Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Naming my new production company!

Author

Message

JaneGwen
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 1/08/07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Topic: Naming my new production company!
Posted: 1/28/09 at 10:54pm

I am starting a new production company that will produce plays in various venues in our area. I have had the hardest time thinking of a name for my company. I do not want my name or initials. Everytime I think of a name, I google it and it is taken...."stage left productions", "dragonfly productions"...etc...

My question is....can there be more than one "stage left productions"? Or what if I call it "stage left productions of Western NY"? Does it have to be drastically different?

It's a fun problem to have, lots of brain storming and creativity....

Thanks for any input!

Jane

IP Logged

KEB54
Celebrity

Joined: 7/24/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 227

Posted: 1/29/09 at 10:46am

My guess would be it depends if it is trademarked or not. Still, I would avoid it unless it is a small company in an area far away from your's. You want to avoid confussion and make your own reputation, hopefully for the good and avoid any bad reputation the other company may have.

By adding, "of Western NY", to me makes it sounds like it is a branch or in some way affilliate with "Stage Left Productions".

Find something unique in your area, something your area is known for and come up with a name based on that. For instance a very quick google told me the area is referred to as the "Western Door", so how about "The Western Stage Door". OK, maybe that's bad, but try that kind of brainstorming for a name.

KEB

IP Logged

vickifrank
Celebrity

Joined: 9/21/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 332

Posted: 1/29/09 at 11:04am

Here's how it works in most places. Aside from trademarks you incorporate or otherwise do business in a certain state.

If the name of your company includes your legal last name, you pretty much can do as you want--Otherwise you must file a DBA (doing business as) form. This serves tax purposes and also makes sure that people can find out the owner of a company (if they get ripped off and need to sue). If you are a corporation (even an S-corp) incorporation takes care of the DBA, because people can look up the legal owners to find them.

Example: "Smith's Production Company" or "Jones and Sons Plumbing" don't need a DBA, but "A+ Best Plumbing" would need a DBA.

I started two companies. The first needed a DBA, (sole proprietorship with a name that didn't include my legal last name) the second I incorporated. Incorporation took care of DBA.

Now to your question... But this second company has a name that is used in other states for other companies. This company has been around 19 years. Some of those other companies had started before I did, others started later. To my best knowledge this is a problem if the state of Michigan has two "ABC Productions, Inc." And yet not a problem if California and Michigan each have an "ABC Productions, Inc."

Of course you can always contact legal sources for real advice. But the safest course is to use your last name. The second safest course is to make sure your state doesn't have a similarly named production company. Then think hard whether the confusion of similar companies with similar names will be an issue. Choose a name that makes it clear what business you are in. Choose a name that has marketing potential. Example if you were in the city of 'Bartholomew', you might name your company "Bartholomew Productions" leading to easy campaign slogans like "For the Best Productions in Bartholomew, choose Bartholomew Productions!" Smart if you are limiting yourself to the city of Bartholomew--but then stupid if you grow way past that city. Like I said--think hard and test market the names.

Personally I sorta warmed to " My Other Stage Left Productions" and "Dragon Flight Productions"

Best of luck.

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

IP Logged

Running Your Theater
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Running Your Theater

Author	Message
JaneGwen Walk-On Joined: 1/08/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Naming my new production company! Posted: 1/28/09 at 10:54pm
	I am starting a new production company that will produce plays in various venues in our area. I have had the hardest time thinking of a name for my company. I do not want my name or initials. Everytime I think of a name, I google it and it is taken...."stage left productions", "dragonfly productions"...etc... My question is....can there be more than one "stage left productions"? Or what if I call it "stage left productions of Western NY"? Does it have to be drastically different? It's a fun problem to have, lots of brain storming and creativity.... Thanks for any input! Jane

	IP Logged

KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 1/29/09 at 10:46am
	My guess would be it depends if it is trademarked or not. Still, I would avoid it unless it is a small company in an area far away from your's. You want to avoid confussion and make your own reputation, hopefully for the good and avoid any bad reputation the other company may have. By adding, "of Western NY", to me makes it sounds like it is a branch or in some way affilliate with "Stage Left Productions". Find something unique in your area, something your area is known for and come up with a name based on that. For instance a very quick google told me the area is referred to as the "Western Door", so how about "The Western Stage Door". OK, maybe that's bad, but try that kind of brainstorming for a name.
	KEB
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 1/29/09 at 11:04am
	Here's how it works in most places. Aside from trademarks you incorporate or otherwise do business in a certain state. If the name of your company includes your legal last name, you pretty much can do as you want--Otherwise you must file a DBA (doing business as) form. This serves tax purposes and also makes sure that people can find out the owner of a company (if they get ripped off and need to sue). If you are a corporation (even an S-corp) incorporation takes care of the DBA, because people can look up the legal owners to find them. Example: "Smith's Production Company" or "Jones and Sons Plumbing" don't need a DBA, but "A+ Best Plumbing" would need a DBA. I started two companies. The first needed a DBA, (sole proprietorship with a name that didn't include my legal last name) the second I incorporated. Incorporation took care of DBA. Now to your question... But this second company has a name that is used in other states for other companies. This company has been around 19 years. Some of those other companies had started before I did, others started later. To my best knowledge this is a problem if the state of Michigan has two "ABC Productions, Inc." And yet not a problem if California and Michigan each have an "ABC Productions, Inc." Of course you can always contact legal sources for real advice. But the safest course is to use your last name. The second safest course is to make sure your state doesn't have a similarly named production company. Then think hard whether the confusion of similar companies with similar names will be an issue. Choose a name that makes it clear what business you are in. Choose a name that has marketing potential. Example if you were in the city of 'Bartholomew', you might name your company "Bartholomew Productions" leading to easy campaign slogans like "For the Best Productions in Bartholomew, choose Bartholomew Productions!" Smart if you are limiting yourself to the city of Bartholomew--but then stupid if you grow way past that city. Like I said--think hard and test market the names. Personally I sorta warmed to " My Other Stage Left Productions" and "Dragon Flight Productions" Best of luck.
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged

Topic: Naming my new production company!( Topic Closed)