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!

6 Steps To Success From The “Award Winning” Dave Chawner

Location:   Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – The Loft (Venue 170)

Dates: Aug 1st-25th

Time: 18:15

Price: Free

Ticket Link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/6-steps-to-success-from-the-award-winning-dave-chawner

Hello! Tell us about yourself? 

A nice, easy question to start off with , then!? I think I could be best easily summed up ‘as someone who’s trying their best’…which, now that I’ve written it down, is the most tragic sentence I’ve ever seen in my life! But, that’s what this show is about, trying to get better but realising you’ll never be perfect. I’m a cynic who’s trying to find the right balance. 

Tell us all about your show!

Last year I won an award who’s title felt like a back-handed compliment. It was ‘The Best Ongoing Comedian Of The Year’. I couldn’t help that felt more like an attendance award, rather than a comedy accolade. That led me to thinking about my career and what I am doing with my life…so, y’know, I took it well! I’m a cynical person, and I think cynicism is useful, but I worry I’ve become too cynical. But, what is too cynical? 

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

If I’m honest it was my director’s idea – Steve Bennett (from ‘Chortle’ fame). He directed my show a couple of years ago and I loved working with him. I wanted to call the show ‘securely insecure’ and he rightly said it sounded rubbish!

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

Whenever I go to The Fringe I like going and seeing more unique shows that are slightly different to club comedy. Last year Phil Ellis’ show was my favourite, it was utter Ellis-madness. I love seeing Matt Ewins, but I don’t think you can plan too much on what you want to see as part of the fun is finding shows when you’re up there. 

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. 

This will be my 12th year up there and my 7th solo show. My biggest piece of advice would be ‘don’t listen to me’. Every year I go up with all these big ideas and rules for myself and every year about 5 days in I realise I was an idiot for what I’d been thinking. The Fringe is like school prom – you can spend all your time planning for it, but at the end of the day all that’ll go out the window (and you’ll probably end it drunk, crying yet still saying it was amazing!). 

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

Asking what your ‘routine’ is at The Fringe is a bit like asking a cat “what’s the meaning of life?” – it’s pointless. There is no routine in Edinburgh in August – one moment you’re getting a coffee, next you’re rushing to a gig while trying to dodge 2 Swedish jugglers who’ve got into an argument on The Royal Mile (genuinely happened once). 

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

This is a tricky one – I want to say ‘throw yourself into it’. However, it depends how long you’re up there. If it’s a couple of days go hard and then go home, however, if you’re up there for the full run, then I think trying to find a bit of balance is really vital. 

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

Let Me Eat is a brilliant sandwich shop down on Cowgate with great vegan options. The only downside is that if you want to get a seat there’s a certain amount of eye-gouging and fish-hooking that needs to happen. It’s every person for themselves in that place at lunch on a Saturday

Best thing about performing at the fringe?

I remember the first time I ever went to The Fringe and I couldn’t believe it. The whole thing felt like Glasto (not that I’ve been, but how I imagined it!) without the camping, and comedy instead of music. Back then the idea of being a part of it felt so unachievable. Doing comedy can be incredibly lonely. Most of my time, I’m spent at home, in my pants, wondering what I’ve done with my life. But, I remember being at The Edinburgh Comedy Awards and looking around and knowing so many people, and John Robins gave his speech about how we were a community, and in a schmaltzy, Richard Curtis/Love Actually way, in that moment, it really felt like you were part of something…what a cringe answer!

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

A cattle prod, air horn and an entourage of bouncers is the only way to get to shows on time

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

Waterproof, water bottle and your flyers

What’s the secret to successful flyering? 

Hire a good flyerer. 

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

I’ll be honest I’m bad on social media. I know I need to get better, but it feels a bit like becoming an uber driver rather than a comedian. I’m on Twitter @DaveChawner and my YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/c/DaveChawner just don’t expect much, OK?

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

 You want to!