4870 - Crowd saucing

Boxing Day, slept over on blow-up bed
Slept okay considering, saw the dark sky
Turn morning grey and overcast like lead
Waited for all to stir. They discussed my
Edinburgh experience and wondered why
I'd do it again, but it's hard to let
It go after that effort, have to try
At least apply, and if I could just get
A suitable venue, I won't regret
It, and not end up so disappointed
At crowd size, the main issue, passers-by
Assaulted by waves of flyerers forget
Your show in seconds. We all were well fed
At Piccolino's in West Didsbury

Thur 26 Dec

4866 - Song sung blue

The main focus of today - to prepare
To go out and play new songs live, video
Footage to be obtained so I can share
The musical side of my act some know
Well, but not Edinburgh venues, although
I've still to decide finally whether
I want to do the Fringe, another go
After the trials of this closing year
I certainly felt it spoiled Edinburgh
All those young flyerers and some cynical fare
Pirates, Potter, sci-fi, and so and so
Not to mention endless takes on Shakespeare
At times it was almost too much to bear
But tonight I went out and led the show

Sun 22 Dec

4771 - Where are the shows of yesteryear?

Red autumn sky, 7:30, almost
Dark now, but things are OK on the whole
Couldn't drop off last night, I turned and tossed
Quite tired then, but worked well to overhaul
Some work left too long, although quite simple
Fiddly boring shit, didn't understand
How to do it for months into my role
Can't put it off no more, or else smacked hand
Tomorrow there's a comedy night planned
Olaf Falafel, an Edinburgh ghost
Saw him there at the Pear Tree. Wonder will
He do new stuff or just a Fringe rewind?
Watching Corrie, first time in years, I'm lost -
Who are these strangers? Who are these people?

4755 - The positive touch

Went to bed as early as nine last night
Almost my earliest ever, for ages
At any rate. The beer, combined with tired-
ness, probably accumulated, was
Enough to knock me out for twelve hours
Yes, I didn't rise until nine next day!
I still had a hangover though I'd used
Painkillers in the night. It went away
Finally, after breakfast. Felt okay
After lunch, so I decided I'd write
A summary of my Fringe, analysis
Of my thoughts, and steps to find the right way
Forward, Negative thinking's been my blight
I'll try harder to reach out for others

4752 - Back to work, back to reality

Woke up at a quarter to eleven
Although I was fairly late going to bed
And at twenty to six or maybe seven
Some talk and noise outside interrupted
My sleep for an hour and a half. I've tried
To do what I can, post-Edinburgh
I wrote a comedy song, summarised
My Fringe memories and impressions, a blur
If left longer, details would disappear
And now I'm mentally tired at seven
Thirty after my tea, refilling head
With Brexit shit I've not missed while up there
Engrossed in my show and others I'd seen
Tomorrow, it's back to work, I'm afraid...!!!

4750 - Back home

This was going to be my last Edinburgh day
Albeit consisting of just catching the bus
But a lift from Tom last night means today
I'm home, and the sunshine is glorious
After unpacking and shopping I was
Able to sunbathe and top up my tan
It was great listening to songs on the grass
And just getting settled back home again
Got some beers in, and healthily eaten
Next thing I want to do is have a play
On the uke while I digest potatoes
Chicken and salad. Summer's almost gone
This might be the last day this year I'll say
I could soak up the sun's refreshing rays!

Mon 26 Aug

4749 - Ed Fringe Day 26

Last day in Edinburgh. Dehydrated
But such a nice sunny day, relaxing
To stroll around, vest on, tattoos stated
Places I've been. Drank fluids, liked eating
Ice cream, stopped me overheating. Packing
Now in this heat, and listening to music
Will finish at Tom's Comedy Shorts, watching
(Unless I get invited to the mic
Unexpectedly)*. Then Tom and me, and his chick
Will pile into his car and be headed
South for Manchester, finally ending
Our month-long odyssey we have all liked
I'm actually sad to leave, though it's costed
Me a fuckin' packet! Been exciting!

*Didn't go to that show, Tom cancelled it so we could drive home earlier!

Sun 25 Aug

4748 - Ed Fringe Day 25

Last show of my first Fringe, friendly faces
Half-filled the room. Last show went with a bang
Amanda and Giles, Josh on sound, more Oz
Representation, Pinwheel Productions
Kaleigh and her group who've been such good friends
More Aussies (why so many Aussie fans?)
Word of mouth probably, that's how it spreads
Many of them were seeing it more than once
Got all my stuff out in the given five mins
Taxi back, table given away, then whizzed
Up town again on foot, Hannah waiting
Two hours' chat, then soon after met some friends
Again at their show, then went out for drinks
Josh and Amanda been so nice, so thanks!

Sat 24 Aug

4747 - Ed Fringe Day 24

Walked more today than any other day
24 kilometres, not far off
Marathon length. Quite a good show today
Three fun-spirited lads came, two were of
Aussie origin, and they gave the love
All the Aussies I've met here have given
Not only that, an Aussie comic gave
A great show - Bilge Pump Seminar - down in
The Boteca (Heroes) basement. Walking
In addition to Edinburgh, the bay
From Musselburgh back to the city. Wove
My way across sands, rocks and seaweed. Sun
Shone on it all! Can now definitely say
I've seen some great sights, free from push and shove!

Fri 23 Aug

4746 - Ed Fringe Day 23

Not much sleep, plagued by horny thoughts, and by
Tom's snoring earlier on. Got up to do
My show. Josh turned up last minute, but I
Was right, no-one came. Though there were some queues
For some shows. Some people I chatted to
Reported low numbers, especially in
This last week of the Fringe. Much too tired to
Do anything (after a Thai meal) than
Trudge home and rest. Got up late afternoon
Wrote a 5 minute stand-up set to try
At Tom's Comedy Shorts at Newsroom. Phew!
It went well, despite it being brand new and
Untried. The Sprite burp gag worked just like I
Hoped it would. Tomorrow night - stand-up 2....!!

Thur 22 Aug

4735 - Ed Fringe Day 12

A terrible rainy depressing day
But one that may just be a turning point
Did a gig at C Viva, 1:30
About 30 kids and grown-ups. It went
OK, but no flyers taken. Then I fought
My way home through the driving rain. Felt bad
But no time to slacken, I had to write
My show again, and rewrite all my ad
Stuff on the Fringe website and theatre site
And post on social media. It's all quite
Fine, if you're asking. Rain, loss of money
A cold coming on. Show attendance? Shite!
But worked hard, new direction. Now, could they
Be flyering for me? If so, heaven sent!

Sun 11 Aug

4734 - Ed Fringe Day 11

A hugely disappointing nil turnout
The same as Thursday, when Pearl attended
Some shows are selling well, with queues throughout
The lobby every day, while my door's dead
No-one except me and Kayleigh are stood
There waiting to enjoy Bony Tony
And his Daft Show. Have they misunderstood
What it's about? Is it too odd? Surely
Not, when you consider new comedy
Of the more surreal kind, but taking out
The adult themes, the swear words. Yes it should
Work, but maybe there's no market. Tiny
Kids and their parents, they won't pay without
It being more clearly young kid targeted

Sat 10 Aug

4733 - Ed Fringe Day 10

Horrible morning deluge, just when we
(Me and AJ) started out flyering
My ew expensive umbrella totally
Destroyed by gusts of wind as we're walking
Up towards Edinburgh centre, trying
To protect my red sprayed hair from the rain
4 people attended, plus AJ.Things
Went well, missed out the swimming bit, but gained
On the recorded laughs and the chicken
Impressions. Charlotte, just 4, was a wee
Star! C Venues emailed me following
A dropout, did 40 minutes for them
Still got a slot this Sunday, too, at C
More flyering, and 2 shows seen. Spiffing!!

Fri 9 Aug

4732 - Ed Fringe Day 9

Today was the day Pearl saw my Fringe show
Sadly, it was a quiet day, and there
Was no-one else to show her how it goes
When it's in full flow, with lots of banter
I ran through some of my set, just for her
Sang most of my songs, and she saw the lights
Operated by Kayleigh, as ever
Nice and helpful. I've not flyered the streets
For 2 days - well, not really, so I might
Get no-one again tomorrow, I know
But hanging out with Pearl these 2 days, we're
Glad we did it, and we had a few pints
Now back on the wagon. I have to go
Into new strategy mode, do better!!

Thur 8 Aug

4731 - Ed Fringe Day 8

A testing show. Although a big audience
Many had special needs, but they enjoyed
It in the main - one more experience
In this big learning curve, this showbiz voyage
A family group came too, but sat dismayed
On the whole, not joining in, seeming shy
One guy, Darren, saved the show - he just played
Every game, took about 4 prizes. I
Got advice on marketing. Now to try
To find my real audience, and also sense
Where and when to flyer, to not avoid
My true comedy fans. Few families buy
Four tickets for an unknown. It's nonsense
To persuade them. Evening with Pearl was great!

Wed 7 Aug

4730 - Ed Fringe Day 7

Almost a week into the Fringe now. It's
Going so quickly, every moment's filled
Today was my Green Day (hair, t-shirt, glitz)
Took umbrella so green hair chalknot swilled
Away by the showers. About 10, willed
Myself to patrol the Royal Mile. I
Was targeting the kids and families still
But my prices are for them all, too high
And my humour too sharp. I'd say now, my
Audience is more teens and older - yes, kids
But, kids AT HEART, with adult brains. I killed
Them so far, those that came. Was emailed by
The C venues, got a good spot. It's this
Sunday - perfect chance to plug my show. Brill!!

Tue 6 Aug

4729 - Ed Fringe Day 6

Though very tired, almost no sleep, because
I thought Tom would at any moment get
Into the bed, not knowing that he was
In fact still with Rhiannon, headed out
Of Edinburgh and staying at some hotel
That stopped me going to sleep - of that, no doubt!!
Considering that, today went pretty well
Flyered from 10am, targeted small
Kids and their parents - but it seems about
Teenage and 20's humour my show is
(More than anything) - though under-10's yet
May enjoy it, if they're clever. To tell
The truth, I'm pleased with that. It's tedious
Just playing to kids, too boring just doing that...

Mon 5 Aug

4728 - Ed Fringe Day 5

I felt good most of today, but knackered
As the evening has gone on - now it's 9
Not that late, but mustn't delay my bed
Tonight. Flyering at 10 is my design
For tomorrow, I'll need body and mind
To be energised. Show at 12, of course
Then helping Pinwheel's show, then I should find
More flyering to do, eat, then see shows
Or Paul Silky White at least, as he knows
How to do comedy and music, wed
Them into a successful Fringe show. I'm
Keen to learn what works in my cause, suppose
It may help in future. Tom Short offered
A slot tonight, but can't do it this time...

Sun 4 Aug

4727 - Ed Fringe Day 4

Another OK day, and best of all
An audience for my show, that was a boost
They came in after I'd started to crawl
Through my act for no-one, something I'm used
To, but they came in, sat down. I could coast
Through it now, ad lib more, as I like to
When there's people to bounce off - it's the most
Easy thing to do, so easy to do
I just need PEOPLE!!! Work provides them too
But this is on a higher plane, it's full
Of risk, it's hard, it takes years to adjust
And learn how to do it well and be you
I'm already thinking how I could sell
More tickets next year, be a well-known host

Sat 3 Aug

4726 - Ed Fringe Day 3

It's so competitive, the festival
I got no audience for my first show there
Good to run through the show though, a trial
Run, free of pressure, though I'd much prefer
A audience to talk to, who can inspire
More quips, more energy, and more money
Of course. Pinwheel Productions, similar
No-one, though they'd sold two tickets, but the
Amount's nothing, split fourways, honestly!
So I'll now have to flyer streets like hell
If I want crowds it's up to me... Not fair
But the brochure and theatre, such a spree
Of spending, hasn't produced the people
Saw three shows this evening - must learn, watch, hear...

Fri 2 Aug