It is festival season and that means that in the next month there is so many great comedy festivals to look forward to! This month we are looking at some of the great shows that you can see at the Edinburgh Fringe. So take note because we are going to give you all the information you need for just a handful of some of the great shows happening this year!

Ollie Horn: Comedy for Toxic People (and Their Friends)

Location:   Hoots @ Potterrow – Big Yurt (Venue 243)

Dates: Aug 2nd-4th, 6th-11th, 13th-18th, 20th-25th

Time: 21:00

Price: £12.50 Concessions £6.50

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ollie-horn-comedy-for-toxic-people-and-their-friends

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

Hello! My name is Ollie Horn, and at school I was one of the last to get a tamagotchi, just days before they were banned because they would cause a disturbance by beeping in our drawers. My mum took it to work with her to keep it alive. 

As fluent Japanese speaker, I’m excited to let you know that tamagotchi is a portmanteau of ‘tamago’ (egg) and ‘tomodachi (friend). As a fluent French speaker, I’m excited to let you know that portmanteau is an old French word for a suitcase. 

Tell us all about your show!

Okay. My show is called Ollie Horn: Comedy for Toxic People (and their friends), and it’s an excuse for me to surface the most depraved, ugly, and toxic parts of my personality in order to make people laugh. I’m 32 years old and don’t have a wife, and I wonder whether I need to use toxic techniques to get one. This show’s about that. 

How did you come up with the name of your show that you’re taking to the fringe?

I don’t want people without a sense of humour to come, so by expressly saying that it’s for toxic people, it’s harder for them to complain when the contents of the show are toxic. Doesn’t mean that some people haven’t tried during previews, though!

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at the fringe?

My production company RGB Monster is producing six acts this year. Chanel Ali, Jack Holmes, Matt Davis, Kavin Jay, and André de Freitas. All of them are prolific comics abroad, but haven’t yet made it big in the UK. I picked them all because they offer something not currently available at the Fringe, and I recommend them if you’re looking for something a bit different. 

Have you done the fringe before? What are the key pieces of advice you have been given or would give to new groups or people performing at the fringe. 

Yes. My advice, especially in your first few years when you won’t be earning money, is to treat it like going to one of the concession stands at Disneyland. Yes it’s an insult that they charge €9 for a turkey leg, but your day isn’t made any better to complain about that while you’re there. The rules of the game are more or less set, so learn them well and enjoy the ride. 

Talk us through your daily routine for a day at the Fringe

In the first week I’ll have a slightly mad schedule. I’ll be doing my kids show Kids Can Heckle every day at 11:15am, and will then gig more or less every other hour until I host the 11pm Live at the Big Caves show at Just the Tonic, until well into the wee hours. After the first week my schedule is a little more chill, and I play to lie in until 3:30pm, which is my call time for Not My Audience, the panel show I host every day at Laughing Horse @ 32 Below.

Performing a lot is quite draining, and I feel the need to be ‘on’ when I bump into other acts or fans. So I tend to drink coffee and sit with my thoughts in out of the way locations. Hotel lobbies are generally good for this. 

What is the best way to enjoy yourself at the fringe?

Remember that you’re living your actual dream. And stand-up can get quite lonely when you’re on tour, and the festivals are the only time of year that feels like you’re on campus with a bunch of your mates. 

Ok, where is your favourite place to eat at the Fringe? 

I think wings is always a really good bet during the festival. I found myself getting a sandwich at Let Me Eat most days too. 

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

Going back every year and it serves as a reminder of both how far you’ve come in entertainment, and how far you have to go. 

Top tips for travelling around the Fringe and getting to shows on time?

I’m fascinated to find out how other acts have approached answering this question. 

What would be your top three items every performer must take to the fringe?

Loft Bar pass, Brookes Bar pass, Abattoir Bar pass. Without this triad of industry approval you’re nothing at this festival and you should quit. 

what’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Go in with the attitude that you’re helping people solve a problem (find a great show) rather than persuading them to do something they won’t want to do. 

If people want to find out more about you where can they follow you on social media?

I put a bunch of comedy clips on my instagram @olliehorncomedy. I’ve got enough ugly followers so just bear that in mind. 

And Finally in three words – Why should people come and see the show? 

We will kiss.