Catching a Show
Sometimes you're able to grab cheap comedy tickets during the Edinburgh Fringe as there are plenty of two-for-the-price-of-one deals on. What that genuinely means is that when you utilize a two-for-the-price-of-one promotion, it costs you the identical price to see a show as it would at any other time of the year, as during the Fringe all the ticket prices double. I'll take open-mic night at my local stand-up venue any day.
A main reason that people offer for going to the Fringe is that you can see the big-name comics, and have the opportunity to see the up and coming acts in comedy at an early stage. My personal experience is somewhat different. The most renowned comedians' shows invariably sell out prior to the time when you've actually heard they're performing, so you are no more able to catch them doing their act in relation to any other time of the year.
Furthermore the point that you can get to see the next big things being discovered: in all honesty, I guess it is conceivable, however you're probably going to witness someone who has 10 minutes of pretty entertaining jokes, and 30 mins of rubbish.
However, they got a great write-up because the reviewer only had time to stay for the first ten minutes.
Lots of people are of the opinion the perfect opportunity to go and see stand up comedy in Scotland's capital is in the Festival every year. I'm one of those who disagree with that logic. Experience the fringe by all means, but expand your horizons. Often the warm-up acts elsewhere will be more amusing.
What are the explanations that people offer to support their statement that the ideal time to see comedy in Edinburgh is during the Festival? One reason is the number of gigs that are on. Instead of the typical selection of comedy shows, there are loads in the Fringe. However my argument is that volume doesn't always imply great material. Over the years I have attended hundreds of stand up comedy gigs during the Fringe, and many of those were hopeless.
I have walked out of a number of performances after being there for nearly 30 mins without even feeling the need to crack a smile, never mind roar with laughter. Merely due to the fact that a stand-up show is part of the Festival doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be entertaining. I go to tons of stand-up events in all seasons, and from my standpoint there are far less really terrible gigs on the rest of the year.