When I started up my last band, I didn't want my students to discover their TA was a crazy musician by night, so I decided to use a "masked identity" gimmick. (Come on, it's show biz! You can be silly like that and not enjoy the pleasures of extra long sleeved jackets.)
After the band dissolved, I kept the Darkwinner identity as I pursued additional creative projects. I auditioned as the Darkwinner for reality television competitions (American Idol, On the Lot, etc") trying to get through as the "eccentric long shot." Even if I didn't win, I could use the exposure for the memorable Darkwinner identity to promote my various artistic endeavors. (Like the "Almost Passing" Guides...)
Lately, I use the Darkwinner identity to distance my wacky pursuits from my considerably more conservative collegues. They might frown on my antics, so I separate my fun stuff from my professional stuff. Fun stuff gets put on the web, so on the web, I am... The Darkwinner.