Changing the stage name of a recognized model

This thought came to me while reading the Brent Corrigan thread.

Regarding model stage names, most of our guys are first-timers, and we've always encouraged the model to come up with his stage name, or we help him do so. Then, if that model works with another studio, he generally keeps the same stage name. But I've also seen cases where the same model is known by a bunch of different stage names on different sites.

It seems to me that everyone -- surfers, models, webmasters -- benefit if the same model name is used consistently across different sites, because then, if a surfer likes a particular model, he can find different sets on different sites and be able to enjoy all of that model's work -- you might get a few extra joins if you have popular model so-and-so featured prominently on your site.

Likewise, we started giving our models last names about a year ago so that they would be better indexed in the sites that sell DVDs and allow cross-searching by model name.

Are there any reasons anyone can think of why a webmaster would *not* want to use the already established name of a model?

We refer to all our models by first name, and ideally like to keep the same name another studio has used for sake of consistency and realism on the occasion that model has done prior work.

However, we'll make it a point to not use the model's existing stage name if and when:

- It's the same as or too similar to another of our models that we have recently worked with or is a signature model. So if Model A appears as "Grimaldi" on another site, and we already have a "Grimaldi" that either newly appeared or is a signature model of the site, we'll avoid having a second "Grimaldi" come about and like to give them a different name.

- The model's other alias is too "porny". If they did some work for another site under the name "Starr Studly" or "Butts McKenzie" "Hugh G. Rection" or something like that, we'll change it. Even subtler yet porny seeming names like "Angel" or "Fox" or something like that we'd rather switch out for a more generic one. Same goes for when we ask a model to choose their name and they choose one that is too porny or wouldn't seem legitimate.

- A model's existing alias just doesn't fit with what we view him as being, and the role we see him as filling on the site. Either we don't feel it quite fits his personality to the degree we'd like it to or his appearance.

one of my pet peeves is guys who buy content that comes with the sometimes VERY well-known name of the model, then gives the model another name on the site or gallery the pics are used on. and when i've asked the webmasters, they've said "oh, surfers won't know the difference".

wrong! these guys should go on some surfer boards. the surfers know the names of most of the models out there. besides, when you rename someone like will west or michael brandon, you're not only making your site look like it's made by a guy who knows nothing about porn - you're missing search engine hits from listng real pornstar names.

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Originally Posted by CorbinFisher_BD

We refer to all our models by first name, and ideally like to keep the same name another studio has used for sake of consistency and realism on the occasion that model has done prior work.

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Tag Adams started out as Chet Roberts, and Falcon made him use that name up until just last year, even though he was becoming known everywhere else as Tag Adams. That was kinda silly.

I really don't think that any site should have a copyright on a name for a model, b/cuz inevitably that model is going to want to work for other companies, and they are going to want to use the same name to help create a presence for themselves. If you tell a model that he is not allowed to use that name anywhere else, I find that pretty arrogant on a webmaster's part. It should be enough that the webmaster was the person who discovered them. Claim that, not the identity. That's disrespectful to your models.

Since the beginning, and with few exceptions, we've given our models first and last names. We feel they're more "real" that way, and we want our customers to be able to identify with our guys.

I can think of several scenarios where you wouldnt want to use an existing stage name of a model.

1) Change in niche orientation.

Say a model is known for doing a certain type of shoot, in a certain niche and that gets changed, a change of name might broaden the appeal of that model. I beleive there are several pornstars who have more than 1 name depending on what/who they are doing.

2) Bad Press.

A name change due to recent bad press about a certain model.

3) Branding.

If a model has a specific stage name that has been branded to one company in detail, might be an idea to change the name so that every time that model is mentioned, working for your company, surfers / affiliates, dont automatically think of their old company.

Regards,

Lee

You know.... these are the kinds of notes we should and ought to be talking about at one of these adult webmaster business show forums.

One thing I have discovered is how much of an afterthought model names usually are. What's up with that? I suppose that producers only look at models in terms of themselves and what they are doing with them in their own movies. That is, in my view, short sighted. Perhaps we can label that as "1990s Thinking"

Actually I find some classic movie directors had a better sense of this than many producers today. I fondly recall watching an old William Higgins tape, and the one preview had Michael Christopher opening the sequence with him speaking to the viewer "Hi, I'm Michael Christopher. See me in my new movie Best Little Warehouse in L.A." Everyone watching now remembers that name.... and when they see a subsequent Higgins film with that model, a little familiarity light will start blinking in their head.

Remember how in Boogie Nights, we saw the 1970s-era moviemakers lose ground to the 1980s upstarts who marketed their films to VCRs? I think that we have many examples of fine producers today still locked in a certain aging business mold, or at least in a 1990s world view. They do not utilize the innovations and changing customer tastes of the 21st century.... for example using the Internet to market their products.

You cannot market your products on the Internet if your models have single word names. And I disagree with Lee..... I think model name changes only lose potential customers.

Steve

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Originally Posted by desslock

I disagree with Lee..... I think model name changes only lose potential customers.

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Peter North / Matt Ramsey ;)

Regards,

Lee

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Originally Posted by desslock

You know.... these are the kinds of notes we should and ought to be talking about at one of these adult webmaster business show forums.

Steve

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I totally agree... but until somebody starts creating an entirely new structure for the panels, or explicitly states that it's not to be used as a platform for the panel member's agenda, or to hawk the panel member's product... well, it's probably going to end up being another old boys network meeting. No offense to those organizing -- i know there's politics to this stuff -- but somebody should really pay some attention to this.

I pitched the idea of a slightly more informal roundtable discussion with a GOOD moderator, in particular something that would appeal to newer webmasters as well as experienced ones, and actually provide practical, useful brainstorming/idea sharing/help... but it's funny... the response i got was rather lukewarm. Perhaps there will be some more flexibility at gay phoenix forum...