Gallery Name vs Your Real Name?

[Zetsubun]

I just wanted to know everyones' opinions on this:

Which does everyone think serves as a better name for your art studio/ portfolio website -a made up business name (IE, Sheephead Studio) or your real name?

Because I'm at a catch-22. I had thought that using your real first and last name for your studio would be the most representative, but the web domains for both my last name by itself and my first and last name together are already taken. (mcnulty.com and sarahmcnulty.com) What should I do? Is it better to include my last name somewhere in the name or to just come up with something completely different?

[dpaint]

It is tougher for women because they either get married and change their names or get divorced and change their names back. My partner has always kept her name because she is in SAGAFTRA; but I was surprised at how many men were neandertals about this idea. I recommend keeping the title with your name, so how about sarahmcnultyart or sarahmcnultyfineart or sarah mcnultystudios or sarahmcnultyproductions.

[Zetsubun]

I've considered all those, but I don't want it to be detractively-long. I mean, typing in "sarahmcnultystudios" is considerably more daunting than a more concise gallery name.

What do you think of just the last name with another word? Like...uh...sneakymcnulty or artsymcnulty or something? How important is the first name really?

I do understand what you mean by the last name deal though. The only reason I'm not that worried about it is because I don't see myself getting married anywhere in the near future -if at all. But pondering this also makes me wonder more about the completely pseudonym gallery name.

[Xeon_OND]

I always feel that a company with a fictional name and not your real name sounds cooler and more hip, which is what a creative studio should be. "Zetsu Works", or "Zet Studios", or "Zetsu Bunny Studios" etc., all sound better that stuff like "Emily Jones Illustration" or "Nicole Kickman Studios" or "Abigail Haverly Concept Designs". Easily to remember and easier when typing in the associated domain name. Look at Pixar's name : Pixar.

As a side note, the only folks who always use their full names for their companies are lawyers and, barristers, solicitors......dunno if there's a law which demands that these guys use their real names, but everywhere I see, it's stuff like "Hollander and Hollander Associates" or "Edwards and Nicolaides Partners". :D

Just my 2-cents.

[Zetsubun]

Huh, interesting two cents! Points taken. x3

Yeah see, that's what I WANT to think too -that a self created studio name would be more catchy. Because I have tons of ideas. I agree that some of the most memorable ones are the more abstract ones. I'm just worried that there's some un-said industry standard for using your last name as your company name that I'd be breaking by giving it a fictitious one. After all your real name is synonymous with you, and your gallery name isn't nescesarilly. (Until you've built up a reputation)

[Slothboy3000]

Pixar have to be called something like that because it's not just one person.

Personally, I think Mcnulty is a pretty memorable surname.

[Wayuki]

Your real name isn't neccessarily synonymous with you, either. There could be many other people out there with exactly the same name. In fact, I think it would be safe to assume there is at least one other Sarah McNulty out there, afterall, the domain name was taken. :D

[Zetsubun]

Yeah actually, the Sarah McNulty that took SarahMcNulty.com is another artist. xD A very very different kind of an artist, but an artist none the less. I do like my last name though and I do want to use it as my handle. If I did go with a fictional gallery name it would very boldly state that it is 'the art of Sarah McNulty' .

[Xeon_OND]

Yeah actually, the Sarah McNulty that took SarahMcNulty.com is another artist. xD A very very different kind of an artist, but an artist none the less. I do like my last name though and I do want to use it as my handle. If I did go with a fictional gallery name it would very boldly state that it is 'the art of Sarah McNulty' .
If you use McNulty as your business name, it would be fine as long as McDonald's doesn't come up with a new food item called McNulty, and as long as you don't go into the food business.
They already have McChicken, McSpicy, Mega McSpicy, McWings, McNuggets. McNulty could be a name for MacDonald's peanuts-in-a-cup, if they ever come up with one. LOL

There's been several cases of people around the world getting sued by MacDonald's just because they use the "Mc" name in their business. :D

[Matani]

I've been thinking about this too...

Say in the best case scenario that someone's full name was available, but their ideal made up name was too, what would be the best to choose?

I'm guessing it's variable on how easy each one is to remember/the uniqueness and the length.

But does it matter much besides that?


Or of course the "take what you can get for real name" vs. "take what you can get for imagined name".

[DavePalumbo]

just on principle of branding, I think whichever direction you choose should reflect on what you want to do with it. I personally feel that an individual going with a studio name is more appropriate to design and presenting a corporate image. Or if you are in fact a studio of more than one person, it's obviously important to let people know that with a studio name, and this also indicates that you are set up to handle jobs which might require a team rather than an individual. Using your own name is more personal and I feel a stronger statement if you are selling YOU, which is to say that you are a unique individual who should be hired because nobody else can do what you do. I feel that is more appropriate if you are creating painted illustrations and/or selling originals in the gallery market.

studio names are corporate, actual names are personal. Both have their advantages and would be desirable at a glance to different clients with different needs. Try to make yours most desirable to the type of clients you are looking for.

as far as domain names, I feel you on that. There are a number of other dave palumbos out there, but one in particular happens to be a well known bodybuilder with a sizable internet presence (oh, no pun intended). My brother is also a painter and has found another contemporary painter a few years his senior who shares his name. The internet is a big place, it happens. If you do decide to use your own name, you can always work around it with something like mcnultyart.com. I think it works just as well.

It could be worse, I have a friend who's name.com was already in use by the top male porn star in the US.

[Zetsubun]

Ah, all good points indeed! Thank you.

I do want to sell myself since I am an individual, so I'm thinking right now that I'll probably keep my last name somewhere in the title, but instead of mcnultyart.com perhaps something more like *adjective*mcnulty.com so it's more memorable.

[Elwell]

I've been thinking about this too...

Say in the best case scenario that someone's full name was available, but their ideal made up name was too, what would be the best to choose?

I'm guessing it's variable on how easy each one is to remember/the uniqueness and the length.

Buy both, redirect yourealname.com to the other one.

[Qitsune]

Buy both, redirect yourealname.com to the other one.

That's what I do, but the other way around, it's a detail really. Now that I was able to retrive my full name as a domain, I'm not about to let anyone get it. And enough people just type qitsune.com now that I'm keeping it too.

[Xeon_OND]

That's what I do, but the other way around, it's a detail really. Now that I was able to retrive my full name as a domain, I'm not about to let anyone get it. And enough people just type qitsune.com now that I'm keeping it too.
Why not register Yourrealname.net, Yourrealname.us, Yourrealname.biz, .ca, .ru, .per etc....Qitsune.net, Qitsune.us.... :D

[Matani]

Why not register Yourrealname.net, Yourrealname.us, Yourrealname.biz, .ca, .ru, .per etc....Qitsune.net, Qitsune.us.... :D


The cost would surely be devastating...unless of course there is a different way to do this than the one I am familiar with.

[Ivory_Oasis]

I was wondering about this just a little bit ago when I was trying to decide how I should present myself as I started to move closer to an art career (making contacts, building reputation and all that).

I decided that a handle for yourself is the best way to go.

1) In art world, "professional" behaviour and expectations are out the door. All the way from allowed dress to speech to public interactions are far less conservative / formal. This means an "arty" name or something different than a real name is much more accepted (and actually is known to happen... in the accounting world, for example, you never would find someone using a handle).

2) A handle is more unique. While handles are used, normally it is in addition to a real name (like craig mullins is known from his real name, but online he has used names like spooge monkey). Using a handle solely is a little bit more rare, so it helps an artist stand out from the crowd of "common-name-joes" out there. It is much easier to remember "Yummy Cake" than "Bob Smithson". Standing out and being remembered is a very good thing (as long as it is standing out in a good way). The last thing you want to be is another "generic-joe" that no one can remember (in both art itself and marketing of yourself).

3) A handle is easier to find! If i were to use my real name, I would be lost in the sea of others who share my name. But, my handle "Ivory Oasis" is unique, no one has it. If someone searches for me on google, I come up as the number 1 search return (this in itself is pretty big! Being easy to find is very good, you WANT to be found when someone googles your signature at the bottom of a picture they liked).

4) Division of real life and work life (or different personalities). Being able to market yourself in different ways for different things is somethng not to be overlooked. A handle is easy to dump and distance yourself from if things ever go bad (try not to do bad things though!). There is always the option of just giving up your handle and creating a new "you". A real name is hard to do that with....it follows you.... if you achieve a lot of fame, having a handle different from your real name might also allow you to keep a certain level of privacy (always pays to think ahead!...who knows, you might find yourself in that sittuation one day!).

Basically, there is no downside to using a handle instead of a real name (at least in the more forgiving of "individualist behaviour" in the art world)...while there are a range of up-sides to using one. Well, the only downside I can see is around how to introduce yourself to others in person....heh, it's a little strange to use your handle in that sittuation I think? Maybe the art world is forgiving about that also?? I dunno, I use my real name when I meet people...but when I direct them to my art or anything like that, it's always "Ivory Oasis" or "Ivory" now.

[Qitsune]

Why not register Yourrealname.net, Yourrealname.us, Yourrealname.biz, .ca, .ru, .per etc....Qitsune.net, Qitsune.us.... :D

Because I own the .com's. Someone types qitsune OR chantal fournier, I come up on google, I don't need to spend loads more money. Now, if I was super popular and I was afraid someone would take the alternative domains to suck traffic away from me it would be different, but I'm not there yet.

[Jazz]

Zetsubun, like you had the idea of an adjective with your last name, I think that's a cool idea that might work well for you!

I recall using some traits about me to showcase myself on my website. I was into implying that I have albinism and some decent intelligence and/or wit, so I made up "binomynd". At the time I thought using my full name would look strange, but now I end up just saying who I am within my site or wherever. I haven't heard anything bad about the name, just my layout skill. :P So, it could be done!

[Zetsubun]

I really appreciate all the input here, guys! :) It's really helping me feel things out for the professional world. At this point I'm thinking that 'unique' is the way to go. I'm still stuck in between something completely fictional and a last name/ adjective combo, but I guess it's pretty much preference at this point, huh? I do want to market myself to a large audience and not lock myself into one area, so I guess I need to be careful about how I word myself.

I can think of a few buzzwords NOT to use in my site's title, but anyone else have any input?