tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.comments2023-07-14T11:14:21.281+01:00The Edinburgh Fringe Survival Guide – Live!Mark Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-8975963681799084662015-12-15T10:06:33.882+00:002015-12-15T10:06:33.882+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01664984250375605237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-40574738756284589812013-04-10T16:55:49.760+01:002013-04-10T16:55:49.760+01:00If any readers are planning their visit to the Fri...If any readers are planning their visit to the Fringe Festival this year, I'd recommend booking your <a href="http://www.theedinburghcollection.com/holyroodaparthotel/" rel="nofollow">Edinburgh Fringe Festival accommodation</a> as early as you can because places get full surprisingly quickly! You certainly don't want to get caught out last minute!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-46839204726835994052012-09-04T14:48:10.831+01:002012-09-04T14:48:10.831+01:00Since I've been back from Edinburgh, I've ...Since I've been back from Edinburgh, I've had dreams nearly every night of not being able to find my venue; being in someone else's show; forgetting all of my lines; and getting lost in Scotland. I wake up not knowing what country I am in. I wake up wondering how I will get through flyering that day, as well as getting through the show that night. It's like 3 weeks of performing at the Fringe has turned into one full year of memories that haunt me. And yes, I will be back next summer. Let's hope the dreams stop! Peter Michael Marinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05274788553060246105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-9494800800276017472012-06-04T21:16:05.044+01:002012-06-04T21:16:05.044+01:00I had a hideous dream last year that an elderly co...I had a hideous dream last year that an elderly couple sat in the front row of my show, PassionFlower. <br /><br />Wait there's more. As soon as the 2nd song (Marigold, by Nirvana) finished they proclaimed loudly "Well, this isn't Jazz!" and got up to leave. Instead of exiting the way they came in (by the right door) they attempted to leave by the left. Which took them backstage, into a long and echoing corridor, whereupon they started to bicker as to "How to get out of this bloody place". They then re-entered the theatre where they asked if anyone could tell them how to get out. Unfortunately no-one came forward, so I stopped the show and pointed to the correct door. "Come on Neville" the wife trumpeted, and they duly exited.<br /><br />But wait. That wasn't a dream. It actually happened. Bring on the nightmares I say!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02995246564378053696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-12607235686838330212012-06-02T18:49:05.929+01:002012-06-02T18:49:05.929+01:00In his collection of letters, "I'm Here I...In his collection of letters, "I'm Here I Think, Where Are You?", actor Timothy West describes a dream he had while performing King Lear at the Edinburgh Festival in 1971. "I dreamed that the whole of the next morning's Daily Telegraph was devoted to a bad notice for my Lear. It started with the headlines on the front page, ran through the home news, the foreign news, sport, the weather forecast, even the<br />crossword."<br /><br />He then visits his mother, still in the dream, only to discover she agreed with the review. "'Darling,' she said. 'People run out of acting, just as I sometimes run out of butter.'"Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-10074561622406772682012-06-02T10:16:36.173+01:002012-06-02T10:16:36.173+01:00A day or so ago I had my first Fringe nightmare; t...A day or so ago I had my first Fringe nightmare; this would not ordinarily be worth of comment, but this was my first in twenty years. The content was, from what I can tell, fairly standard - I was starting my show, and I had not learned all the routines for it. I went to my case to get a deck of cards, but it was a mess and I couldn't find anything. As I said, fairly typical magic show dream. <br /><br />That it happened in the hour between waking at 6 and _really_ waking at 7 meant that it was particularly vivid for me when I woke up, and it took a few moments for me to calm down and realise what had happened.<br /><br />The cause is not hard for me to work out; my mother died a couple of weeks ago, and various hospital visits and funeral arrangements mean that I am well over a month behind in my Fringe prep. It was just my brain telling me to get my bahookie in gear, but using shock tactics, many outlawed by the Geneva Convention, to do it. <br /><br />Still, I'm sure that Obsession - A life with magic will be ready, when the time comes :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04721345074245906425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-18300174206240318382012-03-31T10:29:43.951+01:002012-03-31T10:29:43.951+01:00Thanks for the comment. Glad the film's gone w...Thanks for the comment. Glad the film's gone well. I'll keep an eye out for the other one. You should check out Annie Griffin's "Festival" if you haven't seen it.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-90305485463279899632012-03-30T00:35:30.497+01:002012-03-30T00:35:30.497+01:00Hi mark, I directed this! stumbled across this rev...Hi mark, I directed this! stumbled across this review tonight! - cheers, i agree that the film's title is a bit mis-leading - should be Edinburgh fringe uncovered or something, but the film's distributers thought a survival guide would sell, and help performers at the fringe, it has sold well, and we have had great feedback! - i think you should also check out invisible circus film google it, will be right up your street, we are involved in that too!Future Artistshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16703647841453209716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-34658391770781145592012-03-12T13:15:44.148+00:002012-03-12T13:15:44.148+00:00If I changed the name of it to "The Wolesley&...If I changed the name of it to "The Wolesley" and moved it to London I might stand a chance.Ian Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12775751424577358072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-90823131317354432332012-03-12T09:27:51.153+00:002012-03-12T09:27:51.153+00:00I agree - unless you're planning to begin and ...I agree - unless you're planning to begin and end your career on the Fringe (and no harm in that if you are), you can keep using Twitter etc to keep people interested in everything you're up to.<br /><br />Getting Michael Winner to your show - now that would be a coup.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-81672250215079021932012-03-12T09:24:16.271+00:002012-03-12T09:24:16.271+00:00Yes, I sometimes think hashtags are wishful thinki...Yes, I sometimes think hashtags are wishful thinking - though I guess you've got to start somewhere.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-24335460496749930582012-03-12T01:11:47.125+00:002012-03-12T01:11:47.125+00:00I would say social media is important in pushing y...I would say social media is important in pushing your career in the long term, it's got as Mark says unlimited potential with who you can reach. I've had some great exchanges on twitter with Michael Winner* of all people, and the Gregg Jevin joke which ended up trending is proof how quickly something can become a phenomenon on twitter.<br /><br />Picking up followers is important as a long term goal for most comics today. <br /><br />With regards to pushing Fringe shows I think it's limited as at the end of the day you're after people who are going to be within a square mile of Edinburgh city centre, during August.<br /><br />Oh and thanks for the mention of the book Mark. I've got a version that you can read in the bath now. <br /><br />* I'm a big fan of 70's cinema.Ian Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12775751424577358072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-78269545773313586972012-03-12T00:54:20.307+00:002012-03-12T00:54:20.307+00:00Last year at Espionage they had a #hashtag intende...Last year at Espionage they had a #hashtag intended for talking about shows in the venue. Not really sure that worked.<br /><br />My favourite tweet read something along the lines of<br /><br />"Bunch of militant b*stards on the door tonight, they won't let me in."Ian Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12775751424577358072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-61669961030302870632012-03-11T17:43:25.009+00:002012-03-11T17:43:25.009+00:00Good tips, thanks, Sally. Think I've been tick...Good tips, thanks, Sally. Think I've been ticking most of your boxes (phew!) <br /><br />Slightly disagree about Facebook in that it has some advantages over Twitter: it's better at giving a visual link to articles, you can write more and it's likely to reach a slightly different group of people - but you're right, they do have to be the right people. <br /><br />Also, although friends and family may not be your core market, they can help get the word out to people who are, so not entirely a waste of time.<br /><br />People who I don't know are starting to befriend my book on its dedicated Facebook page, so that's a way for me to keep in touch with them.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-58614272800203424582012-03-11T17:29:41.222+00:002012-03-11T17:29:41.222+00:00For specifically selling/ promoting your Fringe sh...For specifically selling/ promoting your Fringe show I would consider these three things:<br />1. Follow the #edfringe and #edfest tags on twitter and follow the people that tweet them. Between now and August converse with these people - no doubt you'll have lots to tweet about!<br />2. Use the image you used for your Fringe programme entry for your social media profile - you'll help people call your show to mind if your image is consistent.<br />3. Really think about Facebook - who is likely to fan your page - are they mostly friends and family - are they ALL going to come to your show? It might look good to have a nice number of fans - but is this time well spent?<br /><br />Finally - of course - tap the Fringe office - they media office is open from now - email them (mediaatedfringedotcom) and they'll help! There is a How to Sell Your Show Roadshow planned for May which will also cover social media, and PR - where you'll be able to ask people like Mark, Lyn Gardner for their direct advice on selling. Hope this helps!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01758343945499787354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-19436867484819682572012-03-11T12:57:08.536+00:002012-03-11T12:57:08.536+00:00Thanks for that, Fred. Yes, it's a recurring t...Thanks for that, Fred. Yes, it's a recurring theme of the book: if you know what you want, it's a lot easier to make all your decisions.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-53694852021878084482012-03-10T11:58:10.867+00:002012-03-10T11:58:10.867+00:00A good book for those interested in putting on a s...A good book for those interested in putting on a show at the edinburgh festival. Best advice on finding a venue is knowing what you want from the festival and seeing what your shortlist of venues offer in relation to that. <br />Do you want to be a big fish in a small venue and grab lots of attention or a small fish in a large venue and hope to gather some of someone elses, who will provide what YOU want?fred mcgeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14130846286744367547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-17242924279189078412012-03-02T09:00:57.010+00:002012-03-02T09:00:57.010+00:00Thanks, Ian. Now I come to think of it, I did see ...Thanks, Ian. Now I come to think of it, I did see your interviews as you were publishing them last year. Good stuff. I've downloaded your book onto my wife's Kindle - I'll have to wait till she's not reading something before I can read it.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-46310907301042881132012-03-01T23:57:08.055+00:002012-03-01T23:57:08.055+00:00Hi Mark,
These are the details for my blog.
Ther...Hi Mark,<br /><br />These are the details for my blog.<br /><br />There's how to articles on show production, lots of photos, and interviews both with critics from the festival and comedians plus a few promoters.<br /><br />Good luck with the book,<br /><br />IanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-38515116575633344422012-02-24T10:02:04.378+00:002012-02-24T10:02:04.378+00:00I would prefer to stay in a tent to have more mone...I would prefer to stay in a tent to have more money left to enjoy my stay in Edinburgh. It will complete the whole experience of my adventure there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thailandholidayhomes.co.uk/thailand-villas.html" rel="nofollow">pattaya villas for rent</a>Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07701544519296117331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-12945310502088420142012-02-20T12:57:43.052+00:002012-02-20T12:57:43.052+00:00Most of the people who pay the 300 use the Fringe ...Most of the people who pay the 300 use the Fringe box office. Until there's a different tier of programme registration for people who don't, the registration fee will, for them, be a rip-off. Many of the rip-offees will, unfortunately, continue to succumb to the extortion I've alluded to above. However, the need for that box office is, if not exactly dwindling, a factor for an ever-smaller (though not small) percentage of the shows on the Fringe.<br /><br />The Fringe, as we all know, is a collection of whatever performers and projects show up, uncurated. It existed before there was a Fringe society and, as I've stated,would exist (happily, I think), without it. Registering does not make a show official. Showing up does. What registering DOES do is lock in deadlines and expenses that may not be necessary or helpful.<br /><br />The Fringe society was created to lighten the burden of Fringe participants and spread the word of its greatness. Over time, as with any enterprise composed of men and women, it has developed an interest in its own growth and survival and its own institutional ego. These interests do not necessarily gibe with the interests of the Fringe itself. Sometimes they are in opposition.<br /><br />Natural selection, as it does, will prevail. The society will either change, fade into irrelevance or die.<br /><br />The Fringe will go on.AJLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904392539444780651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-35676920242460425152012-02-20T12:27:00.408+00:002012-02-20T12:27:00.408+00:00Well, that's why I said "How much those a...Well, that's why I said "How much those audiences are worth to you is a harder question to answer." As we've already agreed, most people do pay the £300, so presumably most people think it's worth it - and for a whole variety of reasons. But that doesn't mean everyone will think it's valuable to them.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-42413068325573342212012-02-20T12:01:50.565+00:002012-02-20T12:01:50.565+00:00I'm working my way up now from Mark's comm...I'm working my way up now from Mark's comment about listings below. Seeing this, it hits me that all these "reasons why" are nothing more than a list of alibis for making performers and companies pay a lot of money for something that's essentially useless. "Sure, you get no value for your buck but there's this TINY LITTLE THING you won't get that I don't think you wanna do without. Are you sure you can RISK that? [performer starts to get scared] Okay, now FORK OVER THE MONEY [the Fringe officials laugh maniacally]."AJLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904392539444780651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-26147364794949223882012-02-20T11:49:47.903+00:002012-02-20T11:49:47.903+00:00So, you believe a performer or company should pay ...So, you believe a performer or company should pay three hundred pounds for a raw listing, by time, with no show description, in a paragraph containing perhaps a dozen or more shows beginning at that same time, inside a newspaper a potential punter may or may not have at hand when this spontaneous moment of decision arises.AJLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904392539444780651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1593546502337181279.post-65888123405902535132012-02-20T10:52:44.857+00:002012-02-20T10:52:44.857+00:00Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I think ...Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I think Elise's worry about being in newspaper and website listings is crucial. So many audiences on the Fringe will say, "I'm free at 3pm, what's on?" If your show isn't listed with all the other 3pm shows, you have no chance of getting those audiences. How much those audiences are worth to you is a harder question to answer.<br /><br />I agree with Shona that newspapers are unlikely to go to the bother of taking listings from anywhere but the Fringe Office. The staff are too stretched to have the time to integrate additional material into an already massive listing, even if they had the will.Mark Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14877407195452350555noreply@blogger.com