... and why you’ll make them anyway. Spring Day explains

1. Don’t do the Fringe unless you’ve visited. 

You may have done comedy festivals before but nothing compares in size or chaos to the attention free-for-all that is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. By visiting first, you can: suss out the good venues from the bad; understand how hot and sauna-like venues can get; experience good and bad flyering techniques; get an understanding of what kind of people attend the Fringe, and how they go about choosing shows to see.

 It will provide you with a wealth of knowledge that will help you get the most out of the festival. I know of one person that visited the Fringe multiple years before they debuted at the festival. Their show did so well, it was on at the Palladium before the end of the year. 

Why you’ll do the Fringe without visiting first anyway:

You’re not some Oxbridge or Ivy League alumni with tonnes of mummy and daddy's money at your disposal, and you live far away. It’s now or never. Besides, research is for nerds. Your gut says all you need to do is invest in yourself like Jennifer Lopez and by second week of the festival, the whole of the Fringe will be at your feet wondering how it’s been operating without you for the past 77 years.  

2. Don’t promise to go to other people’s shows and then not go. 

You will be bombarded with flyers and show pitches, posters, and publicity stunts all day every day for a month. Small talk with comedy acquaintances will almost exclusively consist of what a show is about, how it’s going and where a good yet cheap place to eat might be. 

You’re going to be invited to A LOT of shows. Some invitations will be more persuasive than others and a few will be downright disturbing. Be supportive but non-committal. Take a moment to really look at the artwork and read the blurb on the flyer you’ve been handed as you listen to the pitch. 

Let people see you put the flyer in your bag or pocket as if it were as valuable as money, just don’t commit to anything unless you are sure you’re going.

Why you’ll promise to go to shows and then not go anyway:

You’ve never been busier in your life than at the Fringe and EVERYONE is constantly inviting you to stuff. It is hard to summon the energy to repeatedly say, ‘No’ to people. In the moment, it’s much easier to say, ‘Yes! And I’ll bring friends!’ even though you know you’ll most likely be in your accommodation taking a much-needed nap instead.    

3. Don’t write the show without help or multiple previews and work in progress shows.

I’m sure you are a very good at what you do and that your show is going to be amazing, but no one gets anywhere alone. You are going to need at least one extra set of eyeballs to make sure your show will work as an Edinburgh Fringe show.

You don’t have to get a director, but you do need the opinion of at least an experienced consultant who understands show structure, as well as how drinking punters’ bladders get desperate for a wee at the 40-minute mark, so you’ll need to distract the audience with a change of pace. 

Why you will write the show without help with few to no previews anyway.

Because deep down you know you’re the genius the entertainment world has been waiting for. All the show’s jokes have made you laugh in your head and that’s all that matters.  Plus, you don’t want people to see you do a show that’s not finished, it’ll make you look like you don’t know what you’re doing because you don’t.

4. Don’t drink too much, eat poorly or skimp on quality sleep

Just because you may be spending enough money in the month of August to pay for a year of graduate school doesn’t mean it’s time to drink like you’re a student.  Know your limits and stick to them.  Also, you’re going to need all the energy you can get. 

You’ll be needing an absolute minimum six hours of sleep, as well as a couple of servings of veg every day that aren’t deep fried for you to feel your best for the sake of the show and your mental health. 

Why you’ll drink too much, eat poorly and skimp on quality sleep anyway.

Because that’s what everyone else is doing and the only way to meet people and make friends with other fringe participants is through trauma bonding.

5. Don’t take the reviews, good or bad, personally.  

The number one thing you want people to do at the Fringe is enjoy your show. The second is for them to talk about you and your show. Obviously good reviews are preferred but whether the review is good or not, it doesn’t really matter because it’s more important to be heard of. Once you are heard of, you have a better chance of your audience finding you even if the review they read about you was unflattering. All you need to do is merely put yourself out there.

Why you’ll take good and bad reviews personally.

You have poured your heart and soul into your show. Getting approval from strangers is the whole reason you're at the Ffringe in the first place. You’re not just going to read the reviews about your show, you are going to memorise every word because feeding both your ego and imposter syndrome is far easier than working on the show.

You are going to make loads of mistakes at the fringe. Very little will go exactly as planned and that is not only OK, it’s preferred because it’s the best way to hone your craft. Enjoy the ride!

• Spring Day’s stand-up show Exvangelica  is at the Pleasance Courtyard at 6.05pm

Published: 21 Jul 2024