The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Bar => Topic started by: Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra on February 10, 2015, 05:04:10 PM
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Always important to have a good name for your band, don't you think?
Almost as important as the music, isn't it?
But what about solo artists? Must we soldier on saddled with a name which, although it might be perfectly acceptable in 'normal' life, isn't really suitable for a serious, image-conscious performer.
For me, Ian Osborne doesn't conjure up a picture of a cool jazz muso. Not like Art Blakey or Bud Powell or Chet Baker is it?
I can do the drugs and the wine all right, but who's going to take me seriously with a name like that?
What do you think?
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Seems to have worked out for Ozzy..
You could always call yourself "Pink" - oh wait that's taken but the other colours probably aren't. ;D ;D
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I was always called Ozzy as were both my brothers and it's pretty good for a heavy metal man but.....
In a previous incarnation I played alternate nights for a time at a bar in Gibraltar with an Irish fellow whose name was Gerry O'Donaghan or something like that...Gerry anyway...who was a grizzly bearded chap fond of the fruit of the vine. We chalked the billboard outside the bar for him as 'Mad Dog' O'Donaghan which seemed appropriate for him. I played guitar and harmonica blues in those days so I became 'Blues Boy' Osborne - still doesn't quite work, does it?
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Maybe Bluesy, Bossy, Ballsy, even Jazzy might work!
You need a word that has assonance with Osborne me thinks.
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How about you switch your name around - Osborne Ian?
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funny i was just thinking that digger
ian osbourne
enruobso nai
add an H
Henru Obsonai
no..
Harry Osbo
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Just go with Osbourne. Sounds more enigmatic methinks?
:)
Neil
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Well I think Harry Osbo is the best so far but too many 'o's perhaps. Hal sounds a bit more 'jazz'.
I think the Osborne has just got to go altogether. Too many o's and not 'beat' enough. Not snappy.
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Maybe "Osbourne Identity" or Osbourne Supremacy" ;D ;D
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hold on hold on getting a bit close to george osbourne, dancerlar of the exchequer
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No relation.
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I think it depends on your music. If your music's good and you become successful then your name becomes cool.
Examples of "normal" sounding names that became something special because of the person's talent:
Robert Johnson
Miles Davis
Charlie Christian
Charlie Parker
Jonathan Jones
Bessie Smith
Moving into the modern era we have that well known Yorkshire brewery, Sam Smith.
If their music hadn't been heard you wouldn't think their names out of the ordinary. or associate their names with good music.
Produce great music and Ian Osbourne will join the great names like Thelonious Monk.
Keith
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Of course you're right Keith, but that's beside the point..... and for every 'normal' name you can think of I'm sure we could come up with one that isn't...Howling Wolf, Slim Harpo, Fats Domino, Elton John etc etc
And having a 'name' is the whole point here. it isn't about becoming famous, it's about starting famous by having a name that makes an impact and that people remember, hence Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Georgie Fame et al.
Trouble is I'm a bit long in the tooth now so it might be tricky getting used to a new name.....I'm kind of used to being 'Cramer' now so I might try to incorporate that....
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But all the exotic names you mention are those that played good music and got recognition. Chester Burnett would have still been a great blues artist if he hadn't had a stage name.
Who would have remembered Johnny Gentle if it hadn't been for Stu De Stael and Paul Ramon? Thousands of funky stage names disappear into the night sky with only a small minority ever been aware of them.
I don't have any problem with stage names but the music always comes first.
Although its alright for me to talk I hide behind a band name even though its only me and my wife on occasional tambourine.
Good luck finding a name,
Keith
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I'd like to make a post in this thread on "Band names".
But first I'll contribute to the current conversation:
I agree that almost any name will become "cool" if the music the musician plays becomes popular or is embraced as being "cool" music.
On the other hand the most interesting, attractive, and cool name isn't going to help if the music sucks. (some exception may apply) Actually I've heard some pretty sucky music from bands that seem to be pretty popular. So maybe they got where they are by name only?
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Now moving on to what I would like to talk about concerning Band Names.
I'm thinking of starting a band and naming it "Shamanic Daemons". My question is this. How do I go about finding out if the name has already been taken?
I typed Shamanic Daemons into Youtube and no musical groups by that name came up. I typed it into Google and didn't get any responses that suggested anything about any musical groups. I typed it into Google Images and didn't see any pictures of any musical groups.
It this a pretty good indication that there most likely does not exist a group named "Shamanic Daemons"?
Also, if I start a group by that name is there anything I need to do to "copyright" that name? Or does it even matter?
One of the reasons I ask is because I was looking into having a 22" bass drum head done up with some fancy artwork and the name "Shamanic Daemons" on it. That custom artwork head costs about $200 to have made. I'd hate to spend $200 having that head made up only to discover that there exists another group by that name and we can't use it.
Also, if we create flyers, and a website, etc., it would all be based on that name. A lot of time, effort, and money could be spent setting things up with that name. It would be a real bummer to then discover that the name already belongs to some other group.
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hi mystic dreamer
from what I remember from ip law, you can't claim copyright in a name. you could potentially register it as a trade mark. and even if you hadn't registered it as a trade mark, you might be able to claim "passing off". if you have a logo designed, you should be able to claim copyright in that as an artwork.
so if someone else is already using the name and has registered it as a trade mark, and then you start using it, you could have a problem (presumably there is some way to search the UK trade mark register or multiple registers around the world, but I can't remember much about this). And even if they haven't registered it, they might be able to claim you are passing your product off using the name they have built up. As there's no register for passing off, it's virtually impossible to know for sure that you're not using something someone else is already using. The more you search, the more comfort you can take though. and i'm very hazy on this, but i think that passing off is quite difficult to prove - what makes it a bit easier is if the person/organisation already using it has built up a lot of public recognition and good will in their name - which hopefully ought to mean that if you do a little bit of diligent searching and don't find anything, hopefully you shouldn't have too much to worry about.
You might find this helpful http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p18_copyright_names
cramer, loving the new name. I was going to suggest something with aristocracy in the title like a duke or an earl... :D
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cramer, loving the new name. I was going to suggest something with aristocracy in the title like a duke or an earl... :D
....a king or a count would work for alliteration.... I like King Cramer ;D
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I preferred Thelonious Cramer, had a touch of brilliance. There are too many Kings and Viscounts around.
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The trouble is there's only one Thelonious that anyone's ever heard of so I would be inevitably associated with him and I'm really not very good at playing the piano.
King Cramer isn't bad but for some reason it sounds more like a variety of pear or something. I'm not 100% sold on a 'title' (thanks Becky for the suggestion!) but it will have to do for now......
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Well I shall call you 'the Count'
But what if I met you?
Would I need to call you M'Lord, I hate to
you address you incorrectly, what with you being gentry and all that!
;D
Neil
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brilliant !
'monty christo'
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I've dragged this thread back out of obscurity because I need a new name. Viscount Cramer & His Orchestra has done fine as my 'jazz' name but after my blues/rock sortie with 'Life Looks Good In Blue' I've been working on some blues stuff - mostly in my dreams so far.
My real name has let me down again as far as this goes. It obviously has to be cool, not necessarily as 'blues' as Slim Harpo' or Lightning Hopkins....
Initials are usually good (JJ Cale, BB King - double ones seem to be the best!) or The (eg. J Geils) Band, which would give the impression that it isn't just me and a bunch of free loops.
Descriptive prefixes seem pretty popular. Slim Harpo, as I said earlier, Fats Domino, Lazy Lester, Big Joe Turner, Little Walter.....
Any thoughts?
Not too long because Soundcloud doesn't like it. I couldn't put my full title on there....all that fitted was Viscount Cramer & His Orc.
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The trouble is there's only one Thelonious that anyone's ever heard of so I would be inevitably associated with him
Didn't seem to discourage Elvis Costello ;)
(Sorry, nothing to do with you recent post!)
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I suppose "The Artist formerly known as Viscount Cramer and His Orchestra" would be too long?
How about:
The Loopy Blues Band ;D ;D
or just
The Loopy Blues
Half serious!
Paul
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Little Floyd Pinkerton
Magic Odie Osborne
Blind boy Ozzie
Big Donnie Delta
Chicago Ian
Lemon Osborne II
Clearwater Borne
Jeremiah Bullfrog II
Copyright Skub. 25% of the takings! :D
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Don't bluesmen also tend to be "reverends"?
I stumbled across "Noise Baron" (Ian Osborne anagram)... Not very inspired today...
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I do love thinking up names ...it was often the best part of being in a band :)
I told you how much I loved viscount kramer & his orchestras so a new one has got to be just as special...
you know.. I love how youve got everyone here calling you viscount kramer like you are better than all of us! ...& I almost have to keep reminding myself you are not nobility something special just comes with that name! you make me wish id registered as Lady Poshfrocks
But now you want to be a poor lowly bred blues man!.....its a riches to rags story you realise?
People may now look down on you & run you off of there songs with a shotgun ;D
anyway I could think of loads of funny ones but that wouldnt help you ...so heres some that would pique my interest if I came across them ...scuse crumbs im having a early lunch!
damn fine dixon
two heads tate (& the better than ones??)
Frank Lee Mydear :)
John with the wind (sorry about that one) :)
deluxe tucker
Moonshine Brightly
whole hog harris
leatherbound dupree (dont know why that fascinates me so!)
unstoppable watson
will you be a solo artist or will you have a band who need a name.. like you had a orchestra?
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I have long lost my actual "band." And, although I do collaborate with other musicians in the studio, I am, for all intents and purposes, a solo artist.
Still, I record under the band name "Hop On Pop."
I think that there is something to be said for a band name instead of your own name.... a band name is more memorable, as you pointed out in the first post, than a common given name. You can have more fun with it. And, also, you can better shape an image for your musical persona than you can with your given name.
It makes sense.
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Thanks for the suggestions so far folks. I'll think on it.
My wife thinks I'm being ridiculous.
As I said recently, some kind chappie played one of my songs on an internet radio station so there we were waiting to see how he was going to announce me. She would have groaned loudly if he had said 'Here's Viscount Cramer with........' but he used my real name fortunately.
However, 'Here's Ian Osborne with.......' still doesn't do it for me!
I will of course still be using the Viscount thing if I do any jazz stuff and perhaps Cramer ought to be incorporated in the Blues name too.
I can't see Archbishop Cramer though Adam.
The trouble is I'm not Big or Fat or Leatherbound or Blind.....somehow Long-sighted Cramer doesn't quite cut it either.
I did have (have still got a bit) curly hair but Curly Cramer doesn't appeal to me. Balding.....
I was in a bar a few years ago with some Irish fellows and we were talking about another mate of theirs who had next to nothing on his head but a skinny three inch ponytail.
One of the lads piped up, "We've got a word for that in Ireland. Long-haired baldy man."
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"No baronies" (also an anagram: http://www.wordplays.com/anagrammer)
(Unfortunately you can also make "A nosier nob" :'( )
Blues Ninja? (http://www.savagechickens.com/tag/music)
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You shouldve said you wanted to keep the cramer!
Thats easy ...keep the count from viscount aswell:
countdown cramer
count me out cramer
body count cramer.
down for the count cramer
or if just cramer:
cool head cramer
clean shoes cramer
clean cut cramer
basket case cramer
on the case cramer
worst case cramer
you know if you started as ian osbourne then went thru all theses name changes ...you should realy end up as wozzy osbourne? ;D (was he osbourne?)
sorry! I am so silly
I cant help it :)
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Where did basket case come from?
I've been thinking along the Reverend lines but not that obviously, but titles...like Judge Cramer or Doc Cramer. If I could play the guitar better i could be Fingers Cramer or the harmonica better I could be HotLips Cramer or 'Harmonica' Pete Cramer or something like that.
Washboard Sam was on to a winner. Who else do you know called Washboard anything?
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If you're keeping the Kramer, why not keep the Chickenfeet moniker? Or CF Kramer? Both great blues/jazz names! But I seriously know where you're coming from, being called Jonathan Smith! I've been going back and forth for years, but ultimately when I put out my first recordings, I used my real name - at least I'll know I'm being spoken to when I'm out in public! Nothing worse than having your name chanted by the adoring crowds, and looking over your shoulder cos you think they're celebrating someone else!!
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Cramer vs Cramer??
I love the Viscount Cramer and his Orchestra name (even better with just Orc ;D). It's grand, loud and says to the world "Here the f*** we are!". Personally I'd keep it, even if you were playing the blues.
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Cramer vs Cramer??
I love the Viscount Cramer and his Orchestra name (even better with just Orc ;D). It's grand, loud and says to the world "Here the f*** we are!". Personally I'd keep it, even if you were playing the blues.
Seconded. It was the first name that struck me when I joined the forum and I don't want to see it go!