Understanding the Boundary: Why Fans Should Use Stage Names for Artists

Aiden Starling

Updated Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 9:15 AM CDT

Understanding the Boundary: Why Fans Should Use Stage Names for Artists

The Personal Connection Fallacy

Fans often feel a deep connection with their favorite musicians, sometimes referring to them by their legal names, like Abel for The Weeknd or Austin for Malone. This practice can seem odd unless one personally knows the artist. The use of first names by fans is often an attempt to forge a personal connection with the performer, which can be seen as delusional or inappropriate.

Musicians generally find it unsettling when fans approach them as if they have a personal relationship based solely on what they've read online. This behavior can feel intrusive or even stalker-like. When meeting a favorite artist, it's advisable not to act overly familiar or imply a personal connection that doesn't exist.

Stage Names: A Deliberate Choice

The debate continues on whether fans should always use an artist's stage name, especially when discussing them outside their professional context. Some artists, like Childish Gambino (Donald Glover), are widely known by their real names and may even distance themselves from their stage names. The use of a stage or pen name is common among musicians, writers, artists, and content creators to create a public persona.

An artist's public persona is a part of themselves they choose to share, distinct from their private identity. Referring to an artist by their legal name can imply a false sense of familiarity or intimacy that hasn't been granted. Fans should respect the boundary between an artist's public persona and their private life by using their stage name.

The Impact of Real Name Usage

The use of real names by fans can be perceived as an attempt to claim a connection or familiarity that isn't real. Some fans may not see the issue with using real names if they perceive the artist as distancing from their stage name. However, artists may find it alarming when fans assume they know them personally based on public information.

The phenomenon of fans using real names isn't limited to musicians but extends to various public figures with stage or pen names. Public personas are crafted by artists to manage their public image and interactions, distinct from their personal lives. Fans might use real names as a way to feel closer to the artist, although it can be seen as overstepping boundaries.

Respecting the Artist's Choice

The choice of a stage name is a deliberate decision by artists to separate their personal and professional ident*****. Using an artist's stage name respects the boundary they have set between their public and private lives. The practice of calling artists by their real names reflects a misunderstanding of the relationship between fan and artist.

Fans should be mindful of how their familiarity might be perceived by the artist, particularly when using real names. By respecting the artist's choice of stage name, fans honor the boundary set by the artist and contribute to a healthier fan-artist relationship. This understanding fosters a respectful environment where artists can feel comfortable sharing their art without personal boundaries being crossed.

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