Audience numbers have been wildly up and down this fringe. After selling out on all three Saturdays so far, numbers fall back on the other days. With 88 in on Saturday, there was almost exactly half that on Sunday. Then today, there were 27.
Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for any audience in a year when many shows have struggled to get people in. But I have never known numbers to fluctuate so dramatically in previous years, with any drop a little far less steep.
Rather than get disheartened and accept defeat, the challenge has made me more determined to do all I can to get people in to see my show. This mainly means flyering for a few hours a day, which I don’t actually mind.
It wasn’t the pub quiz gimmick alone that led me to four official sold-out runs at Edinburgh Fringe. I mean, it was the pub quiz gimmick to a large extent.
But when you come up through the Free Fringe, you need to be able to graft to get an audience. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. Not exactly grafting in the traditional sense of the word, as it involves handing people shiny bits of paper.
Nevertheless, it is hard work. Or at least feels like it after two and a half weeks of walking these steep, sharp hills.
I also hit a tiredness wall yesterday. When this happens, I need to listen to my body and agree that it’s time to get out of town and get some rest. By sheer coincidence, this tiredness wall was hit after two consecutive days of consuming three or four pints. I have decided to avoid alcohol for the next few days, at least until my energy levels have recovered.
In terms of my shows, the audiences have all been great, and I have enjoyed working with different room sizes. When I have fewer people, it gives me greater freedom to piss about and talk to the audience more.
And in one week’s time, it will all be over for another year.