to entertain.

With older kids, it breaks ice and gives me a bit more room too.

I recently performed at a daycare. Two weeks later (last week) when I was coaching my son's soccer team this boy watching recognized me. He smiled shyly and said "Hi El Lamo."

It was fun to acknowledge his discernment.

Most of the posts in this thread suggest not using a name. But I really enjoy mine. Maybe it is because I am an amateur.

I'm magic matt at parties obviously that signifies when kids see my box that I'm a magician and my name is matt but I think its a lot better than matthew colman ot matt colman the kids entertainer.

Are stage names copywrited? ive been magic matt for 10yrs and ive found another magician callled magic matt. Does it matter?
Matt

It matters if you are working in the same area. If they are a worse performer than you, then you don't want their reputation tarnishing yours. You want customers to know you and your name.

- Donald.

Not that far away but I don't work were he lives and don't know if he works were I live, I cant see him being a bad performer. I really don't want to change my name, maybe I should speak with him and see what he says.

Matt

I can't speak from experience but I'm sure Emazdad said in another post that as he is with Equity his name is registered and no-one else can have the same name.

Dunno if this helps...hope so!

My name came about because when my neices and nephews were all young they all called me uncle stu di doo. I like to use a stage name as it helps me put on the character and it rhymes rather well with Scooby Doo which all kids young and old seem to know once again!!

Stu Di Doo...or Stuart Hodgson, Childrens Entertainer...which is best!!

I can't speak from experience but I'm sure Emazdad said in another post that as he is with Equity his name is registered and no-one else can have the same name.


Hi,
Yeah but it can only really be inforced if the person with the same name is also in equity
Phillip