Were you born to get the crowd rocking fun? Are you known as someone who likes to play songs? If you want to be a DJ, you have to stand out from the crowd, and if you want to stand out, you have to have a catchy, unique and memorable name. Unfortunately, with millions of amateur DJs around the world, many names are already registered. This means you have to make sure that your name is truly unique, which is an important part of starting a successful career as a DJ.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Checking Registered Names
Step 1. Use a simple search engine
By far, the quickest and most immediate way to see if a DJ's name is registered is to do a thorough search with the search engine of your choice. If another DJ has chosen the name you want, his website or social media network page will appear in the search results. However, keep in mind that less well-known artists may not appear on the first page of a search.
Remember that invisible evidence doesn't mean it doesn't exist. When you see other DJs appear in search results, this can be a strong indication that your chosen name is already registered, but "not" seeing another DJ is not proof that the name is "not" registered. For more definitive evidence, perform the two types of searches one or the other of the following methods:
Step 2. Use a name search engine
One way to check if a particular name is registered is to use an online search website. This website usually checks a large database of website listings, to bring up information whether the name you have entered is already in a registered status. The best part about all these searches is that many of the best search engines for name work 100% free of charge.
However, note again that just because someone hasn't bought a website that uses your stage name in their address, doesn't mean no DJs have taken that name. It just means someone using your name may not have a strong online presence
Step 3. Use search engines in social media networks
In the modern world, even small bands and musicians often have pages on social networking sites, such as Facebook. Doing a search through social networks to find a username or page that matches your DJ's name is one great way to check if the name is registered. Since joining the most popular social networks is free, this way you have a good chance of finding even the most unknown artists.
Since Facebook is the most popular social networking site in the world, having a one-of-a-kind name is a rarity. Therefore, you will save a lot of time by using one of the several online tools that instantly perform searches on more than one social networking website (eg namechk.com) rather than searching them individually
Step 4. Search from the trademark database
Music group names can be legally authorized by their owners; including names like “R. E. M.”, which has a variable meaning/extension, names like “Paul McCartney”, which is the artist's real name, and, of course, DJ's name. Therefore, searching the trademark database is one sure way to determine if a name has been registered. If you can find a registered trademark for your chosen DJ name, this means that someone else has taken the name and has the legal right to ask you to change your name if there is a similarity that could create confusion among fellow artists.
Some trademark databases can be searched for free, while others may charge a small fee. In Indonesia, you can visit the official website of the Directorate General of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, namely
Step 5. Understand the legitimate legal protections of trademark holders
If you find out that the name of the DJ you want has become a trademark, you may be out of luck. Trademark owners have legal claims to their trademarks, especially in cases where your name may have something in common with the trademark holder (such as, for example, that both you and the active musician are in the same geographic area). This risk increases if your logo, typeface selection, and art direction look the same or imitate the owner's trademark. The artist/musician can (and does have the right) to sue a competitor who refuses to change his name.
Fortunately, there are ways to solve this trademark problem. The easiest is to rename your DJ. You may be “discharged” if you can prove that you are not in direct/intentional competition with the owner of the trademark; for example, if you're the only one that's famous in Surabaya and the copyright holder is only famous in Ambon, you may not need to change your name until one of the two of you embarks on a promotional journey around Indonesia and promoting in the area of his competitors
Part 2 of 3: Picking a Cool DJ Name
Step 1. Make it a short and cool name
Try to think of famous DJ names that are longer than four syllables. If you can find one, maybe only one or two come to mind. Most DJs don't have long names, and indeed they have a good reason for that. The longer your stage name, the harder it will be for people to remember and the less appealing it will sound.
For example, imagine that a new DJ who specializes in playing songs wants to call himself “Kerenabiz song player”. While the word play "abiz" sounds funny, this name is too difficult to recognize and catch. If fans of the DJ have a hard time remembering the name (let alone pronouncing it), this will severely limit word of mouth promotion
Step 2. Choose something that is timeless
Don't name yourself after the trend of the moment, or an electronic sub-stream that may not be popular in a few years, or anything that isn't attractive in the long term. Names like this will make you unsold and difficult to impress listeners, especially after your name has lost its prestige. Instead, choose a name that is timeless, ie something that doesn't sound out of place in the next few months or years.
For example, imagine a newcomer DJ calling himself “DJ Harlem Shaker” at a time when the topic was popular in February 2013. This is a bad decision. In just a few months, the popularity of this topic has passed, and the name of this DJ is becoming obsolete
Step 3. Consider the sound effect when your name is spoken
Ideally, the syllables in your DJ's name should complement each other and produce the sound effect you want to convey when spoken. Some names sound nice and fun, while others sound cold and cynical. Depending on the type of music you play, you may want to choose a name that sounds soft or loud.
For example, words with the letters g, k, z, t and c tend to sound loud and distracting and include noisy, or phonetically unpleasant. On the other hand, words that have many letters l, w, o, y, and s tend to sound soft and fluent and include melodious, or phonetically beautiful. A DJ may need to use one of these styles, so choose your own appropriate sound to make the name fit your character
Step 4. Make sure that your name passes the radio test
In radio broadcasts, the names of people, places, and events that are being promoted in the broadcast should pass the so-called “radio test”. It's not as complicated as it sounds. Radio testing is just a way of telling whether your name will sound clear to listeners who can only hear when it's spoken, without looking at the spelling. In general, the more complex your DJ's name is, the harder it will be for radio listeners to understand.
- A name that passes the radio test should be easy to understand just from how it sounds when spoken. The name should not be difficult for the announcer or listeners to pronounce or spell. Remember, the people who hear your DJ name at the time of broadcasting have never heard of you before.
- For example, imagine that there is a DJ named “ThreeDotComrat”. This name will hardly pass the radio test. Someone reading it during the broadcast might say something like, “If you like the song you just heard, visit the artist's website at www.tigadotcomrat.com. There are many possible errors, for example w, w, w, "three" (like the number 3), "three" (like the word "three"), "dot" (like the dot), "dot" (like the word "dot"), and "c, o (not zero), m, r, a, t." This makes the radio announcer's pronunciation rambling and unclear. If the publisher doesn't make mistakes, it is likely that the listeners will.
Step 5. Consider an artistic logo/design when choosing a name
If you want to make your DJing career a success, you may want to consider a name that has artistic potential before making your final decision. Some names will naturally make for a cool logo and design, while others may require a bit more work in choosing the right visual appearance. There is no right or wrong answer here, as this is simply a question of how long you want to be a successful DJ.
- For example, a DJ who calls himself “White Tiger” may naturally want to use the image of a tiger in his performance. He may also, for example, wear a tiger mask while playing his music. If he can use a screen projector, he can also display a tiger design on his face during performances.
- On the other hand, a DJ named “DJ Palindrome” has a logo depicted after his name. Since palindrome means words that have the same spelling when read from the front as well as the back, the DJ Palindrome logo may look like “PalindromemordnilaP”, i.e. like a mirror image.
Step 6. Decide if you want to include the word “DJ” in your name
This is a question every DJ throughout history has had: whether to include the word “DJ” in their name or not. There are no right or wrong answers; many of the world's most famous DJs (like Tiesto, etc.) decided to leave the word “DJ” out of their names, while others wanted to stick with it. It's up to you.
In general, including the word “DJ” gives your self-image an “outdated” or “classic” impression due to the tendency of old hip hop DJs to always include the word “DJ” in their stage names. Not that this applies worldwide, but try to consider each name on a case-by-case basis
Part 3 of 3: Finding Unique Name Inspiration
Step 1. Use music references
The habit of musicians in ancient times in giving names was voicing references from musical concepts or terminology. Some of the most famous artists of all time have used the frequently used method (see: The '”Beat”' les, The Moody's '”Blues”', etc.). Ideally, if you do this, you might be able to reference musical terms that most audiences seem to understand, for example, while it may seem like everyone knows what “beat” means, not everyone knows what the term “syncope” means. Below are some ideas for words you might incorporate into your DJ name:
- Music terminology (beat, note, tempo, chord, song, symphony, etc.)
- Musical genres (rock, disco, techno, etc.)
- A particular song or band (for example, Radiohead, Phoenix, and The Rolling Stones, all named after the group's music genre).
Step 2. Make modifications of your own name
Some musicians, including DJs, choose to use their real names as their stage names. However, others modify their names in such a way as to make them sound unique and memorable. Some chose to change their name in such a way as to sound like a pun. Of course, your ability to do this depends on your real name.
- For example, “MIA” (which sounds “Maya” when pronounced), a Sri Lankan rapper with her international hit “Paper Planes”, goes by a name that sounds itself unique (“Maya”), and also has an abbreviation for the term “Missing in Action”.
- Another well-known example is "Eminem". This name uses a reference to the artist's initials (MM, for "Marshall Mathers") which is also phonetic in pronunciation to his past stage name ("M&M").
Step 3. Include ideas that are important to you
If there are certain things, places, or ideas in your life that are very personally important, consider referencing them all (or including them all) in your DJ name. There are many possible topics to take, from the oddest to the loudest, but anything that is important to you in life can be taken into account. Below are just a few ideas for things you might consider using as a DJ name:
- Religious references (e.g., “Matisyahu”)
- Political references (e.g., “Rage Against the Machine”)
- Language reference (e.g., “Modest Mouse” and “As I Lay Dying”)
- References to specific places or people (e.g., “Lynyrd Skynyrd”)
Step 4. Know the names of world famous DJs
Sometimes it's easy to find a good name just by studying other people's names. However, when you're trying to get inspired by the names of these famous DJs, keep in mind your main goal, which is to stand out from the crowd, not blend in and be alike. Some of the names of influential DJs and musicians from all over the world of dance and hip hop music are listed below, and there are many more besides these names:
- "DJ Shadow"
- “Tiesto”
- “Belleville 3”
- “A-Track”
- "Grandmaster Flash"
- "Diplo"
- “Master Jay's Clock”
- “Deadmau5”
Tips
- Continue on with your list of ideas. It can take weeks, months, or even years to come up with a name you like, and even more importantly, one that other people like too.
- Use pictures and other writing techniques to make your name more interesting.
- Take advantage of your footprint. For example, you may want to use the name of the street you grew up in followed by the name of your first pet, replacing each "i" with a "y".
- You can also combine hero names with random food type names, music, ideas, animals, seasons, or words. Try to replace the word with another word that sounds the same. C and K, J and Y, F and V, etc.
- Using the letter "x" is just as interesting as using the letter "z".
- Think creatively: “Hypo Static”, “Drexo”, “Flextra”, “Toxic Summer”, “Trapsyklez”, “Kya Lagoz”, “Watzit”, “Weiner Chinos”, etc.
- The name can sound harsh, funny, and serious, but it should sound original and catchy to your listeners and easy to remember.
- You can use the initials of your real name for your DJ's name, for example “DJ A&K” or “DJ A. K.”. Make sure that your DJ name doesn't offend anyone or harm yourself.
Warning
- Don't go overboard with names. If you pick an exaggerated name like "DJ Pajama Commander Hyper Triper Squad", people won't be able to remember it and the name sounds like it's not serious.
- If you're planning to make a music production, check "famous names" in digital distributions (such as "Beatport", "iTunes", etc.)
