would you use different names for different roles?

[portfoliowork]

I've done freelance legal work successfully for 8 years. I'll keep going, but I've also been offered work redesigning some aspects of music education at a local school, and I can imagine this leading eventually towards providing services to the local education authority.

I've always been a bit reluctant for my activities doing music with children to go on the web. Legal clients - and perhaps more importantly those with whom I am negotiating - google me, and I don't really want them to learn about my non-legal life (my clients know I work part-time but I want them to feel that I think about them, not other types of work IYSWIM).

I am married but never changed my name. I'm wondering about having an alter ego under my husband's surname for the music work. That way I could build up a profile for the music work but keep the legal work "clean".

Has anyone else done anything like this?

I use my married name for all things to do with school and family
and my maiden name for my bean counting
I have bank accounts in both names,
am CRB checked in both names
and when I can face the extra fees will have passports in both names !!!

Despite my work email address having both my surnames in, clients are often shocked that the name they know me by is not my only one!

Go for it!

:)

need to check feminist conscience first.

But hey - am using DH's name for professional advancement! so reckon I get a free pass for that :)

I'm using my husband's name as mine is ridiculously difficult to pronounce for anyone living below Inverness.

I use DH's brand and company name for some of my business activities and other ones are in my own name.

His brand has a more coporate feel and I offer training, coaching, mediation, meeting management and independent chairing through his brand.

I also do decluttering, personal organising and personal effectiveness coaching in my own name and brand.

His clients might be put of by some of my stuff, my personal clients might freak if they thought they were dealing with a "big" outfit.

They're both on my LinkedIn profile though so anyone savvy would be able to connect the two.

In your case I think different names would work perfectly well.

Great advice there Helena - I'm looking at the same kinds of work as you and don't think it looks "great" - you know, corporate clients might not like the more individual-orientated aspects.