American comedian gives us a status report on his first Fringe

We asked some Edinburgh Fringe debutants about their expectations of the festival before it kicked off. Now we’re in the final week, we wondered how reality had matched up. Here are both sets of answers from visiting American comedian Drew Michael:

What do you hope to get out of the Fringe?

How it started: I would love nothing more than to have a run of shows that simultaneously make the show better and also allow me to share it with as many people as I can. The show comes right from the centre of my heart and it would mean the world to me to connect with everyone in that spot. And a standing O.

How it’s going: The show is growing so much as is my performance and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.

What's your biggest fear going into the festival?

How it started: My biggest fear is that nobody will come and I’ll have to do this complex, personal show for the sake of itself 25 times. If people show up, it will bring the best out of me.

How it’s going: People have been showing up and so I’m really happy with how that is going. They’ve even laughed and clapped, which is a nice bonus.

How are you feeling about the state of your show?

How it started: Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Good one. I’m sorry, I mean it’s PERFECT and needs NO MORE WORK. 

How it’s going: I thought it was ready. Then I knew it wasn’t. Then I was sure it was. Then I was like, hm, maybe not. And I feel like that process just continues, like life, as you make incremental improvements over time which hopefully accumulate to massive gains in the end.

What do you hope the reviewers say?

How it started: I feel like critics are starting to run out of room on the hyperbole ceiling so maybe something droll and to the point would be nice. ‘This is good. One ought to see it.’ Honestly my thing with reviews is that I just hope the show is properly understood in all of its intention and execution. Whether the individual enjoys it or not is completely out of my control. I just hope they’re honest.

How it’s going: The thing I appreciate about reviewers is, no matter what they think about the show, they will do their best to articulate why they think that. Most people you get sort of a binary ‘good or bad’ from them. But the reviewer will dissect his/her own experience and that feedback is valuable. You are forced to recognise that someone had that experience. What you do with that information is up to you. The show has grown a lot based specifically on feedback we’ve received, so I’m grateful for all of it.

What do you think your average audience will be?

How it started: Most likely people with a body temperature between 97.8 - 99.1 Fahrenheit. 

How it’s going: I was way off! So many lizards and snakes in the crowd.

What steps do you aim to take to look after your mental and physical health?

How it started: Mmmm. Lots of sleep. No alcohol. Healthy food. Long walks. Phone calls to friends. Meeting people. Basically all the things from Fitter Happier.

How it’s going: I’ve stayed true to this for the most part. There were three nights I stayed out until 4am for literally no reason at all. I don’t know how the rest of these folks are doing it.

• Drew Michael: Drew’s Adventures  is on at 5.40pm in Pleasance Dome

Published: 22 Aug 2023