About changing the last name for business reasons?

Question

OK, I am a model/singer/actor and I do get a lot of jobs but since I wanna do this even more seriously after High School, do you think that I would get better jobs if I change my last name, since my current one is of Slavic origin, it is Borković. I get a lot of opinions and a lot of people tell me I need a new last name if I want to succeed in the US, since that is my goal. I still don't know what to do and I better decide...

And after all, what would be a good new last name, I tried what a lot of people do, americanize it, like Borkowich or Borkovich, but I am not fooling anyone with that, everyone would know I am a foreigner. My English is awesome, I have a CPE certificate, my speaking is really fluid and all, but the last name would be an obstacle...

Answer 1

If Jack Lemmon, Brad Pitt, Madonna Ciccone, Katarina Witt and Milla Jovovich can succeed in spite of their names, it only proves your friends wrong. Names don't sell you in America...talent does. If you have a European mystique around yourself and you can wow them with your talent, they won't even worry about your name. Be true to yourself and embrace your heritage. We're a nation of immigrants and name changes were common in the early years of Hollywood. But people like Marlene Dietrich were massively successful building on their European roots and never suffered rofessionally because of their names. So I'll be the devil's advocate and suggest there's nothing wrong with being a Slav in a country full of Poles, Czechs, Ukrainians. Lithuanians, Austrians and Serbs.  

Answer 2

Legally you can call yourself whatever you like. Its only if you changed your name to commit a crime like fraud etc that problems arise.