Edinburgh Fringe

[FringeGoer2018]

Have been to the Fringe for the first time ever. Stayed 2 days. Saw 5 comedy shows, 1 of which was brill and 4 which were dire. One show, we were the only ones in the audience. Others, there were hardly any people there. Is this typical or did we choose poorly? Feeling a bit disappointed.

[Goldenbug]

Were you just picking random shows?

I saw once because I liked the poster and got lucky. Very funny.
The other 2 were comedians I really like but aren't some of the big names. Both very funny.

[FringeGoer2018]

Chose shows on basis of description in programme. All claimed to be hilariously funny, but sadly 4/5 were pretty dire.

[AppleKatie]

It takes careful planning, good luck, a sixth sense and reading reviews to get the most out of the fringe.

Also whilst I love comedy as much as the next person I would aim to see 2/3 other types of act each day and 1-2 comics. Otherwise you miss out!

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Ahh it pays to be prepared and read reviews in advance.

We stayed for 1 night, saw 5 shows over the 2 days and only 1 was a bit of a bummer.

Better luck next time!

[LizTaylorsFabulousTurban]

To balance out your experience OP, we saw five shows yesterday, three brilliant, one good, one outstanding. It does take planning (mine involves a spreadsheet ) and keeping your eye on the reviews. It also helps if you have been before and get to know and hear about people. Maybe you will have a better experience next year?

[FringeGoer2018]

Yes! I was thinking that if we go again, googling reviews in advance might make make it more likely to find better shows.

[MrsSteptoe]

I've been to Edinburgh the last two years, first time with two kids in tow, second time on my own. It can be really tricky with comedians, I think, but I'd encourage you to try it a second time.
Like a few other people have said, my advance planning involve a really complicated Excel spreadsheet with colour coding that gradually gets whittled down to a Plan.
There is a section for show reviews by festie goers on the actual EdFringe website, and that's useful (though, like any review section that isn't by a paid reviewer, you do have to bear in mind that some reviews are probably posted by friends). I tended to look at the reviews by festival goers, while DSis tends to look at the reviews in the papers.
Definitely googling the comedians is a great way to work out who's worth the effort.
I think comedians are probably more luck of the draw than drama, actually (drama being my principal show of choice). You can normally get an idea about shows by seeing if the writer has won anything, or if it's a revival of an established, decent play, that type of thing.
I'd also suggest trying to look for Edinburgh regulars. You won't see any new discoveries, but if they've done Edinburgh a few times, the chances are better that they're not total shit.
Do give it another shot... do a bit of homework in advance, and mix in some other types of shows

[thaegumathteth]

We live near Edinburgh so used to go to shows at night and now do all the kids shows in the day. Always, always, always go with reviews. When I was a student with nothing better to do I’d go to any shows we could get free / cheap tickets for. Some were absolutely shockingly bad! Part of the charm of the fringe ime is that the venues can be tiny wee dingy rooms and sometimes you get lucky and the act is hilarious.

[UrbaneSprawl]

We went this year, for the first week, so didn’t have many reviews to go on (though we did do quite well on the 2-for-1 preview days). We’ve now got a bit of a sense of which venues put on the sort of things we like to see. We’ve found Pleasance Courtyard generally very good for kids/family stuff, and Summerhall good for grown up weird shows. I found the Fringe app much better than the programme to filter what was on.

[MrsSteptoe]

I found the Fringe app much better than the programme to filter what was on.
Yes, but expensive for booking tickets as it charges a booking fee for every ticket, from memory, unlike the website proper where you can put multiple tickets in a basket and just pay one booking fee. Or it's capped, or something, but it was definitely cheaper.

[Thomasinaa]

I just couldn't get the booking website to work for me - found it impossible to buy a ticket on it. So turned up on 2 days and found that the shows we wanted to go to were booked up. In fact there was a much smaller programme this year than last, and loads of stuff seemed to be full. Went to 3 completely random shows that we stumbled across. 1 was Dungeons and Dragons being played in front of an audience. At least I know what D and D is now. One Scottish stand-up comedian who was very good. One fantastic show which was 2 women who had written an act around a feminist perspective on fairy-tales. Really recommend it, for adults and teens - The Alternative Bedtime Stories.

[Thomasinaa]

Wonder what will happen to the Fringe next year, post-Brexit. I imagine a much smaller programme (even smaller than this year) and a far smaller audience.

[notacooldad]

Did you do all ticketed events.

I hardly go to any ticketed one and just stick to the Free Fringe. We are heading up this week for our 15th year running.

[ginghambox]

It's become an "event" most real comics avoid it like the plague and shove your brexit comment up your arse.

[LassWiADelicateAir]

I have been to 13 official Festival shows and 6 Fringe so far with another 6 booked.

I book official events as soon as priority booking opens in March. I don't buy Fringe tickets until the first week's reviews are out. I buy The Scotsman every day and sweep up all the free review mags (The Skinny, The List and Fest) These are usually reliable, especially Fest.

I've had 31 years of this so am reasonably confident I can weed out rubbish. I don't like comedy , particularly stand up so that removes half the programme at one swoop.

The official festival always has a real horror in it- this year's was Wayne McGregor's Autobiography Other than that I've enjoyed everything I've seen (including one Fringe play which I had absolutely no idea what it was about)

[LassWiADelicateAir]

Wonder what will happen to the Fringe next year, post-Brexit. I imagine a much smaller programme (even smaller than this year) and a far smaller audience

I don't think Brexit will have any effect whatsoever on the Fringe. And what on earth is the "even smaller" comment supposed to mean?

[MrsSteptoe]

I just couldn't get the booking website to work for me - found it impossible to buy a ticket on it.
Oh, God, same thing happened last year - I could book, but DSis (who was up at the same time, but not with me, IYSWIM) couldn't.
most real comics avoid it like the plague
I guess a lot of very established comedians do avoid it, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. There's usually some "names" there if that's what you want, and newer ones, who are no less 'real', are often really fun. It is an exploratory exercise, for me.

[MrsSteptoe]

what on earth is the "even smaller" comment supposed to mean? Lass, Poster had said in her previous post that there seemed to be far fewer shows this year than last. I don't know if that's true or not.

[LassWiADelicateAir]

most real comics avoid it like the plague

(a) that isn't true and (b) it wouldn't be a bad thing if they did. I really dislike big name comedians , who could tour at any time of the year and still get an audience, muscling in on the Fringe.

There is also far, far more to the Fringe than comedy. I doubt I have been to a comedy show in over a decade.

[LassWiADelicateAir]

Re smaller- the town is heaving as it always is. There are over 3,500 shows in over 300 venues.

[catgee]

I lived in Edinburgh for years and came to the conclusion that if you want to be reasonably sure of a decent show you need to look at the reviews but also the show timings and ticket pricing. I saw lots of cheap/free/matinee shows and 95% were awful - every now and again you'd strike gold with a great one but mostly not. The "primetime" evening shows and mid to high priced tickets (along with good reviews) generally indicated better quality but it's also down to personal taste so recommendations from friends or colleagues who share a similar sense of humour are a good way to filter down the choices too.

[petalflowercherrybomb]

You're doing it wrong. For a start it's not just about the comedy and you really need to see things based on reviews or recommendations or you're taking a bit of a gamble. As pp said when I was younger and up there for the whole month a group of us would always see some obscure/ bad things- all part of the experience! Now I'm more pushed for time up there I'll only see theatre by companies/ promoters I know and trust or stuff with excellent reviews. To be honest 90% of the draw more me is the atmosphere- it's like nowhere else

[FringeGoer2018]

Thank you all for your advice. Time has run out for us this year as have to go home as it's the end of our holiday. We will have to try again next year and look at few reviews and do a bit more research before going to shows. It has certainly been an experience.

I have to say that Edinburgh looks a lot less attractive in Fringe season. The refuse collection services just can't keep up with the number of visitors.

[FringeGoer2018]

Notacooldad Sorry as I missed you question. The first event we did was ticketed. A very weak drama and hardly anyone else in audience. Second was a comedian who was part of free Fringe. Absolutely brilliant! Will Rowland if anyone is interested. Other three were comedians part of free fringe. All dire and hardly anyone there. One we were the sole members of the audience! Embarrassing for that one as has to go early as not suitable for 14 year old even though it was supposed to be a family friendly venue. Learnt the hard way that you need to check with each artist if their material is targeted at over 18s only!

[OllyBJolly]

I don't think Brexit will have any effect whatsoever on the Fringe

The Director of the Festival thinks it will be "catastrophic"

www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/edinburgh-festivals/brexit-could-have-a-disastrous-impact-on-edinburgh-international-festival-1-4776482