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Eight Steps Q&A: Ed Night

By | Published on Friday 9 August 2019

Comedian Ed Night offers some tips on how to get the most from the Edinburgh Festival, in eight steps…

1: Beyond posters and reviews, how do you suggest people pick shows to see at this year’s Fringe?
Use a website to randomly generate a number between one and 200. Open the Fringe Guide to that page, then Blu Tac it on to your wall open at that page. Go down to Argos and buy some darts – don’t forget to bring your ID! – then throw a dart at the Fringe guide. See which show it lands on and then come to mine instead. Alternatively, check your favourite comedian / actor / musician/writer’s Twitter page. A lot of people are recommending their favourite shows to see.

2: What tips have you got for people trying to see as many shows as possible in one day – how can you power through?
This is a tough one. I appreciate that there are way more great shows to see than any of us have time for, but I think you can probably do too many. If you’re rushing from one venue to the other, I’d imagine it’s harder to stay alert or really take in the show you’re seeing.

3: When people are reaching peak Fringe, what tips do you have for chilling out during the Festival?
Arthur’s seat is a fucking tough walk, but I’ve always found it very good for perspective and tranquillity. Or maybe change your phone background to a picture of a waterfall or something.

4: What things do you think should be on every Fringe-goers Edinburgh Festival bucket list?
Take a chance on something. Not like go into a show completely blind, but maybe a lesser known performer or company that fits the remit of what you wanna see.

5: Beyond the flyer, what tips have you got for performers trying to get people into their shows?
False advertising.

6: The Fringe can be great for finding a new audience. What tips would you have for staying connected with that new audience beyond Edinburgh?
It’s a bit boring but social media. Plug that shit, then when you got the followers, keep peoples’ attention. It sounds cynical – and nobody likes having to sell themselves or “play the game” – but there’s such a deluge of shit on everyone’s feeds you kinda have to just remind everyone that you exist.

7: Performing at the Fringe is partly about building a network. What tips have you got for people looking to make connections in the industry?
Sneak into their houses, steal something of theirs, and then say you’ll give it back but ONLY if they put you on the TV.

8: How would you recommend performers stay healthy during all the Fringe madness?
Being healthy is for nerds. Though being physically healthy isn’t actually that hard in Edinburgh. I think a lot of us just give into our vices by convincing ourselves that it’s so full-on that we can’t possibly live a normal lifestyle for the month. Or we just give ourselves a free pass to get drunk and eat shit the whole time. Much harder is staying mentally healthy IMO. You just need to remind yourself that your Fringe experience doesn’t dictate your value.

Ed Night performed ‘Jokes Of Love And Hate’ at Pleasance at Edinburgh Festival 2019.



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