Were you born to make crowds dance? Has your passion always been vinyl records? If you want to be successful as a DJ, you will need to stand out from the crowd, and if you want to stand out, you will need to have a catchy, unique and easy to remember name. Unfortunately, with millions of amateur DJs around the world, many of the top names have already been picked. This means that checking that your name is truly unique is a very important aspect of starting a successful DJ career.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Check Existing Names
Step 1. Do a simple internet search
Without a doubt the quickest and most direct way to check if a DJ name is in use is to do a thorough search with your favorite search engine. If another DJ has already chosen the name, you will usually find their website or social media page in the results. Remember, however, that little-known artists may not appear on the first page.
Remember that the lack of evidence does not give you any certainty. While finding another DJ with the name you've chosen gives you a clear indication that the name is in use, not finding another DJ isn't proof that that name isn't taken. As a definitive proof, it is best to try one of the following methods as well
Step 2. Use a name search tool
One way to check if a name is in use is to use a site that offers name lookup. These sites usually check large databases to see if the domain name you entered has already been registered. If that wasn't enough, the best sites of this type are completely free.
Note though that just because someone hasn't registered a website with your chosen stage name doesn't mean a DJ isn't already using it - a DJ might use that name but not have a strong online presence
Step 3. Use a social network search tool
Nowadays, even the smallest bands and little-known artists have pages on social networks like Facebook. Searching these sites for usernames or pages with your chosen name is a great way to tell if it's in use. Since joining the most popular social networks is free, you have a good chance of discovering even the most unknown artists this way.
Although Facebook is the most used social network in the world, it is certainly not the only one. Therefore you will save a lot of time by using one of the online tools that do searches on multiple social networks (like namechk.com) at the same time
Step 4. Search a trademark database
Artist names can be registered by their owners - these include names like R. E. M, which have alternate meanings, names like Paul McCartney, which are simply the artist's real name, and of course DJ names. For this, a search on a registered trademark database is a definitive way to understand if a name is already in use. If you find a registered trademark for the DJ name you have chosen, it means that someone already uses that name and will have the legal right to force you not to use it if there is a possibility that you are confused as an artist.
You will be able to do free searches on some databases, while for others it will be necessary to pay a fee. -
Step 5. Learn about the legal protections that trademark owners are entitled to
If you've found that the DJ name you want has already been registered, you may not have a choice. Whoever registers a trademark has legal rights over its use, particularly in cases where it is possible that two people or companies are confused (for example, if you are both artists active in the same geographical area). The risk of legal repercussions increases if your logo, font choice and style seem to mimic those of the brand owner. Artists can sue rivals who don't want to respect a registered trademark.
Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this violation of the law. The most direct is to change your DJ name. You may avoid problems even if you can prove that you are not directly competing with the brand owner; For example, if you are known only in Italy, and who owns the brand works only in other countries, you may not have to change your name until your markets coincide
Part 2 of 3: Picking a Great DJ Name
Step 1. Choose a short and pleasant name
Try thinking of a famous DJ name that contains more than four syllables. If you can find any, it probably won't be more than two. Many DJs don't have particularly long names, and there's a good reason - the longer your stage name, the harder it is to remember and the less catchy it will be.
For example, imagine that a new DJ who specializes in rap tracks wants to call himself "Representationism". While the pun with "rap" is fun, it probably won't be a hit name; if fans of a DJ have a hard time remembering his name (and possibly saying it), the likelihood of him becoming famous through word of mouth will be very low
Step 2. Choose a timeless name
Don't pick a name based on fads, a sub-genre of electronic music that may not be popular in a few years, or anything else that doesn't hold up well over the years. These types of names immediately give you a timeline and it will be more difficult to grab the attention of new listeners if your name has lost its meaning. Instead, choose a name that has a lasting reference - something that won't sound silly after a few months or years.
For example, imagine if a DJ chose the name "DJ Harlem Shaker" during the meme's maximum expansion in February 2013. That would be a non-intelligent move - in a few months the meme's popularity has dropped dramatically, so the name chosen by the meme. DJ would lose effectiveness
Step 3. Consider the effect your name has on hearing
The syllables should complement each other and produce some effect when you say them aloud. Some names sound smooth and pleasant, while others have a sinister, cold sound - depending on the type of music you play, you may want to choose softer or harder sounds in the name.
For example words with hard g, k, z, t, and c tend to be hard and angular and therefore cacophonous or unpleasant to hear. Conversely, words with a lot of soft l, w, o, y, s, and c sound softer and smoother and are pleasant to hear. However, not all DJs have to have a sweet and pleasant name, so choose your name according to your personality
Step 4. Make sure your name matches the radio
On the radio, the names of people, places and events that are advertised must pass what is called a "radio test". This is nothing complicated - the radio test is just a simple way to tell if your name will be understood by listeners who will not be able to read it. Generally, the more complex your name, the harder it will be to understand it on the radio.
- To pass the radio test, a name must be easy to understand just by listening to it. It shouldn't be hard for the announcer or listener to pronounce or spell the name - remember, people who hear your name on the radio may never have heard it before.
- For example, imagine that there is a DJ called "PuntoC0mrad3". This name will hardly pass the radio test. Anyone who reads it on the radio would say something like "If you liked the song you just heard, visit the artist's website - www. Puntoc0mrad3.com. W, w, w, dot (punctuation)," Dot "(the word), c, zero (not o), m, r, a, d, 3 (not e). " This is a very detailed explanation for the announcer - if he doesn't make a mistake, listeners probably will.
Step 5. Consider the logo and artistic design when choosing a name
If you are looking to succeed, you may want to consider the aesthetic qualities of a name before making a final decision. Some names are naturally better suited to logos and stage designs, while others require more work to turn them into impactful visuals. In this case there are no right or wrong answers - you will have to decide how much importance you want to give to your image.
- For example, a DJ named "White Tiger" may want to use a lot of tiger images during a performance. For example, he might wear a tiger mask during a set. If he could use a projector, he could project psychedelic images of tigers onto himself.
- Likewise, a DJ named "DJ Palindromo" has a logo that designs itself. Since a palindrome is a word that reads the same in both senses, DJ Palindromo's logo could look like this: PalindromomordnilaP - as if it were reflected in the mirror.
Step 6. Decide whether to include "DJ" in the name
This is a question that all DJs must answer. Again there is no right answer - many of the most famous DJs in the world don't use the word DJ (e.g. Tiesto, etc.) while others still use it. You will have to decide!
In general, including "DJ" might give you a more "old school" or "classic" style, based on the trend of traditional hip-hop DJs including DJs in their name. - However, this is not a universal rule, so you will have to choose the solution that you think best suits your name
Part 3 of 3: Finding Inspiration for a Unique Name
Step 1. Use a musical reference
A widely used tradition for musician names is to refer to a musical concept or technical jargon term. Some of the most famous artists of all time have used this trick (see: The Beatles, The Moody Blues, etc.). Ideally, if you do, you should refer to musical terms that can be understood by a large audience - almost everyone knows what a "beat" is, while not everyone knows what "syncopated" means. Here are some ideas for words that you can integrate into the name:
- Musical terms (beat, note (note), tempo, chord (chord), song (song), symphony (symphony), etc.)
- Musical genres (rock, disco, techno, etc.)
- Specific songs or bands (e.g., Radiohead, Phoenix, and The Rolling Stones are all names inspired by songs from other bands).
Step 2. Edit your real name
Some artists, including DJs, choose to use their real name as their stage name. Others, however, modify it to make it more catchy or easy to remember. Some modify it to create a pun - to do that naturally, you'll need to have a suitable name.
- M. I. A, for example, the Sri Lankan rapper author of international hits like "Paper Planes", uses a name that resembles her own (Maya), and refers to the abbreviation of the term "Missing in Action".
- Another well-known example is Eminem - this name refers to the artist's initials (MM, perr Mashall Mathers) and the phonetic pronunciation of his former stage name (M&M).
Step 3. Include ideas that are important to you
If some things, places, people or ideas are extremely important to you, consider referencing them (or including them directly) in your DJ name. You will be able to draw inspiration from many topics, from the most mundane to the most serious - you can use everything that is important in your life. Below you will find some ideas on concepts that you can integrate into the name:
- Religious references (see: Matisyahu)
- Political references (see: Rage Against the Machine)
- Literary references (see: Modest Mouse, As I Lay Dying)
- References to specific people or places (see: Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Step 4. Get to know the most famous DJs in the world
In some cases, it's easier to come up with a nice name by studying other people's names. But when you try to find inspiration from the names of other great DJs, remember that you will need to make sure you stand out from the crowd and not get confused with it. Below you will find just some of the most influential DJs and producers in the world:
- DJ Shadow
- Tiesto
- Belleville 3
- A-Trak
- Avicii
- Grandmaster Flash
- Diplo
- Jam Master Jay
- Deadmau5
Advice
- Keep Throwing Out Ideas It could take weeks or months to come up with a name that fully satisfies you, and most importantly that satisfies your audience.
- Use alliteration and other techniques to make your name interesting.
Warnings
- Don't go overboard with originality. If you choose a name like "DJ General Centaur Oblique in Pajamas" people won't remember it or take you seriously (rightly so).
- If you want to produce your own music, check major digital distribution platforms (such as Beatport and iTunes) to make sure your name isn't already being used by other people.
