That guy off that thing
Two people recognised me on public transport today, in quick succession. The first guy was a very tall student who could hardly believe his eyes. ‘What are you doing on the underground!?’ he said incredulously, as if as a comedian I possessed some other means of travel not available to the general public. ‘I’m gonna get my bag!’ he said when he was sure it was me, and sure enough he moved seats specially to speak to me. He confessed that he couldn’t remember my name but was a big fan. He asked me a number of questions about the world of comedy and then predicted that he would surely ‘be in my next gag’. I got off the train pretty self-consciously with half-a-dozen people looking quizzically at me.
The other man was on my train to Bromsgrove directly afterwards. This man went to the effort of googling me on his computer to satisfy his curiosity. He suddenly turned his laptop round to face me and asked ‘is this you?’ It was. He’s googled ‘channel 4 mark comedian’. Somehow this was just about enough. I said it was. ‘Brilliant!’ he said. ‘Couldn’t remember your name!’
In the restaurant where Giles (Long-Suffering Tour Manager) and I had dinner just now, someone loudly said ‘there’s that comedian!’ from a neighbouring booth. But he couldn’t recall my name. Instead they discussed Stephen K Amos and Lee Evans. This one was slightly more disappointing because I’ve got a feeling those diners were actually coming to watch my show tonight.
I’ve brought this up once before, but from a branding point of view, it is looking like I really do need a new name. When this DVD finally comes out, it’s unlikely I will sell many copies to people going into HMV and asking for ‘the DVD by that guy’, or sticking ‘that bloke I saw on the tube’ into Amazon. Likewise with the book and future books, and actually with everything I put my (unmemorable) name to. Mark Watson just isn’t cutting it. I’m going to put it to a vote. If we can’t come up with anything better I’ll just take Michael McIntyre’s name and let the lawyers sort it out.
Posted by Corey on June 25, 2011
How about Geoff Leopard for a new name?….or Brian Maiden perhaps?
Posted by laura on June 25, 2011
..I will confess, they were my sisters tickets and I was telling everyone that I was off to see Mark Thomas, until someone told me that Thomas as gigging in Scotland and not Fareham…..
Then I realised it was you……
But that was a good thing…
Posted by MusicalLottie on June 25, 2011
Seriously, if people can’t be bothered to learn your name, they’re idiots – it’s really not a difficult name. Changing it to something more unusual wouldn’t be guaranteed to work – I hear Benedict Cumberbatch quite frequently referred to as ‘the guy who played Sherlock’ or ‘thingy … off the telly … with the weird name’.
I think with you it’s probably because you come across so unassuming that people don’t expect to see you on lots of TV shows or in your own live show – but don’t change that, please.
Posted by tracey on June 24, 2011
i think you are great mark and would be happy to sit and chat to u on at train sometime lol and dont worry about the name thing because my manger at work still spells my name wrong and i have worked there for 11 nearly 12 years
Posted by ediecott on June 24, 2011
Raw Snot Kam ? No?? I’ll get my coat…..
Posted by Ingrid on June 24, 2011
You must keep the watson! Every watson i know is amazing, from Dr watson in sherlock to our art teacher Mrs watson and you! And then we wouldn’t be watsonians either… (:
Posted by Andrew on June 24, 2011
I see some people also went down the anagram route, but as far as I can tell none of them were juvenile enough to come up with my option – Wanko Smart.
I am 43.
Posted by Steve Doherty on June 24, 2011
What about a symbol, like Prince?
It didn’t do his career any harm.
Oh, hang on…..
Posted by Rachael on June 24, 2011
Maybe you could get some sort of subliminal messages onto TV so in the middle of programmes there are tiny flashes of your name and face that everyone sees without even knowing it. Suddenly everyone would know your name, they just wouldn’t know why.
Posted by Aileen on June 24, 2011
On the same lines… Been to lots of shows, now 44, would never ever dream of calling out. Spent most of 2nd half last night very embarrassed! Did tell friends on Facebook. Most said what did you say? But to get to the point one friend asked – is he that welsh comedian – did he say something offensive?
Posted by Joelle on June 24, 2011
The first guy sounds kind of creepy, but the kind of creepy that’s just because they’re really happy and friendly which isn’t necessarily a bad thing I suppose.
I don’t understand how people can constantly forget your name. I’d suggest that it’s because you perform with such well-known comedians and people remember them because they already know who they are or are waiting to see them on a TV show.
My advice is to do things with less-known people so you’re at the top and become the guy people remember.
Posted by Jon on June 24, 2011
Personally, I think it’s a good thing not to become a big comedian. Like with anyone becoming famous, there is further to fall when you fall out of favour with the public.
Maybe this is just me being a comedian snob similar to a music snob, it’s annoying when suddenly everyone is following the band you’ve followed for years. Kings of Leon are a prime example, no one knows ‘The Bucket, or ‘Four Kicks’, just that one that McIntyre bangs on about… *sigh*
Posted by Lydia on June 24, 2011
Maybe they are doing the Popular Teenager thing of pretending they don’t know your name so they have the power in the conversation. That has happened to me a lot. I’m was always like, you’re after me on the register arsehole. In the end if you just stare at them they get creeped out and say your name since they knew it all along anyway. Although if this isn’t the case then you’re just terrifying. You’d become known as That Creepy Guy Off The TV.
Argh, it’s my last exam today. I can’t believe I actually finish school now. Bloody terrifying.
Posted by LisaD on June 24, 2011
Well, that guy who googled you knew your first name…so clearly there’s no need to scrap the whole thing. It’s the “Watson” bit that is tripping people up. Maybe you could try just going by “Mark” like Cher or Madonna.
No Allie’s right you have to keep it for our sake; Watsonian is too good a fan name for us to give up.
Posted by Alex on June 24, 2011
Was the very tall student black and smiley? It’s just a friend of mine has been tweeting all day about celebrities he’s spotted. I haven’t been able to keep up with them so it’s very possible you’d be one of them.
Don’t change your name. I’m easily confused and I’m not sure I’d cope.
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on June 24, 2011
Following on from Helen’s anagram post, I noticed ages ago that your name is an anagram of Man At Works. I think it would be better as Man At Work but then you would have to be Mark Waton so it’s a bit of a fail I guess … x
Posted by Helen on June 23, 2011
Two anagrams of Mark Watson:
‘Karma’s Town’ – This is quite cool. You are the town where Karma hangs out. No other name holds this mystical location.
‘Rat am knows’ – I see ‘Rat Am’ as the rat version of Will I Am. He knows something. No other name has the opportunity within to search for a wise rat with questionable musical accomplishments.
Are you a Mighty Boosh fan? Because if it happened again it’d be fun to say ‘I go by many names…’.
Posted by Jen on June 23, 2011
I wouldn’t worry – everyone I speak to thinks you’re fab – after my talking about your comedy/books for all this time a lot of my friends,family and work mates know exactly who you are and in fact watched the Comedy Gala just to see you and all were impressed!Jx ps 2years of teaching and still 99.9% of my pupils still spell my name wrong so the name issue I can relate too in a similar but totally different sort of way!
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on June 23, 2011
Awww Mark bless you, don’t feel bad about people not knowing your name, it’s being recognised that counts surely? Although if I was in your line of work I think I would prefer not to be recognised, it must be a real pain in certain situations … umm can think of a few but they don’t really relate to you as I don’t think you’re the sort of person that would snog his secretary or buy dodgy underwear in Anne Summers …
On a sadder note, I met a very good friend for lunch the other day and I was enthusing about your talents, both on stage and between the pages of your books. She didn’t know who you were either until I showed her the photo of you on the back of my copy of Eleven. “Oh him.” she said “oh no, I can’t stand him, he talks too fast.” Sigh.
Posted by Sam on June 23, 2011
Don’t have a name, be mysterious, it’d be unique, I can’t name anyone else who doesn’t have a name. Job done.
Posted by Anji on June 23, 2011
I don’t know if this will help or just make you groan and give up. My boss refers to you as ‘the welsh guy who’s really funny but isn’t really welsh’.
We had a Mark Watson in work the other day, I did have to check it wasnt you, it wasn’t disappointingly.
I don’t think a name change would help, look at Diddy, or Piddy, or whatever he is known as now, it’s easier to say Sean Coombs (really hope I remembered that right) or Prince, it didn’t really work. Stick as Mark, we like it, and if all else fails the t-shirt and hairbands are there as back up!! It never hurts to have a back up plan!
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on June 23, 2011
Forget name badges, what you need is a T-Shirt with “MY NAME IS MARK WATSON” on it.
That would eliminate all confusion, both with “aren’t you that guy?”-ers and “I can’t remember your name”-ers.
Posted by Phill on June 23, 2011
Mark, you’re missing the obvious trick. Just change your name to “That guy off the TV” and you’re sorted…
Posted by Lizzy on June 23, 2011
Haha, it’s true I was always having to describe you to family when I’d mention you, but now they all know you by name. In fact my mum’s always saying “How’s Mark Watson?” randomly as if I know really. I bring her up to speed on the blog of course. She’s like a second-hand reader. She also ALWAYS calls Tim Key, “Tim Keys”, as does my brother (who you met with me :]). Tsk.
I don’t think change your name just as people are getting the hang of it, surely! Unless I suppose it would double the chances of them getting it right if you had two….
Like Al Murray, AKA The Pub Landlord.
Mark Watson, AKA… The Train Man or summat.
Though, “Hey, Train Man!” Could come across a bit abrasive and… impersonal shall we say. If you could incorporate Ruddy into a name… Ruddy Watson… it might sound like a bit of a sweary description of ‘that man off the telly’, but duck could be your middle name.
Posted by Patrick on June 23, 2011
Xavier Ireland. ‘Nuff said.
Posted by Misha on June 23, 2011
Get a hairband with your name on. I had 3 as a kid, had to get them all done specially because “Misha” was never on the shelves.
Having a weird name is a bit shit at times, trust me.
Posted by Ian on June 23, 2011
You were also spotted in WHSmiths in Euston as well. I was just too polite to say anything as you were on the phone at the time. And besides, I had a pint waiting that had my name on it.
Posted by Allie on June 23, 2011
Nooo don’t change… you are THE Mark Watson always remembered by those of us who admire and love all the wonderfully funny and entertaining things you do, always spreading the ‘word of Mark’ to others to make the world substantially better.
Also what would we Watsonians call ourselves then?? McIntyrians just does not have the same ring to it.
Posted by a lot of rachels on June 23, 2011
have a nametag
http://twitpic.com/5frs2h