What is in a name...

Hey guys, as you know it is kinda difficult choosing a DJ name, currently I am running with LukeAlive,(only recently created) I have asked friends and families which all say they love it but I have some doubts if it it will work?

The reason behind the name is that my first mixed tape I ever did was named the same

So I am asking fellow DJs and strangers to let me know what they think of the name and if it works, and maybe change it wif needs be

Sounds Cool to Me

Sounds pretty good mate, but there a few things I think you need to keep in mind when you brand something (in this case you/your music!)

-Has somebody already taken the facebook page/url?
-Is your name not like any other "popular" DJs around (I'm thinking how many deadmau5 copy cats there are around, putting numbers as letters) (excuse the pun)
-Dont prefix your name with "DJ" that's a little too corny/obvious. Unless you're a scratch DJ from tha 'hood.

And above all, BE UNIQUE!!!!

Hopefully we'll be seeing you play at Ministry Of Sound in a few years

***DISCLAIMER****
This is all my personal opinion, feel free to ignore/criticise/applaude as you wish.

I can dig it

Sounds pretty catchy!

I think unless you have a really odd or hard to pronounce name, go with your real first and last name. Having a DJ name is overrated and if I had a name that I thought was easy to pronounce just by looking at it, I'd have done the same.

Thank you for all the replies and feedback guys!

When I chose the name I checked if there wasnt another DJ with that name on facebook and url, in regards with using only my real name, there are already a DJ Lukas I thought of using my name and surname (Lukas van der Westhuizen) but that is too long and difficult to pronounce

Now if you said to me:
Lukas van der Westhuizen
I would have said WOW ! Go for it Definitely; as that is Distinct; Unique; and And Memorable

I think we have to look (to some Degree) at a Person Starting Out (a Person or a DJ ?);
As Tiesto was called 'DJ Tiesto' for a Number Of Years; as was Carl Cox also called 'DJ Carl Cox';
In the Beginning of a Person's Career; it is Possible/More Likely that the 'DJ' Title will get them More Recognition;
The 'DJ' Title can Certainly be Dropped once a Person has Gained Some Exposure/Recognition; or Moved into Remixing or Production; (as Tiesto and Carl Cox Both did); or maybe Times Have Moved On I don't know;
As a Female we are Lucky if we get 1% the Exposure of a Male; just because of 'The Business' we are in;
And 'Initially'; Without the 'DJ' Title (unless we Begin in Production making the DJ Aspect Irrelevant); our 'Chances' of being 'Heard'; or even 'Accepted' could Possibly be Even More Minimal;

You have some good points there Emma. However, what I was trying to say is that there a large number of "wannabe" DJs out there today, and if you want to succeed, you have to differentiate yourself in as many ways as possible, not just your music. While for people like Carl Cox or Tiesto origionally had "DJ" in their names, it was the fashion back then to do this. (Hey, even "DJ Phil Morse" is just "Phil Morse" these days )

That said, if you came up to me in the street and said "I'm Lukas van der Westhuizen and I play house/electro/tech/trance music", I'd think thats pretty cool. As some of my duties as part of a universtiy DJ club, we have a lot of wannabe DJs coming up to us and begging for gigs. I'd say 90% of them have DJ or numbers in their DJ name, and this tends to make me think that everyone is like this, so I dont even bother to listen to their horrible youtube mixes. (see here for what I mean). When the other 10% "seem" different, I actually listen to what they send me, and some of them get gigs.
So what I'm trying to say is - Be Different!

Yes; he would have been Better Off calling himself 'Demon Dubz'; but that Name is Taken
And My Goodness; that is Not The Way to Mix Dubstep or Any Other Genre
Yes; and I Agree; that Must have been How It Was back in them days; because there are So Many people I could mention who 'Did' have the DJ Title; but in the Top 100 DJ's; only One Person has DJ Before their Name now;
Unfortunately I think I have Destroyed My Reputation by Experimenting with Dubstep; and should have just stuck with Everything But Dubstep (although it Literally Saved My Life a few months ago so is Important to me); as my Fan Base has Dropped Considerably; and this where we get onto the Subject of Different Names for Different Productions; which I also Feel is Credible; and is something that is Not Unusual;
But; I have Messed Up; I have to Take Responsibility; and Now I Have To Suffer

lol thank you never had a response to my real name like that, I wanted to use it but unfortunately there is also a very famous controversial rugby player here in South Africa with the same surname and the last thing I want is any association with him.

My surname is afrikaans and locally its a very common surname but judging from your repsonse if I should every make it big and international this would work!
If all else fails there is always Demon Dubs!

Nothing wrong with dj in your name, I did however put dj at the end rather than beginning.
To me DJ has 'moniker' like status as in dr, mr, mrs.
I do agree that dj is becoming lame and out of fashion tho.

That's a shame, I as quite like people who experiment with other genres - it's a great way of learning more about music. While dubstep isn't my cup of tea, I dont ridicule anyone who likes/plays/produces it.

(Although, do you have any non-dubstep on your soundcloud Emma? If so, I'd be keen to hear it!)

Yes
In my Signature; where it says 'SoundCloud (Radio Shows)'; I have a 1 Hour Radio Show up there; but have just put up my First Ever Mash-Up - that is Not Dubstep (about 5 Days ago); and again in my Signature; where it says 'YouTube (Remixes)'; I have 21 Remixes up there that are also Not Dubstep ;

I have been fighting with this for a while now to be honest and I think now I'm happy with the name I've decided on, it's not something corny like DJsuperawesome or anything like that but it's still personal and imo unique, the underscore is actually allowed me to be both special and memorable.

that sounds like a pretty decent name to be fair, its different in a good way too

At least people wont confuse you with a world war 2 submarine grrrr
Long story and i aint gonna tell it, but here's a clue - people who have known me years call me Ully......

LukeAlive: I think it's catchy and inventive. Wear it with pride!