The so-called stage name is the name that some people use to replace their real name when performing artistic activities. Stage names are generally used by people who make a living from a certain skill.
The emergence and development of stage names
As early as ancient times, Chinese people had the custom of putting a certain profession or specialty in front of their names. Such as: "Pao Ding", "Qin Gao", "Stealing Zhi", etc. Although these names are not stage names, they have the characteristics of stage names and can be said to be the oldest source of stage names in my country. The stage names of Chinese craftsmen in the past dynasties often adopt this pattern, but the subsequent function is not the first name, but the surname. For example, Zhang Wanquan from Tianjin in the late Qing Dynasty was famous for his clay figures, so he took the stage name "Clay Figure Zhang" and passed it down from generation to generation. Many of his stage names are inseparable from his popular nickname. In the Song Dynasty, there was a Yangzhou native named Zhao who made a living by selling paintings. Although the houses he painted were extremely deep and shady and facing the sun, they did not violate the rules and regulations. Therefore, the name "Zhao Tower" was passed down in history. Those who make a living from skills rely on skills. The level of one's skills is not something to brag about, it must be recognized by society, and a stage name is often a reflection of people's recognition of the artist. Xu Shouchang, a man known as "Ba Zi Xu", once told people: "In our family, from my father to our brothers, my son, and my grandson, four generations of our family, old and young, are either making helmets or making helmets. We can say that we are a family that makes opera costumes and props. Over the years, I have continuously studied and improved the process of making handles. I have made single swords, double swords, guns, swords and other handles. It is not only durable, beautiful in appearance, but also lifelike. It is highly praised and welcomed by actors in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other dramas. Therefore, everyone affectionately calls me "Ba Zi Xu". Zhang Fengming, also known as "Carving Knife Zhang", also said in his self-report: "My family has been making carving knives, tweezers and other handicrafts for three generations since my grandfather. Our home-made carving knives, tweezers, etc. are made of fine materials, fine workmanship, durability, and low prices. They have been highly praised by users for more than 100 years. Not only the general carving craftsmen like to use our carving knives and tweezers, but also the famous engraving artist Qi Baishi also likes our carving knives. So everyone affectionately calls us "Ke Dao Zhang". It can be seen that "Ba Zi Xu" and "Ke Dao Zhang" were originally his common nicknames. The difference between them and ordinary names is that they are accepted by the person and used as the name of his business to attract customers.
The most common characteristic of stage names
The most common characteristic of stage names is that they are vulgar. This custom shows the unique characteristics of street artists. In the past, street performers belonged to three religions and nine streams. Most of their stage names come from their nicknames.
A stage name can attract people. The stage name is derived from the common name, just to cater to the audience's taste. For street performers, getting a popular nickname means they have a certain influence on the audience. Using such a common nickname as a stage name can further expand your influence and gain more audiences for yourself.
The stage names are also customized. There are many actors who mostly choose their own stage names instead of using common names. In contrast, their stage names are more elegant. For example, Peking opera actor Mei Lanfang, whose real name is Mei Lan. The stage name Mei Lanfang not only left traces of her original name (Lan and Lan are homophonic), but also indicated that she was a female actor. That is, "Lanfang" is customarily a name given to women.
How to choose a stage name
Whether the stage name is attractive or not is a factor that cannot be ignored, especially when the actor has not yet become famous. A good stage name can grab the attention of the audience first.
● Stage names come in many forms. Let's take the actor's stage name as an example and analyze it as follows:
A. Name form: For example: Gao Zhenshan, whose stage name is Gao Qingkui. He Fengyi: stage name He Laofeng. Wang Dechen: Stage name Wang Erlang
. Huang Guoxiong: stage name Huang Bumie. Chu Xuefa, stage name Chu Dalu.
B. Non-name form: For example: Chang Baoting, whose stage name is Xiaomoru. Li Shoushan, whose stage name is Yiyu. Sun Yulin, stage name is Xiao Liba. Liu Chengji, whose stage name is Dangdoubang. Zhang Xinglong’s stage name is San Mulezi. Comparing the two, the stage name in the form of a name is more elegant, while the stage name in the form of a non-name is more vulgar. From the perspective of the use value of stage names, the more popular non-name stage names are more attractive and more suitable for the public's taste. As a stage name, it blindly pursues elegance and gentleness, and falls into the cliché of being a literary person, which makes people feel vulgar.
If you find ways to benefit from the customs, it will show some elegance.
● Tips on coming up with a stage name.
A. Use vertical connections to name. Stage names may sometimes be linked vertically or horizontally between related actors. The so-called vertical connection is when an actor cleverly borrows the stage name of an actor from the previous generation. a is empty: Bai Yushuang - Xiaobai Yushuang. "Bai Yushuang" is the stage name of Li Guizhen, a famous Chinese Pingju opera actor. It can be said that everyone in the Pingju opera circle and Pingju opera audiences knows it. Later Ping Opera actor Li Zaiwen took the stage name "Xiao Bai Yushuang", which was obviously attractive to Ping Opera audiences. b is called the Son of Heaven - Xiao is called Tian - Gai is called Tian. "Miao Tianzi" is the stage name of my country's famous Peking Opera actor Tan Zhidao. His son Tan Xinpei inherited the family tradition and brought forth new ideas, so he took the stage name "Xiao Mingtian". Later, Peking Opera actor Zhang Yingjie took the stage name "Gai Jingtian". He was known for his bold skills and extraordinary words. In our country, there has always been a taboo on using the names of elders. Although it is no longer taboo among contemporary people, they still generally do not like to use the names of their elders when naming their children. The entertainment industry is different. Even if they don't use stage names, they still like to leave traces of the previous generation in the names of the next generation. For example, Yan Jupeng's son is named Yan Shaopeng, and Li Guichun's son is named Li Shaochun. This phenomenon of father and son sharing the same name is generally conditional, that is, the next generation must have a family relationship with the previous generation. The purpose of this kind of stage name is to use the reputation of the previous generation of actors to attract the audience. But the eyes of the audience cannot be coaxed. Borrowing stage names from previous generations, at least the performance skills are on par with previous generations of actors. They must be inherited and developed, otherwise it will be self-defeating and lose the audience. Stage art is intuitive, and it is difficult for fakes to find a market. Therefore, the situation of "there are tweezers posted everywhere" generally does not occur in the entertainment industry.
B. Use horizontal relationships to choose stage names. The so-called horizontal connection means that several or more actors use the same character pattern to take stage names. For example: a. Enqingshe - the stage names chosen by students all contain the word "qing", such as Hu Qingyuan, Hu Qinghe, Sheng Qingyu, etc. b. Enrong Class - The stage names of the students all have the character "Rong", such as Chen Ronghui, Zhang Rongxiu, Huang Rongda, Guo Rongn, Wu Rongying, Pei Rongqing, etc. c Yi Jia Ban - the students' stage names all have beneficial characters, such as Wang Yiyou, Hou Yicai, Hou Yitai, Tang Yigui, Li Yizhong, Wang Yirong, Li Yiguang, etc. . There are also classes and societies that are given Dharma names and don’t even need surnames. For example, students in Chunwangfu's class all have stage names starting with the character "Rong", such as "Rongsheng". This kind of horizontally connected stage name mostly belongs to the name pattern. Due to the use of the same character, naming limitations must be very great, because such stage names often appear rigid and formal, lacking the lively, colorful and emotional charm. c. Use the number of characters in your stage name. In terms of the number of words, there are the following types of ways to start a stage name: a. Use a two-character name. For example: Gao Langting, whose stage name is Yueguan. Xu Xiaolou, whose stage name is Shuanghong. Xiao Changhua, stage name Baoming. b is named with three characters. Yu Diqi, stage name Yu Shuyan. Li Guichun, stage name Xiaodazi. c Use four characters for the name. For example: Li Qingshan, whose stage name is Dajin Xiangyu. Chen Bohua, whose stage name is Xiao Mudanhua. d. Some people also use five-character stage names: for example: Xie Qirong, the stage name is Shenshou Xie Lao Lao. Shiyueting, whose stage name is Shiyueming. Shang Dequan: His stage name is Yan Xiaoyun. Kuang Jianlian, stage name Hongxian Nu. Zhao Tongshan, whose stage name is Furongcao. Zhou Xinfang, whose stage name is Qilin Tong. Xun Huisheng, whose stage name is Bai Mudan.