VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:23 pm Post subject: Brand/name/domains etc.

This may sound vain n stuff on the surface, but I am seriously thinking of upcoming changes and plans and stuff; For a number of reasons I have been wondering if my last name is a detriment as far as memory, spelling, etc., plus the whole Voiceguy1 thing being a bit of an afterthought - is there a consensus as to whether I would be doing more harm or good as far as any future marketing goes, in adopting a professional name, basically shortening mine to Chris Mezzo or thereabouts? The domain chrismezzo.com is available, and while I can't for the life of me imagine any kind of branding to go with it, I am starting with Nancy Wolfson on Friday so hopefully she can figure out what is the real ME and we can get it that way...But while I might hang on to a site at voiceguy1.com for SEO reasons, I wonder if it'd be better to start over with a slightly less ridiculous name? It might also be a fresher place to put my new Voicezam player, that kinda thing...Still fishing around on this aspect even after a number of Faffcons, just not sure which is a good way to go. Just pondering, any input either way appreciated, thanks much.
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Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

Karen Souer · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject:

Chris-

My 0.02:
Since you're already doing business and have clients under your name, I wouldn't change it. You're striving to create a picture of who you are, and unless there's some awesome reason not to, I'd do it under your name.

As far as voiceguy1, hold on to the site, you can point (I do not know how to do this) other names at that domain, so if you get something catchy or Wolfson-fied, then you can point it in that direction. (it's how I have voiceoverassistant.com, but mostly name myself with karensouer.com because they go to the same place, and people can usually remember my name.) If you did decide to go with Chris Mezzo, grab it so that people can google that and get the site you have built seo wise with voiceguy1.

But I'm not the branding and marketing guru on the board, so take the free advice as being worth what you paid for Wink

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Lee Gordon · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:33 pm Post subject:

Speaking as someone with literally hundreds of people who share my name -- including some in broadcasting and voiceover -- I think you are better off with a unique name. And Mezzolesta is likely to be even more uncommon than "Mezzo" or "Mezz" or whatever truncated form you would choose.
Besides, if someone isn't swift enough to be able to deal with a four-syllable name, do you really want to do business with them? Gasp

Remember -- "Lesta" is more.
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ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject:

Hee... good points all. If dey can't deal wit a 4 syllable name wit some Zs and a lotta vowels, off 'em Guido!

OK that's a start I guess, just gotta see if, for example, Voicezam will play nice w Wordpress (me suck at webstuff but kinda gotta do my own updating)

Thanks K & L!
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Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I like your honesty about this!

Thing you could do:
Get a nice logo for your name - a snazzy wordmark and use it consistently. People will remember that and MEZZOLESTA is a name that can look cool with the right style. Hey, why not make it look like ZZ Top? Wink

You could change your name to A.A.A.A. Chris Mezzolesta to come up in searches!

Get sophisticated! Go with Christopher E.Q. Mezzolesta III, Voiceoverist.

I've thought about going with my middle name, but then my name would be really really really similar to a talented VO that I quite like of a similar age...so that doesn't work at all.

Wait...how about you change it to GUY MEZZOLESTA and use that with voiceguy1? Smile

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ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 7:03 am Post subject:

Guy Smiley Voiceovers! We've been shortening our name for decades in countless calls to Chinese n pizza places....."Mezzo. M-E-ZZ-O." Kinda like Jell-O. Or I could do something like Zurek did...just call myself Blerf or Tile or Fnilb. I'll nail this down somehow...
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Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

heyguido · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 7:11 am Post subject:

Your name is distinctive. There's only one you. Let your work speak for you.

And Guido's got your back. Ninja

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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Hah! How about then "The Cheesy Voice" and go with a slice of 'za as the logo. Wait...I bet there's somebody out there that's doing that.

Voiceover Hot 'N' Ready and Made to Order!
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Bruce · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 7:19 am Post subject:

Hey, you could have a last name like Lipschitz or Crapper, a hard sell even on the best of days. I say, like others here, celebrate your name. Make it a household name, at least in the world of VO and comedy.

B
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:03 am Post subject:

I remember, when I was just a kid, and I first heard about artist Jacques Lipchitz. I probably did the 1950s equivalent of "ROTFL" but I became instantly aware of him and never forgot. And all you have to do is type "Jacques Li" into Google and his is the name that pops up. There is an SEO benefit to being unique.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Bailey · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:24 am Post subject:

Mezzolesta

The name you can't remember... The voice you can't forget.
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ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:44 pm Post subject:

imaginator · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:54 pm Post subject:

...to re-purpose an old Gary Owens quote about music master Lalo Schiffrin:
"THERE'S A WHOLE MEZZO-LESTA GOING ON!"

...or, alternatively:

Mezzolesta - Destroyer Of Spell-Checkers!
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ChrisMezzolesta · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject:

That was actually the title of a late-60s Lalo Schifrin LP! Yay....
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Chris Mezzolesta, Voice Talent
800.356.5519 www.voiceatile.com

melissa eX · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:09 pm Post subject:

From someone whose parents thought a 3 syllable first name was the perfect companion for a 3 syllable last name, I say use your real name. There are about 4 people on the planet with my last name and because it's so unusual people remember it, even if they can't remember how to spell it.