I often prefer Sundays to Saturdays at Edinburgh Fringe. While you get the bigger crowds on Saturdays, there is typically something a little more receptive about Sunday audiences.
That is generally how it is, but Edinburgh Fringe can and will throw curveballs at you. Fortunately, today was not one of such curveballs. I had 39 people in. It was 50 fewer than the previous day, but they made up for it in their embracing of the show and willingness to let me experiment, which worked more often than not. Even when I stumbled slightly with the new stuff, the audience remained with me throughout. I am pleased with how the show is coming together. I am already finding new lines to build up the new bits that are now getting big laughs on their own.
Maintaining a capacity crowd in a room this size is unrealistic for the fringe these days unless you have an established following or the backing from a heavily funded and resourced promoter. Ten years ago, it may have been just about possible at a push with my one-man operation. But times have changed, costs have gone up everywhere, and there is no question that it is harder to get audiences to fill rooms.
That said, I am currently ahead on sales compared to where I was last year. In 2025, I was taken aback by how quiet the opening weekend of the fringe was. This year has been much busier.
I am also more relaxed about ticket sales this year. In previous fringes, I would obsess over my ticket sales and get anxious to make sure I was, firstly, not losing the comedy club any money. And secondly, to make sure I was on target to reach the hallowed 95% to achieve official sold-out status. This year, I have checked my ticket sales the fewest times since I started doing paid shows in 2016. It was as little as once a week in the weeks building up to the fringe, compared with myriad times throughout the day before.
But I know the chances of selling out my room every day are slim, so I don’t have to worry about maintaining percentages. Weekends will be busy, and there will be quieter days throughout the week. I am also paying to run the show and not fretting about losing money for anyone apart from myself.
This has taken the pressure off considerably and freed me up to concentrate on the show and having fun with it. Crucially, fretting over ticket sales will not result in any extra sales.