I am getting ready, for the first time, to start doing magic professionally. I've done magic since I was 6, I am 26 now. I get offers all the time to do shows, but never take them. I am a college student, and both of my knees are bad, so regular jobs are very difficult for me. My wife wants me to pursue this too, so I'm going to. However, I'm wondering what you guys think about using your real name versus a stage name? My real name is Brian Tabor. I have thought that I want a name that will be easy to remember, and I don't want to be another "magic steve" so to speak. I want a name that can be remembered, so that repeat bookings are easier, etc. My wife and I played around quite a bit with ideas, and decided to play on the fact that I'm bald. (I shave my head). It started as cueball, then cue, then Q. Q the magician. The idea here is that it plays for adults and children shows alike, and is easy to remember for clients who later want to re-hire. Q is easy to remember, and sounds mysterious, or magician-like to me. On the other hand, there was a rather popular character on a TV show called Q once.

Several of my friends and family like the name, and say it fits my performing style.

What do you guys think?

And be honest, if you like it, you like it, if you don't, you don't. I'm not going to get offended if you don't, I need honest feedback.

Repeat bookings will be more influenced by the quality of your entertainment than the name you use.

I might suggest Professor Q, Mr. Q, or Dr. Q for your kids shows and just Q for when you market yourself for shows for adults.

How about the "the Q" or IQ,

That will never work.

Brian Tabor is a great name.

David Kaye uses his real name for adult shows and Silly Billy for children's shows

Quite true it's you that get's the booking, but it does help a lot if your Pro name is catchy and easy to remember. Especially for children.
Tricky Ricky

Some great advice, and I appreciate it from all of you!

Well, now you HAVE to tell us what you decided. What is your performing name going to be?

I am going with Q for adults, for renfairs I'm going with "something (sir, lord, master, etc)" Quinton Tayber Or Q for short (don't know the title yet, we're doing research so make sure what's appropriate and the Tayber is an old spelling of my last name) and For kid shows I'm doing either Dr, Professor, or Mr. Q. Still some to decide, but the though process and everyone's support leads me to think I'm on the right track.

While this shouldn't be your deciding factor, people might have trouble googling your website if your name is Q. Other than that, I think it's a great name - Brian Tabor would also work well if you decide to use your real name.

I go by Andy Luka. My full name is Andrew Lukaszewski. I almost went by just Luka, seeing that I have gone by that name since grade school. But I decided that a two name thing fits me better. You should go by which ever you don’t mind being called. I think silly billy is a great performer, but if everyone was calling me a name silly billy I think I would go insane. That’s why I decided to go with my real name, but shorten it up a little to sound more appealing. Brett Daniels, David Blane, David Copperfield and Criss Angel all did the same.

I really think, "Tabor" works.'
If not, then use, "Robat" Tabor in reverse spelling.

If you assume another identity, when people ask for you, you can immediately determine if it is business or which business they want to talk about. Think about something that will fit at least part of your real personality, something that is easily remembered, spelled and googled. Make sure the name will fit you in 20 years . . . Multiple names can confuse people too, I know. This is something that I would think about and then ask your target audience what is their thoughts. Give them several options.

IMHO many magicians are trying to impress people by being something they aren't. Thus you get the stereotypes: The boring comedy magician, the geek who tries to look "cool", the annoying one who plays "I'm smarter than you are ". Be yourself, you will be happier and probably more successful.