Performing at the fringe too much?

After 23 days of the festival, someone this morning woke up, and cried. They did not do so out of a great sadness or tragic event, but they shed their tears for fatigue.

Is it really worth it, is the question I ask?

Finding Sponsorship – from an insurance company?

In the run up to the Edinburgh festival, this site will once again become more and more active. Edinburgh is expensive, and the companies who visit rarely make a profit. That is not to say that some people don't make a profit, far from it! Some of the big shows make a real killing at the festival, coming away with large sums of money indeed! However, many of the shows – especially the small shows – go in knowing full well that they will come away several thousand pounds less well off than before. So how can you get around this?

One way is by sponsorship. Gaining sponsorship is a great way to fund your trip. You can advertise them, put their logo on the 10,000 leaflets you print off… it can work out rather well for them! A company I just spoke to is being sponsored by a horse insurance firm. Their show has little to do with horses, or infact anything equine, but it just goes to show that getting money is possible.

The one bit of advice they gave was don't ask for too little. People are more likely if you ask for more money than less, especially the bigger companies.

Good luck!

Festival time is looming... but is it worth seeing preview performances?

The Edinburgh festival is looming, and companies, comedians are already well into the midst of their preparations for the coming August month of mayhem and madness. Scripts are being rewritten, set is being built, graphics are being sent to large format printing companies for posters, billboards and banner stands. I myself have already seen several “fringe previews” of people testing out material, trying out their latest sketches and jokes, and seeing if their work is actually any good.

The strange thing is though, that companys whom I know that by the time they reach Edinburgh will be part of what are probably going to be exciting and busy shows, in the early stages seem to produce shows that really aren’t up to scratch. I saw a performance of something last week (and I’m not going to mention the specific show because I actually think that like previous years, by the time they get to the festival they will be superb). The show at this stage though was really quite poor – in fact let me be completely honest and say that they were awful! They were really quite bad! Yet I’m sure that by the time August comes around they will be excellent. So what is it that makes this change occur?

I think that it may just be preparation. When they land at the festival, they will have 25 straight shows to do, and they really do want to be good. By putting the word “preview” on the front of their shows before hand, it somehow takes away the pressure that it is a show in front of a paying audience and makes it seem more like a practice run. Now yes, if you go and see a preview it is clear that it is exactly that – one of the first showings. But let’s remember here – if you are charging the audience they are paying customers and they should receive something that has been rehearsed to a reasonable standard. Yes changes in the script/action/jokes are probably still being made, but please at least have prepared for it properly. Unfortunately I am not sure this is the case.

As a supporter of the fringe festival, I’m probably not helping the cause by saying this, but think carefully before going to see a “preview” show. If you are planning to visit the festival, you may find yourself better off waiting till everything has been brought up to speed before paying out.

In other news, I've just finished work on the Red Diesel page.

Improv Comedy

This month at the London Impro Jam, one of the most exciting improvisation troupes has been invited to perform. Grand Theft Impro have been pushing at the boundaries of improvised comedy for years. Now, in combination with the London Impro Jam’s format they are about to go where they have never stepped before.
They will begin with their usual level of entertainment, performing skits, sketches, and singing songs for our delight and amusement. They have a reputation for being amongst the most creative troops in London. Amungst there group are Alan Marriott and Phil Whelans. Phil used to be on Brasseye and Alan is a former teacher of Eddie Izzard, so I am most interested to see what work they produce tonight.
Despite all this talent, tickets remain at only £5 a head. How is it possible that they can do this? Well Grand Theft are brought in by the Impro Jam who cover all the costs. The Imprr Jam are lucky enough to have gained corporate sponsorship from a blepharoplasty Birmingham company. On top of this, the set and lights were paid for by a weight loss clinic that saw the show and decided they liked it. With support from companies like this, the London Impro Jam has been put into a position to get in talented troupes such as Grand Theft.
The show tonight takes place at a pub called The Miller, better known for its live music than its impro comedy. However tonight’s performance promises to begin changing the reputation of the venue it is being held in.

For more information about show’s, you can go to the website here: Improv comedy. Alternativly their friends include the crunchy frog collective and the spontinaety shop.

London Impro Jam - Comdedy Improvisation with a difference!

I've seen a lot of improvisation over the years at the edinburgh festival. I've always enjoyed shouting out suggestions and watching the improvisers struggle to find a way to make them work! Sometimes, the best moments were when they fail! This is a show with a difference.
The London Impro Jam alow the audience to not only shout suggestions, but actually come up on stage and give it a go themselves! Anyone who fancies a go can put their name in a hat, and if their name is drawn out of the hat they are called up on stage to do a scene with the troupe. This sounds like a recipie for disaster? Not so!

The improvisers on stage spend their time making sure that the audience member looks good, there is an MC who is on hand so that at any point they can step in to help. More than that, 2 directors sit and guide the performance. If at anytime the audience member doesn't know what to say, they can look at the directers and say in an anoyed voice, "Line!" like it is the directors fault!

I think that this is a wonderful show, with some fantastic performers on stage. They do not lie when they brand themselves "The Karaoke of Comedy"

Impro Jam have monthly performances in London, details to be found on their website:
The London Improvisation Troupe

5 Stars

28th March 2008 - 7:30pm
The Miller Pub - London Bridge, London
£5 a ticket.

The Dybbuk - Kings Head Theatre

When we think of Jewish culture, we think of the holocaust. What we have here is a director that has chosen to try and challenge that view not by wasting words walking about it - but instead by giving us a wonderful piece of jewish folklore. With strong story telling and a solid cast this is well worth a look in. David Meyer (whom some may remember as one of the knife throwing twins from Octopusy all those years ago) dominated the 2nd half completely with his mastery of both the stage and the story. If you are looking for a good performance, you don't need to go on a treasure hunt to find it. It awaits you at the Kings Head. I must put in a special mention for Thomas Morrison - for his role as the befuddled suitor. He only has but a few lines in the entire piece to establish the character, but establish it he does - and with such skill. We really feel such empathy for the poor boy after very little time.



A rare oportunity to see be given a jewish story.

4 Stars

7:30pm - Tickets £10 - £20
Kings Head
115 Upper Street
Islington
London N1 1QN
020 7226 1916