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The media blitz of this week meant that I was on quite a few TV and radio shows this week. Some of them saying I'd boycotted the Fringe (again not true, I am just not going this year) and one quoting me on Twitter as saying that I was staying in London because Edinburgh was too expensive and overcrowded, which a few people thought was ironic. But at this time of year Edinburgh is more expensive than London (especially if you have to pay for a flat) and is certainly more over crowded with comedians. In fact if a meteor hits Edinburgh tomorrow then it will be great news for my career. A lot of panel show spots will be opening up. So fingers crossed.
A couple of Edinburgh folk emailed me to offer me free accommodation (with guaranteed toilet brush) next year, which was very generous and much appreciated. But as lovely as that is I wouldn't feel comfortable depriving them of income and in any case I am not really interested in sorting out this issue solely for myself. Though last year's loss was huge I could afford it (just) and it's paid off this month as I've just had a tax rebate due to my comparative lack of earnings last year. And it's hard not to see that as a victory. Even though it clearly isn't, it feels like free money!
It's genuinely lovely that people are sad enough about me not being at the Fringe to offer me a room in their house (or on one case, an entire flat), but when I am at the Fringe I need my own space (and I don't think you'd really enjoy having me and my family under your feet for a month) and be able to slob out, shout at the moon and cry, and I'd like to pay a fair amount for that.
And my decision to not come to the Fringe is based on a lot of factors, and the toilet brush and the flat was the straw that broke the camel's back, not the main reason.
It's interesting that I have certainly had a lot more press attention for not going to the Fringe than I would have done if I'd gone. Although that's clearly a one-off deal. I feel I have made the right decision (though maybe the other decision to do 12 shows, including a new one was a bit stupid of me).
The basic logic of the decision was that at my stage in my career, the Fringe is not the right place seems to be correct. I can do my mainly ignored shows anywhere and there's no point in gambling money on the hope of raising my profile or getting reviews or winning awards, because none of that stuff is going to happen now. And that is also true of a lot of the acts who are still going. If you're going to get better at what you're doing or to be part of the greatest arts festival in the world then those are great reasons to still be a part of it. But I've been up for those reasons a lot of times. And I don't want to go up for those reasons for the moment.
And so far I am not missing it. It's vaguely amusing to see my friends tweeting about their shows and to realise how much of a bubble they are in (and by extension that I have been in in previous years). It all seems ridiculous from outside, but I know how serious it appears from the inside. Obviously everyone is hoping they can convince people to come and see them (just as I am clearly hoping I can convince people to come and see my Leicester Square Theatre shows, though I don't have the same intense competition of 800 similar shows or the fear that I might lose loads of money), but some are more successful at it than others. Some Twitter feeds are just constant tweets and RTs of praise and reviews and whilst I understand the reasoning and think a bit of that is justified during the Fringe, you are preaching to the converted and it becomes wearing - at least put in a few actual gags or videos that show what you can do. Some feeds are full of whinging, desperation and complaints (and again, I can identify with that), which is fine if you're joking and people understand that you're joking, but also seems off-putting (last year in particular I was more than guilty of this - it isn't going to help, though I do at least respect the honesty), a few are bragging and (though this is rarer now because people realise it makes you look dickish) about how you personally have smashed the gig (and yup, I've done that too - it's hard not to in the euphoria of a good show) but be sparing with these or you just look deluded, like you think that every gig you do is amazing. Having said that a lot of very successful comedians do seem to think they do a brilliant gig every time (check out Peter Kay's autobiographies) and maybe that self-belief ultimately convinces everyone else too. Michael Legge is doing a good thing with his social media which is to try and choose a show a day to encourage people to go to in the hope of selling it out. Check out #sellthisgigout on Twitter and go to their facebook page. All the shows should be good as they are the choice of comedians in the know.
Obviously he's only doing that so that people will think he's nice and like they owe him so that he will also sell his own gig out, though today he tweeted that he'd sold no tickets at all and so it seemed his crafty trick had failed. I imagined him crying alone on stage as the acts that he had helped sell out their gigs partied and shouted in the street outside. But to be fair that just made him more of a comedy Messiah and it turned out he'd been mistaken (or was lying) and loads of people showed up anyway.
Anyway in spite of writing a whole blog about the Fringe I am not missing it or making an attempt to justify my absence. Honestly. Even with tube strikes and struggling to get home from tonight's gig with bus stops crammed with people at 11.30 and no prospect of enough buses to come to cope with the demand (luckily I spotted a cab and escaped the madness).
If you felt the need to read more about my 12 shows - here's this week's Metro column.
Cambridge Junction has now been added to the Happy Now? tour. See all the dates here.
