I was a bit worried beforehand because it had poured down with rain the entire day. In the end though, I filled the room, so it was all ok. I mean, apart from having to walk around in soaking wet clothes all day. Continue reading
Getting anywhere was hard work, as you had to work your way through throngs of people. And as is typical of Edinburgh, the weather veered from roasting us alive, to full on thunder storms. Stupid, stupid weather. Continue reading
I set out before 11am to flyer for the early ComedySportz show, and it was a light drizzle. By the time I’d got to the venue an hour or so later, it was pouring it down, and I was soaked through. Continue reading
But today it picked up again and I had 27 in. I must say as well, it was possibly the most enjoyable show I’ve done so far. Continue reading
In the end though, I had very respectable 18 in. The weather might have helped, as soon after my show began, the heavens opened. One thing you can say about my room, it does have a roof! Continue reading
Well, I only went ahead and achieved what I thought was going to happen at some point – a slump! Continue reading
Apart from a bit of rain in the morning, the day was glorious. As for the audience for Shit Socialist, I had 27 in, just shy of capacity. The show was nice again. I’m also illness free whilst all around me people are going down with ‘Fringe flu’.
It all feels a bit suspicious.
To temper this though, it was explained to me that while it is a Monday, today is generally a busy day. I believe it’s a bank holiday of sorts (just in Scotland, I think), and the regular paid shows have their 2-4-1 tickets available.
Ok, so maybe doom is coming after all. Hurray!
A bunch of our American guests were taking part in the Improv Cage Match tonight. Performing as their group, Weisenheimer, they fielded a number of suggestions to create a 20 minute long form collection of scenes.
I felt they did particularly well dealing with the suggestion ‘Acorn Antiques: the musical’. I think it’s fair to say that the genius of Victoria Wood has not made it over to America yet. We ended up with a musical number about an acorn becoming a tree, which is fair enough.
They did great, as did the house team following them. It’s the first time I’ve seen this show, and I would certainly recommend it.
Ending the night, I took part in another show of ‘Crime of the Hour’: the longform we’ve been booked to do with our improv based on the strange aspects to do with true crime.
The last show I did had all of three people in, so to have a dozen or so made a huge difference. The players were made up of me and various CSz Manchester players, along with Nina from America.
The show was a lot of fun, and I did scenes that included me as Jesus owning a bar, who then went on to try and fleece inexperienced sellers at a car boot seller. I also played the role of Napoleon Bonaparte (you could tell that is who I was as I had my hand in my shirt. Classic Bonaparte, ask anyone).
A quiet pint after in the bar, then a lazy Uber home. Will tomorrow be a tough one, or can I keep this streak up?
My show, Shit Socialist, is on 3.15pm, 1-25 Aug, at The Counting House (Attic). Free entry, PWYW.
ComedySportz is on twice daily – INFO
When I left to flyer for the early ComedySportz show, just before 11am, it was grey but warm. Then the heavens opened, so on goes the waterproof. After schlepping myself up the hill (everywhere is uphill in Edinburgh, somehow), being in the warm and wet meant I was soaked with sweat, so I might as well have not bothered with the waterproof at all.
However, I did get small scare with my audience numbers. As I got 14 in yesterday (a very good number as it was the Thursday), I assumed I should be able to get more today. It was definitely busier today around town, so that expectation felt justified.
After flyering the tables at the Peartree I found a couple who were coming, so taht was a start. But when I went up at 3pm for the room changeover to set up, I realised that the day before I already had a few people queuing to come in.
I flyered a couple who came out after a show who I managed to persuade to turn round and go back in. I honestly thought I might only have four in! But when I went back to my room, a few minutes before the start, there was a small queue on the stairs. Phew.
There were 12 in total. 2 less than yesterday, but no disaster at all. And they were lovely. I could also feel that bit more sharpness than the day before, which is all part of the process.
In one section I talk to the audience to find out who had had the worst job. A guy today certainly won the prize so far for having the worst manager.
He worked for a supermarket, and one weekend he and his friends had been attacked by a gang. One friend ended up with head injuries and had to go to hospital. When back at work the day after, he got a call to say that his friend was at deaths door, and to go to him immediately.
He explained this to his manager, but she wouldn’t let him go. She said “nah, you’ve just got a hangover, you’re not going”. I know people make up excuses, but ‘friend dying after a gang attack’, even for the most cynical manager, is not one of them
In the evening I went over and did the Laughing Horse ‘Pick of the Fringe’ show, doing a short spot to advertise my show. It was a room in Cabaret Voltaire, which I had not been in before.
It’s like a Mad Max fantasy vision of what a Fringe venue could be. Pretty cool, even if it does seem a bit dirty (even though it’s probably squeaky clean).
I opened the show, and my spot went fine. No fireworks, but then I wasn’t doing a club set, I was doing a set to promote my show. Those who enjoyed it were more likely to come to Shit Socialist, instead of dishing up whatever would work best in the room, a that would miss sell what I was about.
After a bit of late night flyering, I realised that I was starving.
I had decided before the Fringe that I would be careful to keep a healthy diet, to help take care of my general well being. So far, I have managed that – salads et al.
Tonight though, I wanted chips. In Edinburgh, you don’t have to go far.
I got a burger with blue cheese (is there a better topping?*), chips and a pint. A lovely, lovely pint. My first real drink of the Fringe. A crisp, cold, Bierra Moretti. Ahhhhhhhhh!
I also had chippy sause for the first time. In all my time going up to Edinburgh I had never had it before. It’s like brown sauce, but more vinegary, and perfect for chips. Apparently, it pretty much only exists in Edinburgh.
I expect the Fringe to widen my horizons, but I wasn’t expecting that to happen in a chip shop!
My show, Shit Socialist, is on 3.15pm, 1-25 Aug, at The Counting House (Attic). Free entry, PWYW.
ComedySportz is on twice daily – INFO
*No, there isn’t
It’s a strange energy around Edinburgh at this time. It’s like everything is superficially in place, as if the Fringe has begun, but not really. Like walking on to a Western set with a few actors thrown in, you feel like if you lean on a wall it will collapse, showing itself to be painted balsa wood all along. Continue reading