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Changing stage name; Y/N?

#41
Unless the other person with the same name is a another musician working in your town, I wouldn’t change it. Maybe it’s an attempt to appear edgy and hip. First time I ever heard of a singer who didn’t want the band named after them....
 
#43
It probably doesn't matter nearly as much as you think it does. If she's been performing successfully for six years, a name change and a few performances where she sells the band (and the brand) will only have an effect for three to six months, if that. She's not changing her name, so if she's the one booking your gigs, then you really won't have a problem at all.

"Hey, this is Elaine Benes."
"Oh hey, Elaine! Caught your show at the X Ballroom three months ago, love the act!"
"Thanks! We want to book a gig with you - my project, Badfish Ruca."
"Okay, you're on the books!"

Guessing your names (mainly hers) will be on the playbill/poster/promo material anyway, so....yeah, not seeing it.

Live with the name change. A year from now you'll wonder why you worried about it.
 
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#44
twinjet said:
I have been playing music As a duo with a gal who has been killing it on the music scene for the past six years. She's developed a great reputation as a singer and has done some stellar gigs (mayor's ball, corporate, etc). During this entire time, she'd perform under her real name.

Last year we added a third member, and the group continued to expand into a larger ensemble of musicians that would work in rotation based on availability.

This warranted a slight name change, though not significant as it was just "First Lastname Project".

A month ago, she texted all of us asking for opinions on a new, completely different name; Badfish Ruca.

I suggested changing nothing, that after six years and a strong local following, a name change would leave people clueless. No one would know this "new" act. Barhoppers wouldn't see the name and associate the performer with the name.

It keeps coming up, and I keep saying the same; it's your choice, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Any opinions?
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you....you're an established local business.... changing your name now would be like starting over unless you have a gigantic advertising budget like corporations do when they decide to change a brand name
 
#49
most of you don't get it...Its HER name ! if she wants to take it out of circulation its her call...there is no point in arguing or debating the subject with her...show her some respect and embrace a name change and work on a new name together...then instead of spending your time fretting over weather or not it will impact your gigging, spend it marketing your new name a lot so everyone knows its a new name...just my thought...always be positive..negative never gets you anything
 
#51
The most popular band I was in was named by our original lead singer, and was called the Regimentals. :roflmao: The name was supposed to be half for the jocks and half for the stoners, but we faced this same issue you are facing when the Vietnam war made our name more or less out of style in some people's eyes. The problem was, we were very well known throughout Northern California and regularly headlined from the Coconut Groove Ballroom on the Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz to the Olympic Village in South Lake Tahoe and it seemed like everywhere in between. We tried to change our name to Ben Franks Electric Band to be more in keeping with the counterculture scene at the time, but it didn't work and in fact, it backfired on us. Even when we officially changed our name offers came in under the old name, and venues, promoters and even colleges and high schools that would repeatedly book us year after year continued to advertise our shows using our original name because that's what would draw the crowds. So we got the message and kept our original name. We all made a lot of money in that band, and I used my share to start the sound company which got completely out of hand. I had two financial backers who knew of me due to my reputation as a performing artist. Achieving some measure of even semi-fame has its advantages!

The point is we found out fans personally identify with the names of the things they like, including in our case the crazy name of our band. In a band, your name recognition is your stock in trade to be able to book shows and draw crowds. Your vocalist is suggesting that you throw away years of work becoming as well known as you are now, and for your fans to have to go to the trouble of identifying you under a new name. Doing something like that is climbing a hill of your own making. Frankly, it doesn't make sense to me at all, and based on my experience, it will only throw a monkey wrench in your ability to book the band. I see no positive benefit from changing your band's name whatsoever. Plus, a name like Badfish Ruca to me evokes the smell of, well, bad fish. So I just think if you can't talk some sense into your singer's head, you may all have to pay the price. On the plus side, you can always go back to your original name if you don't wait too long. But for my money, I wouldn't change anything. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Good luck.
 
#52
You need to persuade her that the current name is good. Propose some alternatives names that you know she will reject, such as ‘Mee Too and Her Backup Band.’ After a few suggestions such as this, she’ll probably just concede that the current name is best.
 
#56
twinjet said:
I have been playing music As a duo with a gal who has been killing it on the music scene for the past six years. She's developed a great reputation as a singer and has done some stellar gigs (mayor's ball, corporate, etc). During this entire time, she'd perform under her real name.

Last year we added a third member, and the group continued to expand into a larger ensemble of musicians that would work in rotation based on availability.

This warranted a slight name change, though not significant as it was just "First Lastname Project".

A month ago, she texted all of us asking for opinions on a new, completely different name; Badfish Ruca.

I suggested changing nothing, that after six years and a strong local following, a name change would leave people clueless. No one would know this "new" act. Barhoppers wouldn't see the name and associate the performer with the name.

It keeps coming up, and I keep saying the same; it's your choice, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Any opinions?
Click to expand...
I agree with you.
 
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#58
KISS was a huge improvement in name over Wicked Lester. The music, ironically, went from RnB and softer music arrangements (at least compared to kiss style) to heavy rock, opposite of what each band name implies.

My point being, change names if you will, but persona and possibly music should change with it.
 
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#59
SactoBass said:
Badfish Ruca??

That is just awful! Might as well go with Oozing Corpse Vomit.

Just the term Badfish alone conjures up thoughts of stinky, smelly, rotten fish. EEW! :vomit: GROSS! :vomit:

And as previously mentioned, Ruca is a derogatory term. :rollno:

I would never want to go see a band with the name Badfish Ruca. Ever. No exceptions.
Click to expand...
So glad I'm not alone here. :vomit:
 
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#60
Hmmmm. I wouldn’t be against a name change if that’s what she wants but as other have said my first thought was Sublime rip off. Like not even a clever rip off. Than my brain went heroin addict/insult you call your partner? Is there more to the name or is it something she just thought sounded hip? I have never referred to a person as a badfish in a good way.
 
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