I am trying to fool my body into believing that I have two shows left, when I know that just the one is much more likely in reality. Last year, my body gave up on me in my final show, with my mind already heading back to London and I ended the Fringe on a bum note.
In my sprinting days, which admittedly peaked about 20 years ago, I was always taught to run 105 metres instead of 100 to avoid slowly down when reaching the finishing line.
So if I tell myself that I still have another show to do, then I’m hoping my body will prepare itself to shut down towards the end of the second performance. I just hope that it doesn’t find out my plan and sabotage it out of spite.
I started yesterday’s show with four empty seats, which was previously unheard of for a Friday in this run. Fortunately, five people came in late and my standing-room only tally was able to go up.
From the off, I could tell they were going to be a good crowd, with Friday proving to be my best day throughout the Fringe. No-one walked out, everyone laughed in the right places and I rebounded with £98 in my bucket at the end, which is currently my third highest in takings at any Fringe.
In previous Fringes, the last show has usually been a bit of an anti-climax. Then again, this has been a year that I have bucked many trends, so I’m not going to try and predict it what’s about to unfold. I’ve had a great run; I’ve already made a profit for the first time at the Fringe, and I’ve had a lot of fun. Anything else is going to be a bonus.