Thanks for your response, directorik. I am beginning to wonder if I'm just using this issue as a way to procrastinate. But, here's what's been going on with me about my business name...
Basically, there was a name I had originally thought I would use when I was ready. It's got personal meaning to me, is a cute name, and is available as a business name in my state (NY). But I did a little googling around, and there are prodcos with that name in other states, and most of them are associated with children's stuff (like parties, theater group, a kiddie show, etc.). Since I don't intend to make media for kids, I wondered if that would be a natural association because it's kinda cute.
So, I started coming up with other names. My last name is not common, and lots of people mispronounce it, so I don't want to use that but it is similar to a word that has positive connotations. So I was going to use that word, which would look good juxtaposed near my very similar-sounding surname, and it's also available in NY -- but then I noticed a very similar name showing up in the end credits of a few movies - turns out there's a big production co. in Hollywood with that word in its name. If I were in a completely different industry, I wouldn't care, but what if I get some visibility and they ask me not to use the name? Don't want to take that risk.
So, I tossed around a few other names but couldn't make a decision. Some of them commemorate favorite stuff of mine, some are a play on words. One is a name that I was really drawn to, but two people very close to me didn't like it, which bummed me out.
I thought about marketing and branding, so I sent around my survey (using surveymonkey.com) with all these names as choices, to see what kind of impression people got - and 30 people took it. I was hoping it would help me choose. I gave everyone eight names to choose from (I separated the main first part of the name from the second part, like Productions, Media, Films, etc.), and they could pick one to three favorites.
That name that my loved ones weren't crazy about was actually in the lead for a long time, and the top pick of two producers whose judgment I value. I was happy about that. The only two names that beat that one were my last name, which I don't want to use, and the name that I mentioned earlier that is similar to a big Hollywood company. Some of the results surprised me - one name which I thought would be a top pick, came in last with only one vote. The name I had originally liked, which I am afraid would be associated with kids, came in second to last, so that suggests that it doesn't seem to be very appealing to people.
But then some names that I just kind of threw in on a whim got votes and I'm wondering about using one of them, even though they kind of came out as being in the middle of the choices. These would be names that are just personal likes, and don't have anything to do with filmmaking or media production, like (to use real-life examples) Deedle-Dee Productions or Plum Pictures. But they're interesting.
The choice that came in third (the one that two producers like) is a good one, and I came up with a great "motto" and imagery to go with it, but I just don't know anymore. It's like I've overthought the issue and still can't make a decision - I had hoped my survey would give me an idea of the impact a name would have. But my head is spinning now. When I asked, "does it really even matter?" I was feeling like all this mental processing I'm doing might be just a way to procrastinate, and postpone getting my biz off the ground -- plus I know lots of people who are very casual about business names, and they might say "just put your name on it, and get on with it."
Suggestions on how to analyze the survey, use the info, or make my choice are welcome. Maybe I should just write them all down on scraps of paper, put them in a container, pull one out, and let the universe decide!
