What's in a Star's Name? Brand Yourself!
Thursday, 15. May 2008, 20:23:13
JIGGY?
Well you can git "Jiggy" wit it or you can P Puff Daddy Diddy wit it! (There I go freestylin' again) Is that Sean John? You can be "Formerly Known As!" the Artist (my Prince) or just plain "Fabulous." I like him! Pretty cool huh? This post is written for my new friends who asked about, Keeping their stage names or in writing taking on a pen name. First there are different approaches depending on where and how you wish to use your name. I keep going back to one famous line in the movie, "What's Love Got to do with it" by my favorite actress, Angela Basset. When Tina Turner responded to what she wanted from Ike in the movie, played by another great, Lawrence Fishburne. In the divorce preceeding the judge asked what she wanted and she responded, "ALL I WANT IS MY NAME!" If you are a star, its nothing hard to select your name because boy have there been some really dumb names of bands and groups over the years. I'll let you send me some dumb band names. What makes it special is that the names are "branded." Now what do I mean by branded? You can brand through the work you do or you can brand by just doing something dumb or you can brand by endorsing a product or even ways we choose not to mention here. Sometimes things are branded by just some kid in the streets making up a tag line, like Mickey D's. I bet McDoanld's doesn't even know that came from a 70's slang from a black kid in the ghetto who started making up the name and it finally moved on. KFC came from the ghetto as well. Somehow the corporate executives think it is their own when indeed we made it up! In lieu of this, even a government name may be branded like Elliot Spritzer. Many didn't even know who he was until he did something really stupid! Now I am not telling anyone to go out and be stupid. I will tell you about many ways to get your name out there in a positive light! So this blog never comes back to haunt me if I ever do or did something stupid I atest that I have no way of knowing how my name that was branded in the 80's will be branded now! So on we go to Government names!
STAGE NAME VS. GOVERNMENT NAME?
Most people don't know why we blacks use the term "government name." There is a history behind that and we can use that for a further discusion. Anyone who wants to blog back on that can, but now in the streets err'body has a tag name or a nickname. Your "birthname" on your certificate is the legal name to use on contracts in the music industry as well as your legal stage name. Now I will explain what I mean by legal. Your name that is associated with your social security number is the one used for taxes and all legal documentation but when you are an artist the contract may read as the name, Sha Rene' hereto known as the recording artist, and legally known as Sharon Rene Summers confirms this agreement on this day of (whatever date). This also typically will match the signature on a check, but know that there was never a legal act designed by the government to mandate a signature. My mom used to sign her name Louella. She never liked her name Lou Ellen. She had her personal stage name because she went by that name 4ever! So you could actually sign different. If someone knows more rules on this please blog me. Now if you are the songwriter, use your legal name becuase it is the name that the Unites State Copyright must have in order for you and your relatives to get payment through your lifetime and after your lifetime. No, you can't copyright a name! You will Trademark as I will explain later in this post. I will do a post on how to create copyright for a book and a Music CD next month.
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On an LP record back in the day my songrwriter's legal name appears under the title of the song. On a CD the same applies in the printed jacket under the lyric sheet or in the list in the Liner notes.This is one of my records, "I'm Good For You."
STAGE NAME VS.PENNAME?
There are differences in the two as pen is for books and stage is for performance. If you are a singer and a poet try to keep them the same. If you are a musician and an author try to keep them the same. Keep it simple! If you are only an author and will never perform use your pen name as the pen name becomes your media circut name. Pen name is also not the same as "Ghost writer." It's called Ghost for a reason! Your book will have both pen and legal names.
My poetry book, "Words Can Explain" as you can see has my stage name on the cover. Just make certain your pen name is on the cover. You can have more than one Stage name branded like who? Diddy, PDiddy, Puff Daddy, Sean John, Puffy Combs or Sean Puffy Combs! How the heck does anyone even Google him? I actually really like him. I met him in person back stage of "A Raisin in the Sun!" He is great!
TRADEMARKING
Your stage name if you create a logo for it becomes a mark and the name itself to be in business commerce use also may be trademarked for business use. My company was Sha Rene Music as my Music publishing company. You may register on-line at http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.htmlThere are many legal attorneys who specialize in Trademark law and it is best to go through an attorney. The first time I trademarked I did this with an attorney for $500.00 Now I am sure it can cost up to $1,000.00 depending on the lawyer, where he files, how many filings he has and how much advice he supplies. I like a new web site: Legal Zoom.com I don't know if you know but Bob Shapiro is a famous trial lawyer who owns this internet site!
Subject Matter of Copyright
Copyright protection under the copyright code (title 17, section 102, U.S. Code) extends only to “original works of authorship.” The statute states clearly that ideas and concepts cannot be protected by copyright. To be protected by copyright, a work must contain at least a certain minimum amount of authorship in the form of original literary, musical, pictorial, or graphic expression. Names, titles, and other short phrases do not meet these requirements.
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Protection under Trademark or Unfair Competition Laws
Some brand names, trade names, slogans, and phrases may be entitled to protection under the general rules of law relating to unfair competition, or they may be entitled to protection and registration under the provisions of state or federal trademark laws. The federal trademark statute covers trademarks and service marks—those words, phrases, symbols, or designs that identify the source of the goods or services of one party and distinguish them from those of others. The Copyright Office has no role in these matters.
For questions on trademarks or for information on registering a federal trademark, write to:
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Or call the Patent and Trademark help line at (800) 786-9199 (tty: (571) 272-9950). Internet information is available at www.uspto.gov
GETTING A STAR NEXT TO YOUR NAME!
Now for the fun part getting your name out there! Here a re some tips!
1. Once you pick a name don't change it until after you are famous then you can have as many as Diddy!
2. To everyone you see intoduce yourself, "Hi my name is" Slim Shady!
3. Get your name onto everything you can, flyers, cards, posters etc.
4. Tell everyone to tell everyone about you and your CD or book
5. Get your name on the radio, TV and magazines
6. If you are somewhere where media is flashing pictures make certain to give your spelling of your name to the camera person without being pushy.
7 Use the internet and place your stage or pen name on all of your web sites!
8. Hire a publicist! Your name will be out there in a jiffy!Come back to talk with me about making your name big and getting your CD and music out there!
Sha Rene'
WIDGETIZE