One Is Not Amused
The majority of people are of the opinion that the optimal time to go and see stand up comedy in Scotland's capital is during the Fringe each August. I'm one of those who doesn't agree with this logic. Enjoy the Festival whenever you've got the opportunity, but see beyond it as well.
Sometimes the warm-up comedians elsewhere will be more amusing.
Which are the reasons that folk provide to back up their argument that the perfect opportunity to witness comedy in Scotland's capital is during the Festival? One argument is the quantity of performances which are happening.
Instead of the standard selection of standup performances, there are hundreds in the Fringe. However my belief is that volume does not necessarily mean quality. Over the years I have been to scores of stand up comedy events during the Festival, and most of them were terrible.
I have walked out of several gigs after listening for roughly 25 minutes without even getting the urge to crack a smile, far less guffaw.
Simply due to the fact that a standup performance is part of the Festival doesn't mean it's likely to be hilarious. I go to tons of comedy performances throughout the year, and from my standpoint there are way less truly terrible performances being staged at other times of the year.
A prime argument that folk give for going to the Fringe is that you are able to watch the most renowned stand ups, and can watch the rising stars in comedy make their names.
My personal experience is somewhat different. The best known stand-ups' performances frequently sell out before you have even found out they are performing, therefore you are less likely to catch them doing their act in relation to months other than August.
Furthermore the belief that you'll have the opportunity to witness the rising stars being discovered: in truth, I guess it is feasible, but you are more likely to watch somebody that has 20 minutes of quite comical jokes, and 35 mins of filler. None the less, they got a fantastic review due to the fact that the journalist only had time to watch the start of the show.
Once in a while you are able to acquire cut-price comedy tickets in the Edinburgh Festival because there are tons of 2-for-1 promotions happening. What that actually means is that when you utilize a buy-one-get-one-free promotion, it costs you the same amount to see a gig as it does normally, because during the Festival all of the ticket prices increase two times.
I'll go for open mic evening in my local comedy venue any day.