Would you listen to a band called Pectoralz? Perhaps you would if their name was changed to Coldplay. (Image via artrubic.com)
A version of this article originally appeared on The DIY Musician Blog.
In the first half of our two-part series on re-branding your band, we talked about when it becomes imperative to change the name, image, or overall theme of your group. But how do you get it to take? And how do you do it in a way that your fanbase will accept and respect your decision? It can be tough, certainly, but not impossible. Here's how to get fans to make the changeover.
1. Tell people why you're changing your name and take any criticisms in stride
Fans and friends will want to know why you’re making this change, so tell them. Whether it’s for legal, career, or personal reasons, they'll understand. They may not love the idea at first, but stay strong and stick with your decision. Your fans will adjust.
2. Use it as an excuse to have a party or show
"Food is now The Food UK! Come celebrate our rechristening and pick up a T-shirt with our new name and logo on it!" Boom – you've turned a possibly awkward situation into a reason to celebrate, and it's a great way to spread the word.
3. Unless you've received threatening legal documents, leave your old stuff up for a while
People will still be trying to find you under your old name, so let those sites/profiles live for a little while. Just make sure the old sites make the name change clear and have direct links to your new pages. Or just redirect your old site to your new one and save your fans a click.
4. Be prepared
If you want this to go smoothly, you'll need to make sure you've got all your ducks in a row. Slowly transitioning things (specifically online things) over the course of a few weeks will just add to the confusion. Make a plan ahead of time, have all your new branding supplies ready, and try to add the new stuff and delete the old stuff all in one fell swoop.
Have you ever changed your band/artist name? Did it help or hurt? How did you do it? Tell us your stories in the comments below!
Brad Bush is the email marketing manager at CD Baby and a pro wrestling fanboy.
