JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum New Policy Idea Open For Discussion: Please Read and Respond!

Works for me, Brian, since I've used my real name from the beginning.

It's funny, though. I didn't realize my name was so common when I started writing songs. When I did a name search at BMI, I was blown away by the number of Greg Browns, Gregory Browns, Gregg Browns, etc. there were. Kinda blew away my uniqueness as a songwriter. At one time, I even thought of using my middle name, Campbell, and be Campbell Brown, but guess what....!

I've gotten used to many of the nicknames/stage names here, but I think using real names is a good idea. Personally, I'd never want to see any other name than mine on a by line of a song.

Greg

Great! I'm changed and using my real name! I did notice when I logged back in that I had to use my old name. Will that change too, Brian?

actually I am glad you brought that up Mary Lou. When you log in, you ALWAYS use the original name no matter how many times you change the "display" name. This system is what allows names to be changed so easily with no ill affects. The downside (or upside maybe) is that the original name you used to register is always your log in.

For those of you who can accept cookies, I suggest you do that to make life easy. If you're getting on at work I know is some cases you can't do that.

Brian

Well, what about just putting it in the signature as a transition. That would save a lot of work, wouldn't it?

You mean putting your old screen name in your signature as a transition? That was Moker's idea and I think it's a good one. In your case though, Jean B and Jean Bullock should confuse a lot of people.

Brian

What gives?
I changed to my real name and I'm still a "Nashville Reject"! :-)

Would you believe my real name is John Q. Public?

I've always used my real name on songwriter boards. Seems a little different to me than other message boards.

For a long time I was using my alias or nick name in all of my postings and email addresses, but at some point I began to think about how that looked to the people I was messaging.

So in the past few years, I have been using my real name just for a professional touch.

that's just my take though.......

I don't have a problem using my name, I believe it helps when posting lyrics. Used to post here without my middle intail, but I started posting again, I could remember my password after changine isps, so I had to reregister.

It's funny - this is the only forum that I made a conscious effort to just be myself, and use my real name since day one. on other sites, I've been "Rockin' Dr. Tom" - a name given to me by a former bandmate, not because I have any medical training, but because I was always fixing his guitar. So I became the rock'n Dr. and it stuck.

Of course, just being "Tom Tracy" feels like I've been missing something here. I'm considering changing to "Blind Jellyfish Tom Tracy" or something equally colorful.

I like what Tink (Cindy) & Humminbird (Vikki) did. Posting "the artist formerly known as..." in their signature. That will REALLY help some of we newer folks who hadn't totally learned everyone by their actual names yet.

Of course, mine will be Bree....the "artist" formerly known as ..umm.... Bree

Great idea though, Brian!!!


Bree

Since I have used my name since I first started posting, I sure have no problem with this. It actually helps because, being old. LOL I have trouble sometimes remembering the screen names of folks who post under aliases even when I know them well. Not sure whether that is age or blondeness but hey...this ought to help regardless!! I also agree that putting your real name out there does tend to make you stop and think before saying things that you might regret later. Hiding behind the anonymity of a screen name that you can change at the drop of a hat has led to some bashing in the past and that is never a professional thing to do. I am glad to see JPF taking this step towards professionalism and applaud all who are willing to go with this. In the long run...it's just simpler.

And Joe..thanks for the explanation of where your roxhythe name came from. I always wondered! LOL

Hugs,
Bobbie

Brian, I meant to use our regular screen name for a while and put our real name in our signature. As a matter of fact, why change at all if our signature has our real name in it? On the old board you had to remember to click add signature all the time, but this new board allows you to leave it selected all the time.

I agree with you as well, Brian. While I like "zircon" since that is my artist name, I tag all my albums/songs as "zircon (Andrew Aversa)" anyway so it doesn't make a difference to me.

great idea Brian!

of course,,,I've used my real name from the start here.
ON another board I started out with my name...but couldn't find my password...and needed to re-register. And since my name was taken (by me!) I had to come up with a new name.
Was kind of funny the first few posts... getting replies like"oh, I didn't know that was you!" LOL

On that same note.... like Joe... I started out on the net with a psuedonym. My husband and I had a joint email address...and when I wanted to see what chatrooms were like, we created a new name for me. (learned immeditaely that those chatrooms werevpretty useless for me and was very glad I hadn't used my real name) Now I am thinking that it's about time to have an email address with my real name again.

Brian ,

I'd used a nick ( see_change ) on forums I've been active up to now . I made a decision when joining songwriting forums to use my real name for exactly the reasons you've mentioned and I've also started using my real name when signing posts elsewhere now.

Cliff

Jody

I got sick of my Avatar after a while, too. So I mooned Joe with a new one. But now that my secret is out I put up my real Avatar.
I don't know how long it will take for me to get sick of it though.
I might have to go back to moonin' Joe

This is funny, I had always used my real name and JUST changed to Herbietunes a week ago. I like the new one, it is STILL my real name!!! I don't really care though, if you want to change it back...

Done on my part. The "ClamMan" has been shucked.Just waiting for Admin approval.

Thanks!
Kaika Kale

Okay.... I updated that batch of changes. Anyone else? We're on a roll with 30 changes today alone! = )

Brian

Herbie,

I did this just to mess with you since you've been disagreeing with me a lot lately! = )

Brian

Hi Brian and everyone!

Yikes, don't pull changes like this while I'm offline!!!
Now I don't know who everybody is anymore!! LOL.
Great idea though, and I am happy to comply.

I have always used my real name in my signature file anyway.
My name is an eency-bit common too, so I'll include my middle initial. I've done well enough with my real name and been online with it long enough, that if just you Google for "Linda Adams" the first entry is always my website. The next few are iffy though...

And where did everyone's Avatars go? Several are missing!
OK... back to work...

"Just Checking in for a Fix" Linda

Well, I perform as DakLander so I've requested that change be made. Shoot, I should have just kept it after the old forum problem I had with losing the username.
Anyone interested can go to my other sites to see who I am in my other life.

Brian,

Have submitted for admin approval. Although my real first name is Alan, in the music business I have always been known as "Al David". So, whenever you get some rest (rest...what's that?), I will await the change on the board.

I think it is a great idea. Yeah, we'll have to take a little time to reassociate new "real" names with previous monikers. But, that will smooth out with time. Sideman66 will just have to decide to where he wants to retire!

Al David

I was thinking of doing it anyway. Makes sense.

I think using real names here is a great idea.

It tends to make people more accountable. I think it is extremely cowardly to hide behind fake screen names. I'm not accusing anyone HERE of being a coward, though!! On a number of less friendly sites, I have seen people post pretty offensive stuff -- and not have to take any personal reponsibility for it because NO one knew who they really were. Good move, Brian!

Emily

We have 43 of the Top 100 posters using their real full names and another 30+ that have converted as well. That's a good start. Thanks to those who are buying in.

Brian

OK here goes,may as well try the photo thing also.

Everett

No problem for me, as I've always used my real name here. I, too, appreciate people using both names in signature lines - or, like Tink/Cindy did, put your former screenname in your avatar.

Good move.

Consider it D.O.N.E.
Joanne

I'm with sub... If you want to be noticed/remembered/heard and but are called John Smith then the name isn't really going to do you any favours.

HEY!! I like the name "Kaika Kale" sooo much better than ClamMan anyway! It just sounds so coooool. Hey, here comes Kaika Kale.. sounds mysterious whereas ClamMan sounds like an insult. :-)

I mean that in a nice way. I think your name is uber cool. Mine's common. And speaking of common - this is a question for Brian - do we have any members here that share identical names?

I'd caution that the "use your real name" thing may not work for everybody--and it's okay. Not only are there people who are better known by their stage names, but there can occasionally be confusion--remember Steve Not-the-Porn-Star Pierce? Just because I have the luxury of a unique (if unspellable and/or unpronounceable) East European Refugee Name doesn't mean everyone does--and we're all trying, I think, to get noticed as best we can.

Which is an excuse, I guess, for a War Story. A couple of years ago, I was contacted by the local college to do a benefit concert for Katrina survivors. I told them I wanted to do it with a band, and rounded up a trio of bluegrass musicians I'd played with before to be the band. The newspaper called me, wanting to know the band's name so they could advertise it. I quoted them the Ayn Rand Proverb, and suggested they just call us "Anna, Joe, Matt, and maybe Sharon" (we weren't sure Sharon was going to be able to make it). Dead silence for a long time on the other end of the phone, and then a tentative "Are you sure?" They did advertise us that way, people came, and we raised over $2,000 for the Katrina victims. I'm pretty sure it was the issue, not name familiarity, that attracted the crowd (though you never know)--but when we put out the CD later that year, folks *did* remember who we were.

Real names do work. Just not for everybody all of the time.

P.S. Bill/Elvis (Billvis?), moons are good. I am happy to shine in the reflected light of a star like yourself.

The Artist Formerly Known as Moonless Joe

How's this Joe?
Or should I go back to the moon?

I like it. If you went back to the moon, you'd need to superimpose a "Billvis Was Here" on it.

The Artist Formerly Known as Moonless Joe

HIDee Brian!

I've never actually LIKED my last name.."Good". So, I coined my Pen Name over 25 years ago/It's truly become an Alter Ego.

I have always posted my Real Name in the Copyright Details at the end of every lyric, so I think anybody who REALLY Has to know my full name can easily grab it.

I, for one, will kinda Miss "Tink".."Couchgrouch".."Athabaxtra" et al.

I've also seen SOME Critiquers take their names (& critiquing/marketing/songwriting ability) TOO dern seriously. I'm fond of the INformality of a Pen Name...it keeps things "Loose"...

IMHO the Music Biz has become Far TOO Formal/Lawyers run the show insteada The Artists formerly known as Whomever.

Yeah, I'll mull Formalizin' My Handle now, so I'm not the SOLE "Holdout"...but I'm hopin' there are Others.

Best Wishes, Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

Stan,

If you have a pen name that you actually use in everything, then stick with it. But if you have some made up handle that has nothing to do with who you are like XB103YTR or JoeyBulldog or FMZ6 or whatever then I think it's more productive to use a name you actually are indentified with in general. If you have no interest in being more than a hobbyist, then I guess it also doesn't matter. But why spend time networking when the folks you are networking with don't even know who you are? And why spend time trying to write or record or perform music for commercial purposes when the folks who might be interested also have no idea who you are? If you want to be Elton John, then that is fine with us as long that is who you really are going to be down the road. If you have a domain that is www.janehoward.com but your name here is littlebunnyfufu12 I think that's a bad idea if you ever want to be known as Jane Howard. That's my point in trying to covert folks.

Brian

nice pic by the way Stan!

Post deleted by TampaStan

Aw, Rats! The Double-post didn't TOTALLY Disappear after all..Sorry! (I keep gettin' disconnected by the Wi-Fi Gadget mid-POST-button-push sometimes...so when I re-boot this is what Occasionally Happens.) How I yearn for my Good Ol' WebTv Days..heh!

Thanks for the Kind Comment on da Pic, Brian! My Wi-Fi Wieldin' Son Max took 3 pics the other day...2 Head-on-ers (that, with the Black Shadows on da side made me look Extra-EVIL) and This One, Starin' Dead-at the Sun. He was also kind enough to add it to the Avatar Spot for me, since I'm still pretty Computer-Illiterate, partly by-choice, of cuss!

Now if I can somehow get my cell phone to ring LOUD enough it's gonna be a Great Year!

Best Wishes,
Ol' Stan

I'm with ya Stan see my new song on lyric 3
Rick

I'm all for it

Pity I couldn't get my other 2K post count back

Cheers

I'm all for it

Pity I couldn't get my other 2K post count back

Cheers

"Would a rose, by any other name, smell as sweet?" Yaw shure!!
I went by 'lionheart' because my first name is Richard. I'm a leo and me, and my sons, high schools mascot is a lion. It was developed while recooperating from a triple by-pass. I do have my full name painted on some of my equiptment so what the heck...

I was a bit reluctant,
But only initially,
I think it presents our names,
Much more pro-fes-sionally!!

Thanks Brian for all your hard work (again!) Get some sleep.

Best,
Lynn

I understand some folks won't be comfortable.. I have no delusions that we'll convert everyone or even a majority. My hope is to covert as many of the Top 100 as I can and then as new folks come on line, they'll see the benefits of being yourself. We work hard to protect folks here as well, so if anyone feels they are a victim of some negativity due to their real name, let me know and we'll deal with it immediately.

Brian

Done, and get some sleep Brian!

Noel,

It's weird.. not only did it nuke your screen name, but all your posts say anonymous. I am still sorry about that. That was the worst crash effect we ever suffered. I requested a way to change post count numbers be put into the next update, but I don't know if they will do it.

Brian

Noel,

I can't reset your post total.. but I did the next best thing to that! Thanks for your participation over the years!

Brian

I started with my real name. I've got nothing to hide. I'm the company I'm trying to market here. This ain't a chat room. When I come on here, I'm at work. I want everyone to know my name, like Norm at Cheers, except without the beer. Well, maybe just one. I think this is a good move Brian, in what seems to be a long line of good moves developing the site and the organization. You cite good reasons for the change. It remains each individual's choice. Where's the down side?