Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2009 Tourist Guide
Holiday in Scotland and Get The Best of The Fest
Jun 3, 2009
The first lesson a Festival-goer learns is that it's impossible to see everything they want to. They will miss real gems and sit through some duds. Encountering dodgy drama is all part of the Fringe experience and simply deciding from the outset to go with the flow is the key to having a great time.
Luckily, there is every chance of stumbling across a secret treasure and the Fringe is packed with those too.
Festival News and Reviews
Working out what to see can be confusing. The newspapers run pages and pages of reviews and there are posters everywhere and performers stuffing flyers into people's hands. It is possible to spend the entire time reading reviews and miss what is going on all around.
So, here's how to do the Fringe like a seasoned pro. Put down the newspapers, get off the mobile phone and head for the Pleasance Courtyard. Think of this as base camp.
If there is a large gang of people to co-ordinate, arrange to see them here, in between shows. This way a few people can go off to a venue, while others eat, drink, work out what to see next and catch up with one another every few hours.
The Fringe Daily Listings Guides
The most effective way to plan the day is with an hour-by-hour guide. These are produced daily and can be picked up at any of the main Fringe points and box offices. Most years The Guardian newspaper prints its own and it is an excellent, accurate resource.
Organised Festival-goers work out what time they want to see something, then look at the possible choices using the hour-by-hour guide.
Only then do they refer to the reviews, posters and flyers to make a decision. The official Fringe program gives more information and also the venue number and a phone number. It's a good idea before moving from base camp to phone and reserve tickets then pick them up en route at the box office or the venue.
How to Pick a Top Rated Show in Edinburgh
Great shows create a buzz at the Fringe, so top tips come from talking to fellow Festival-goers at the bar or in the hot-dog queue.
It's smart to look at the review boards at the main venues because only the good write-ups get displayed. They show at a glance what's hot and can save hours wading through newspapers - which of course, only have that day's reviews anyway.
Sold Out Shows at the Festival Fringe
Festival-goers should not despair if a show they want to see is sold out - there are 2,079 others to choose from. And past success does not guarantee present performance. Many stars have cut their teeth at the Fringe, including Monty Python, Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson, Steve Coogan and Dylan Moran.
So while one person is seeing a household name in a big arena, another is watching the Next Big Thing making their debut - which is a much more rewarding experience.
Fringe Ticket Prices and Venues
A hefty price tag and a fancy venue does not guarantee quality. The larger venues can feel soulless and too much expectation is placed on more famous performers. Small, intimate venues have a magic about them, especially for comedy, because of the connection between performer and audience.
Anything can happen when the audience outnumbers the act by only five to one - and that is really what the Fringe is all about.
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