Thoughts on Stage Names

[nixonjames]

I've been doing open mics for about 4months now and I'm on the fence with the notion of using a stage name and was curious if anyone else does/has considered and why/why not.

I'm. James Nixon
which often turns into 'Jim' or 'Jimmy' Nixon... it gets under my skin.

So... I've thought about putting myself down as
Tex Nixon

I'm from texas, it's my nickname that i don't let many people use cuz i think it's stupid, but i have a lot of material about my upbringing, family, rural texas people, etc so it wouldn't really detract from my set... unless that's putting a potentially negative seed in the audience's mind too early.

I've generally found audiences respond well to Texas whether they're for/against what you're saying because it seems to be particularly polarizing.

But anyways... curious if anyone has used one/uses one and why? I know some italian and asian comics that changed their stage name to avoid stereotypes but mispronunciations... but that's not really my issue... just hard biting my tongue to rip the MC for saying JIM instead and don't want to project my private issue onto a forum I want to be a regular in.

[pixel revolt]

My real name is Tom Revolt put I changed it to Pixel. Most of my jokes are about repairing computer monitors.

[scamboogah]

Speaking as an effete, California liberal asshole, I would hesitate to buy tickets to anyone called 'Tex' anything. I hate redneck comedy. I find it simple, boring, and divisive. The fact that you consider it being 'polarizing' as a good point makes me not want to see you even more.

The name Jimmy Nixon rolls off the tongue very nicely. I'm predetermined to like Jimmy Nixon as much as I'm predetermined to hate Tex Nixon. I know that's not fair, but that's just how I feel.

Also, I might pay to see Tom Revolt, but would need to have a lot of recorded and word-of-mouth evidence before seeing someone named 'Pixel'.

Again, call me an asshole, I'm just trying to be honest.

[Siggers]

I was thinking my stage name could be Missing Abortion.

[ronfunc]

I would avoid a stage name right now. If you hate that people say your name wrong wait till they make fun of your stage name right before you go on. People are going to get your name wrong it happens.

[JuanCarlos]

When I was starting I was wondering about using a name other than my given name, use my mother's maiden name. Then I made a quick search of comics I admire to see if they used fake names. Outside of Roger Dangerfield and Albert Einstein, none of them did, it was probably with good reason.

I think a reason you don't rip into the MC for calling you Jim or Jimmy it's that you know it's silly to get upset about things like that, specially if you're a comedian. Jim Gaffigan, Jimmy Norton, Jim Florentine, I say you're in good company. Much better than Jamie (Kennedy) at least.

[nixonjames]

Speaking as an effete, California liberal asshole, I would hesitate to buy tickets to anyone called 'Tex' anything. I hate redneck comedy. I find it simple, boring, and divisive. The fact that you consider it being 'polarizing' as a good point makes me not want to see you even more.

The name Jimmy Nixon rolls off the tongue very nicely. I'm predetermined to like Jimmy Nixon as much as I'm predetermined to hate Tex Nixon. I know that's not fair, but that's just how I feel.

Also, I might pay to see Tom Revolt, but would need to have a lot of recorded and word-of-mouth evidence before seeing someone named 'Pixel'.

Again, call me an asshole, I'm just trying to be honest.

Yah I've been just sticking to it and most of the time it's not a problem but anytime I get an older mc from Boston they always go 'herh's jimmay nixON'

And I throw up a little.

I get the revulsion to Tex but I could see it working in my set, b/c I do a lot of riffs on people from Texas. I gtfo'd soon as I could and found it much more interesting to be 'from' not 'in' texas. But anyways thanks for the honest feedback, I'll keep to normal for now.

[Supa Scoopa]

How about Richard M. Nixon?

You'd get butts in seats just because.

[Newt Floss]

stop doing comedy altogether

[CaptainBreakfast]

Don't listen to Newt, he just hates.

Stick with your real name. People screw up my last name all the time when introducing me, I just make fun of it. Really, how hard is it to say "Breakfast"?

Aw, some people...

[Me, The JerBear]

Yeah I gotta agree that Jimmy Nixon flows whereas Tex Nixon seems to have one too many 'ka' sounds in it. We all know that 'ka' sounds are funnier than soft, non-percussive syllables, but a name should flow.

Tex does conjure up all sorts of Southern yahoo stereotypes. If that's the kind of comic you are then keep it but do so knowing that there just might be one or maybe even two or more people who use the name Tex. Personally I feel like too many comedians from the south let the geography of their birth pigeonhole them into being a 'redneck' comic, but that's just me.

[KeithTalent]

Nicknames are a sign of affection and comedians like to play with words. I don't see why that should make you vomit.

[ErikNielsen]

Well, there's a difference between having a nickname and nicknaming yourself. And when you go on stage, the name you're using is the one you bill yourself under. So I feel like if you're going to use a nickname, it had better be pretty real.

I mean, if everyone calls you "Spike", go ahead, call yourself "Spike". But you can't just make that up -- otherwise you're that guy who goes to his friends, like, "hey, everyone should call me Spike now." That guy is probably drunk, and if he's not, that's worse.

(Of course, I never used my middle name before I started doing comedy, so I'm a bit hypocritical. But I never set out to use my middle name -- it just sort of happened, and then afterwards, I was like, "okay, I guess that works.")

As for the underlying issue, why are these comedians saying your name wrong? Are you not "James" on the lineup? Are you not "James" in all your correspondence with the bookers? If some guy is reading "James" and saying "Jimmy", that's a professionalism issue on their part, and you have the right to mention that to the booker after the show. (Where are you going up in Boston?)

[bridgetosolace]

My father's a broadcaster so I grew up with a good sense of linguistic beauty and what flows well verbally.

James Nixon is just fine. Jimmy Nixon is also fine. Jim Nixon could be worse but shifting from the m to the n is either awkward or you blend the two words together.

So it's just down to whether or not you prefer people call you James or Jimmy. James is a bit more respectable, if your material is more "mature" or something.

If I take a stage name it'll be after one my dad's radio names. Jon Carter or something. My name is trash to say otherwise. It's not complicated, it's just not pleasant to say.

[mire12]

stop doing comedy altogether

unnecessarily mean, but the only post that made me laugh.

just to add my two cents...

I think that the open mic hosts are doing you a favor when they introduce you as "Jim" or "Jimmy" (they're hoping you realize that it should stick). "James" is just way too serious-sounding for a comedian. think about it... there's A REASON that most comics with the given name "James" go by a different first name (Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Jim Carrey, Jim Breuer, Jim Norton, etc.).

[Berliner]

Gaffigan

[ErikNielsen]

I think that the open mic hosts are doing you a favor when they introduce you as "Jim" or "Jimmy" (they're hoping you realize that it should stick). "James" is just way too serious-sounding for a comedian. think about it... there's A REASON that most comics with the given name "James" go by a different first name (Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Jim Carrey, Jim Breuer, Jim Norton, etc.).

This isn't true at all. I don't know this guy or his act, but if he goes by "James" in his day-to-day life, odds are he's a James.

Look at that list of guys you made -- they're all high-energy outgoing guys (give or take). Which is fine, if that's what they are on stage. They're trying to project a casual kind of attitude. (If they're trying at all -- I'm sure a lot of those guys just used the name they were already known by.) But plenty of comedians aren't like that. Take (for example) Dave Cross, Pat Oswalt, or Steve Wright. Or don't take them, because that's not what they're called.

I mean, can you imagine Richard Lewis as "Rick", or Stephen Colbert as "Steve"? Those names would defeat the whole purpose of those guys.

(Then again, I couldn't imagine Richard Lewis as "Tex" either.)

[pg13]

My father's a broadcaster so I grew up with a good sense of linguistic beauty and what flows well verbally.

James Nixon is just fine. Jimmy Nixon is also fine.

Actually, as a former broadcaster myself, I'd point out that there IS an issue with James Nixon, when it comes to what "flows well."

You have the "s" into the soft consonant of "n"...which is difficult to say clearly. It ends up sounding like a "z" which causes a false swallowed syllable when you try to transition to the "n" in Nixon. You end up with the rather awkward: Jaym-Z(uh)NIHks-uhn.

Compared to Jimmy Nixon, it's no contest what is easier to say and what sounds better...if only for the transition from the "ee" vowel to the soft consonant: JIH-mee-NIHcks-uhn.

I don't like Jim Nixon. JIH-m(uh)NIHcks-uhn.
Tex Nixon is worse. TEH-ks(uh)NIHcks-uhn.

Jay Nixon isn't bad option.

What's your middle name? That's the classic "Junior Broadcaster" trick.

pg--Or, you just accept that your name doesn't flow perfectly. I mean, Dave Cross flows better than David Cross...and Zachary Galifianakis flows better than the somewhat awkward Zach Galifianakis...but I think David & Zach are doing just fine.--seattle

[inturnaround]

Tex Nixon? Gives me an echo of Tex Watson with the reality that your last name is shared with one of the most infamous politicians in the history of this country.

[soce]

My friend's name is Eric Fortin, and he changed his stage name to Ash Louis. I do music using a stage name but comedy as myself.. Definitely you should be cool with people mispronouncing your name all of the time, because you could have the simplest name in the world and they will still mess it up quite often. Think of how Kumail Nanjiani or Zach Galifianakis must feel.