Why do performers in adult movies change their name, sometimes many times? Has anyone ever told them about product name recognition? My only idea is to make it look like them have not done as much porn as they really have(less sleazy).
I agree that most of these name changes are really kind of silly. The only valid reasons that I have heard for this have been:
1) When an actress is trying to change her image. The actress currently known as Briana Banks used to use the name Mirage. When she had a Boob Job, lightened her hair, and took on a more glamerous appearance, she changed her name. Who knows if her career would be any different had shen kept the name Mirage, but given her success since the name change, it's hard to argue against what she did.
2) The other reason that I know about has been that some girls who have signed exclusive contracts with Extreme as soon as they entered the business were given their names by Extreme. When they have left the company, Rob Black has pulled a Vince McMahon on them and given them shit that he owns the name. I know that this happened to Cherry Mirage (who was known as Stryc-Nine when she was with Extreme).
I have to admit that I like when an actress changes her name when she does something that radically changes her appearance. There are many cases where I like someone's "before" or "after" appearance, but not the other. Having different names makes it easier to identify which "incarnation" the actress is in.
Well, sometimes a gal doesn't know diddly squat when she enters the industry and she picks out a really dumb name, sometimes because someone "helped" her pick it or sometimes because she danced with this cool stage name and wants to keep it. Then suddenly she manages to do her first feature video and among the pretty "non-porn dufus" names you see a credit like KIMI LIXX and she feels like a moron! It seems like a good idea to change your names, your REAL fans will find you, right?
(no, I don't intend to change my name, I picked it <sigh> and I'll live with it - but if I only knew then what I know now...)
Kimi, I'd be willing to bet that you are far from being alone in having second thoughts about your stage name. I would think that it's kinda like getting your first tattoo. At some point, you are bound to think to yourself "What did I do?"
I think that you are making the right decision in sticking with your choice, you would probably go throught the same self-doubt with any new name that you would choose anyway. (Why would someone get a second Tattoo, just because they didn't like the first one?)
As much as it is confounder with all the different names, it can be a challenging game trying to find all the aliases. But you always wonder if you missed a name or two. Another grip I have is some of the names chosen. When I see a name like Lotta Boobs or Wendy Whoppers I am immediately turned off. I don't expect them to use their real names but pick something that doesn't sound like it was born out of a committee of sixth graders.
Kimi, I happen to like your name, although I understand your concerns. Still, it's hardly the worst nom du porn out there-after all, consider that Alana Evans, according to the IAFD, was once known as Jenna Talia.
Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00
Posted - Jan 27 2002 : 6:51PM
If given another chance, I definitely would have picked a different, more sexy name.
But once I had already done a couple dozen movies, lots of stripping and a few layouts, I didn't want to miss out on any of my previous name recognition.
Still, sometimes I think of making a slow switch over to Tricia Stagliano.
