I have now been in Edinburgh for three weeks, performing shows all but one of these days. The fatigue is taking over, and I am willing my body through the next four shows. My peripheral vision is now failing me, and I am unable to see people or objects approaching in the corner of my eyes. This is problematic when I’m in busy places and doing activities such as flyering.
I have had to do more flyering this year than I have in more than a decade. I’ve also had to regularly hire flyerers for the first time ever, which has been rather expensive. After the first weekend, I ran out of the 2,000 flyers I’d ordered for the run that would normally be more than enough. So, I had to order 7,500 more to see me through until the end of the month. I don’t mind flyering and quite enjoy getting point-blank ignore from some people. I normally avoid the Royal Mile, but that’s where a lot of people are.
Circumstances and necessity have forced me out of hiding this year. However, the combination of dodgy peripheral vision, fatigue, and being near overly enthusiastic drama students is taking its toll. That said, if it gets more people into my show, then it’s probably worth it – sanity permitting. And audience numbers have been far better this week than I was expecting, and all the shows have been a lot of fun. The last Thursday of the Fringe was one of my biggest concerns for some time. Sales figures remained stubbornly in the single figures throughout this month.
Another pressure was that a mate from school had come to see me perform for the first time, despite having lived in Edinburgh for almost 15 years and us meeting up every year. So, I wanted him to see me perform at a decent show.
Thankfully, audience numbers picked up, and the show was lovely. There was even a couple in who tried to come and see me in Shaftesbury last month, but were unable to get a ticket. They didn’t come to Edinburgh solely to see me, though. If they had, I would be both flattered and concerned.
I have four shows left. The end is in sight, but I may not see it if I’m trying to view it out of the corner of my eye.