Day 1 Edinburgh Fringe: 3 August

Today was the first day of the rest of the fringe. 

I woke up and jittered around all day, torn between working on my show and flyering for my show, and wandering around saying hallo to people and retreating into a podcast bubble with my big headphones on. 

I walked into the cool home-made chocolate shop where the ladies chat to you for ages to buy a present for Larry Dean, and thought this chocolate novelty treat said "Not Dad", which is a nice gift to offer on either the occasion of getting your period, or upon rejecting your step-father. 

There are so many people here! It's only my second year, but it's amazing talking to people who have been coming here for so long that they have spent two years of Augusts living in Festival Edinburgh, like a strange specific sort of time travel. 

Seeing the things that have changed makes me realise that many things are exactly the same as last year. I can imagine that feeling expands over time to give you an odd sense of Deja-Vu. Like a warped Groundhog Day. 

I opened The Resistance at 8.16 in the Gilded Balloon, fancy castle venue that it is. It's weird and great and intimidating to have door people and a tech after the free fringe last year. Nice, because there's someone there for you (my tech is a Czech called Tomas and he said nice comforting things before and after the show. The door people are all very friendly and wear Gilded Balloon pink, which makes them look even friendlier). Weird and intimidating because I have to pay those people whether I make money or not. It's one thing to decide you're not going to buy a fancy breakfast out. You can't decide whether or not to pay your tech. And I don't really need-need a tech for the Resistance to be honest. But it's nice to get a hug. Maybe i can ask him for notes on the show...

The audience were a preview audience of about half-full, friendly non-laughers. They were nice, and seemed to enjoy the show, but I felt like I needed some big rolling laughs to restore my confidence in the show as something comedy rather than an interesting theatrical piece of moral lecturing. I am full of doubt. 

On the other hand, the big fancy comedy website Chortle put up their very very nice review of The Resistance in Melbourne on their front page, to help remind me that it was good at one point at least. I do believe that. 

I hope I believe it a bit harder tomorrow. 

That sounds pessimistic. I'm actually feeling pretty good, if underslept! 

I may have a proper sleep in tomorrow, though my room this year has a window, so the sun and my sleepy brain will have to fight it out. 

Til tomorrow, friends!

xxA

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Alice is doing two shows at The Edinburgh Fringe in the month of August:

The Resistance, 8.15 at The Gilded Balloon every night from 3 - 29 August

and 

Savage at The City Cafe, Midday every day from 22-28 August