Fellow Artists, I need your opinion, please.
I am a glass artist who primarily works over the torch. Most of what I make is wearable, some not. A few years ago, I applied for and received a registered trademark for "Torch in the Head" and have that on my booth sign, web site, and business cards. I meant this to be used as a pun as I was an English major in my former life who loved and still loves word play.
This sign attracts a lot of attention from walker-bys, many who become customers because they first think they're reading "touched in the head" and want to hear more about it. I then somewhat jokingly explain that I work over the head of a torch and that you've got to be a little "touched" to want to work with 2,000-3,000 degrees of heat--plus, I have red hair, which admittedly comes from a bottle these days.
A few months ago, I did a show and was visited by the promoter who thought that was a terrible name asking me why I wanted to demean myself. He thinks I should use my name alone. I then asked a well-known marketing guru who thought I should change it because it could connote a painful image of someone's head on fire.
I did ornaments for the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC (2010) and no-one said anything negative about the moniker then, but perhaps that should be handled as a different critter.
I am now slowly getting into some higher end shows and wonder if I should change my name--or only use the more somber name for them. Hope I make sense--And Thank you in advance <3
Comments
S. Brian, I will get this book.
Question, though---What is your opinion of my business name in relation to what the book says as well as your own opinion? Thanks in advance.
For more on this issue check out the book Death to the Starving Artist by Nikolas Allen. The topic might be more appropriate for the beginning artist as opposed to the established artist but he does make the point about the issue of rebranding yourself.
In effect, he says, the option of using your own name and what you do gives the audience a reference point of expectation and lets them know who you are which boosts your name recognition.
Thank you everyone!!!
Susan, well it looks like you got your answer and created a really cool discussion as well...glad you like my nom de commerce , it's definitely a conversation starter, as everyone seems to be familiar with that expression, with the possible exception of the very young... Good luck to you!
I'm with you about the .com, Karen. A marketing lady stopped in to my booth at one fair and insisted that I put my website address on my jewelry card backs rather than my business name. I thought, why? All I'd do is add ".com" to my biz name, which seems redundant if anyone looking for me can type the name into google to find me. In fact, it may be a GOOD thing for a customer to do a web search on me, because the first half dozen or more search results are mine. They'd learn more about my work that way. Unless you/your business is difficult to "google," I'm not convinced the .com is necessary.
I agree that you should keep the fun business name. Mine is ThingamaBaubles and during every show I hear several chuckles and positive comments about the name, sometimes said to their partner and sometimes to me. At my last show someone repeated the name then said "it's easy to tell you're creative!" Enough said.
BTW, I'm gonna go way out on a limb and disagree with Larry about using YourName.com as your signage. Because your company name is not your personal name, as is the case with many people, I think Your Name signage would just be confusing and in the end would lessen the impact of both the company-name and personal-name identifiers. Maybe I'm just too old to be thoroughly joined at the hip with the internet, but the dot-com sign seems boring to me. I would stick with the company name and people will know to find you through google if they don't have your card.
Thank you everyone!!! What great support!!! I can't thank you enough!!!!!
I agree with all: definitely keep the name. When you're able to combine:
1. Your art
2. Your background
3. Your physical appearance
4. Your personality
5. Something clever
6. A conversation-starter
ALL in one business name, you've really got something special.
Here is another thought - the sign appears to grab attention, and is a great conversation-starter. I wouldn't be swayed by negative comments from such a small number of observers. People who are familiar with your sign will look for it - it will make you stand out in the crowd.
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