Okay, so you wanna know how I tackled the Edinburgh International Festival? Buckle up, it’s a bit of a ride!
First off, I decided I was actually going to do it. Not just think about it, but participate. I mean, I’d been going to the festival for years, just watching. This time, I wanted to be part of the madness.
Brainstorming was next. What the heck could I do? I’m no musician or actor. But I do love storytelling. So, I thought, “Okay, a storytelling gig. Maybe something small, something manageable.”
Then came the research. I spent way too many hours digging through the Edinburgh Fringe website. It’s a beast, I tell ya. So many shows, so many venues. I was mainly trying to get a feel for what was out there, what kinda stories were being told, and how people were putting their shows together.
I started writing. Just jotting down ideas, little snippets of stories from my life. Nothing fancy, just getting the creative juices flowing. I wasn’t worried about structure or anything at this point, just getting the raw material down.
The hard part was deciding on a story. I had a few contenders, but eventually, I settled on a funny, slightly embarrassing anecdote from a backpacking trip I took years ago. It had enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, and more importantly, it felt authentic to me.
Next up: structuring the story. This took ages. I played around with different beginnings, middles, and ends. I added in more details, cut out the boring bits, and tried to build some tension. I even roped in a friend to listen to a rough draft and give me feedback (which was brutal, but necessary).
Then I found a venue. Forget the big theaters. I was aiming for a tiny pub room or a cafe. Somewhere intimate. I contacted a few places, and surprisingly, one of them said yes! It was a small, cozy pub just off the Royal Mile. Perfect!
Registration with the Fringe was next. It’s a bit of a process, filling out forms, paying the fees, etc. But once that was done, I was officially part of the festival! I even got my own listing on the Fringe website.
Rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals! I practiced my story over and over again. I timed myself, tweaked the wording, and worked on my delivery. I even practiced in front of a mirror to try and iron out any nervous tics.
Promoting the show was…challenging. I made some flyers and posters and plastered them around town. I used social media (maybe too much). I even tried flyering on the Royal Mile, which was a bit of a zoo. Getting people to actually come was the trick.
Opening night! I was a nervous wreck. But once I started telling the story, I relaxed a bit. The audience was small, but they were engaged. They laughed in the right places, and they seemed to genuinely enjoy it. It was an amazing feeling.
The rest of the run was a blur. Some nights were packed, some nights were dead. But every performance was a learning experience. I tweaked the story based on audience reactions, I got better at handling hecklers (there were a few!), and I just generally became more comfortable on stage.
So, yeah, that’s how I participated in the Edinburgh International Festival. It was hard work, but it was also incredibly rewarding. Would I do it again? Absolutely!
Some things I learned along the way:
- Start early. Seriously. Don’t leave things to the last minute.
- Get feedback. Ask friends, family, or even strangers to watch your show and give you honest opinions.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try new things, take risks, and see what works.
- Promote, promote, promote! Get the word out about your show.
- And most importantly, have fun! It’s the Edinburgh Fringe, after all. It’s supposed to be a bit crazy.
That was my journey, hope it helps!
