Stage names are extremely hard to come up with. There are millions of phrases and words you can put together to make up a name, and the process can feel overwhelming. You want to come up with something that fits you, defines you well, and is clear.
I recently went through the process of picking a stage name a few years ago when I had to change my name since the first one I picked wasn't going to work in the long run.
I wound up losing out on some promotion opportunities because of the confusing name change, but I also came across some amazing advice that I can share with other musicians looking to make a name for themselves.
If you don't know where to start when it comes to your stage name, it's always a good idea to get some inspiration from the greats in the music world.
Take a quick peep at a top musicians list, and you'll begin to notice stand-out names, including Guns n’ Roses, Stevie Wonder, and Jimmi Hendrix.
Study how some of these artists play on words, use more than one word, use punctuation, and so much more. Studying the top names in the music world will hopefully get your ideas flowing for your creative process.
As you start to get ideas, figure out what type of name will fit the style of music you create and the persona you take on when you are in performance mode. What type of name will fit your brand? In some cases, comedy or shocking names can work perfectly.
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Names that shock people or stay on your mind can do extremely well when it comes to brainstorming stage names, but you can also be subtle with your approach to being unique.
In the case of Stevie Wonder, for example, he used his own name, but the name wonder added just enough of a creative touch that is memorable enough to stick into listeners' heads.
Or you could take it the opposite way and really go for shock value, which often works for musical groups like rock and pop bands. The Sex Pistols, for example, is a name that stands out among people who aren't even familiar with their music.
Jimmi Hendrix and Stevie Wonder both took parts of the name that were given to them and put a spin on them to make them into stage names, which is a technique that many people use successfully.
When you try to think of variations to your own name, try to pair them with things that will match your overall brand and things that can stand out to come up with something that really fits you well.
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Many bands like Limp Bizkit purposely come up with a stage name that begs people to ask them why they came up with the name in the first place.
Any stage name that has an appealing backstory just adds to the appeal of your overall music brand, which is a huge plus!
Depending on your cultural background, you may want to look into the name ideas you have when translated into different languages to see if the process helps a great idea pop out of nowhere.
Getting creative with other languages is another way to be unique and get an idea that helps you stand out.
You can also play around with symbols and unique languages found in things like internet code in order to get really creative with your stage name. Don't be afraid to think outside the box.
If you're in need of more ideas that are seemingly out of nowhere, try a free and easy-to-use tool like The Story Shack's stage name generator.
Now you must know that these ideas will be very random and filled with many misses, so don't think you'll find the most amazing names with generators like these. This is just a simple tool to get some ideas in your head that you can work through over time.
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Getting feedback from people you trust can be a huge part of what brings you to the stage name that is the best choice for you. If you have your list narrowed down to a top 5 or a top 10, get opinions from your family and friends to see which names they like the most.
You'd be surprised how the feedback you get from people you trust can help you get closer to your final name. You may get ideas from their feedback that will lead you to tweak a name you had into an even better name.
Coming up with a name that will hopefully stick with you and your fans for years to come should be no easy task.
Don't rush the process, even though it may be an exciting one. When you come close to your final decisions, let your ideas breathe for a while before doing anything permanent.
Don't forget to check your name ideas against google to make sure that the idea hasn't already been taken!
Take it a step further and check for mentions of that name on popular social sites like Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter as well.
You want to be able to put your stage name into google, and nothing really comes up, so that no one but you will come up once you start to establish yourself under that glorious name that you've chosen.
When you've found the name that hasn't been used anywhere, and you've taken the time to really decide on it, claim it soon after! Build social media pages under that name, make an email account with that name, and buy a site domain with that name.
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As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
If you are in need of singer, songwriter or song producer services, see what Yona Marie can offer you on her services page.
