Putting Branding Into Action
Developing a name and logo for your band are the first steps in your branding efforts.
Coming up with a catchy, memorable name that truly reflects what your band and music
is about is no small task. As a matter of fact, it can be gut wrenching. Finding a name–the
right name–can also bring with it several other not-so-happy experiences including fear
of choosing the wrong one, apprehension, worry, foreboding and the ever popular, trepi-
dation. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? It comes with the territory and, hopefully, it will be
a one-time exercise, but it’s often not.
If you’re a solo performer, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s usually your name or a stage
name. For example, Davie Bowie is actually David Robert Jones. He chose the name,
“Bowie,” based on the American knife and, as he’s noted as saying, “ ... a medium for a
conglomerate statements and illusions.” But, the main reason was the fact that a young
and upcoming actor, Davy Jones, was already using the same name. He would go on to
become famous as the lead singer of the Monkees. Elton John is Reginald Kenneth
Dwight. While that’s a fine British name, it’s not very memorable or catchy. Madonna’s
full name is Madonna Louise Ciccone. She simply chose to drop the middle and surname
on her way to becoming a music icon.
When it comes to a name for a band, things can get a bit trickier. There are band
members who all have opinions, ideas and egos. Plus, there’s the matter of finding the
right moniker or combination of words that will announce what the band is about, can be
trademarked and, hopefully, work with a top-level domain name for a website. To help