Author Topic: Stage names and paychecks (Read 2385 times)

Jay Temple · « **on:** December 26, 2003, 01:17:20 PM »

My question is certainly not unique to game shows. If you're in show business using a stage name, is the name on your paycheck your real name or your stage name? (I assume that if your legal name is Robert Barker or Donald Osmond, it's not a big deal, but if your real last name is Narz and your stage name is Kennedy, it could be.)

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2003, 03:01:09 PM »

I just say make it out to "Cash."

geno57 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2003, 07:46:19 PM »

I'd guess that the checks are made out in the celeb's real name.

All I can say for sure is, I used an "air name" for most of my on-air career. My checks always come in my legal name, which is how I filled out my W-4 forms.

TimK2003 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2003, 09:47:29 PM »

[quote name=\'geno57\' date=\'Dec 26 2003, 07:46 PM\'] I'd guess that the checks are made out in the celeb's real name.

All I can say for sure is, I used an "air name" for most of my on-air career. My checks always come in my legal name, which is how I filled out my W-4 forms. [/quote]
I dunno about how it worked in the pre-ATM days, but pretty much nowadays the check would be made out in your legal name, you'd endorse it and put it in the ol' ATM. Those ATM's don't care if your check says Jim Narz, but you're Tom Kennedy on TV.

HSquares2003 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2003, 10:06:31 PM »

Well, what I think he is getting at is maybe along the lines of "Is it the bank's business how many million Mr. Barker has in his savings account"? I certainly hope the celebrities privacy is somewhat protected, they deserve at least that much.

inturnaround · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2003, 11:16:54 PM »

Well, you can use whatever the hell name you want to use as long as Uncle Sam gets his proper cut and as long as you're not trying to defraud someone.

Less and less checks are being made out anyway with the advent and increasing popularity of direct deposit. I'm sure most of them never get printed, save for a deposit stub given to the talent every pay period.

But I'm sure HR makes it out to whatever you put down on your tax forms.

trainman · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2003, 12:04:45 AM »

[quote name=\'HSquares2003\' date=\'Dec 26 2003, 07:06 PM\'] Well, what I think he is getting at is maybe along the lines of "Is it the bank's business how many million Mr. Barker has in his savings account"? [/quote]
I certainly hope his bank is keeping careful track of how many millions Mr. Barker has in his savings account, just as I hope my bank is keeping careful track of how many dozens Mr. Ellwanger has in his!