Best time to go to Edinburgh Fringe?

[stroberaver]

Hi guys

A group of photography-minded friends & I are planning a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe this year, just to soak up the atmosphere and shoot the street performers and carnival-style proceedings.

However we've had differing opinions as to what the best time to go is - last (bank holiday) weekend for the finale or is it just too busy? Another weekend for a better balance of activity and crowds?

I wasn't sure where to ask, but figured a UK-centric board would be the place, plus if my memory serves me correctly, DK himself is from the Borders so may have some insight!

Many thanks

[David Kilpatrick]

You will find accommodation difficult, so book now - not later. Don't even leave it another week. If you can book one of the hotels in our around the Grassmarket or Castle Hill area, this is an ideal base for the street performers and also the artists generally, and gives rapid access to Princes Street Gardens. About one week into the Fringe is good, but the final week (last week of August) means Scottish schools have gone back (Tuesday August 24th) and that takes a load of pressure off hotels and general weekday activity.

The Fringe is not the Festival! It ends, usually, one week before the Festival ends - and the fireworks spectacular marks the ends of the Festival, not the Fringe. Most street performers and more colourful acts start right at the beginning of the Fringe. They have to pay to be there; this is the one festival you can be 'booked' for but have to pay many hundreds up front for your slot. I'm lucky, in that I have actually done three Fringe gigs as a guitarist/singer a few years ago when an Edinburgh promoter secured funding to buy the venue space at Whistlebinkies and just book whoever he liked. Even got paid.

I've helped one Canadian novelty act, and he was a clever guy - he was sold a lousy spot (the midnight act in the Caledonian Hotel Velvet Bar) which only got audiences of two or three, and would have lost all his £2000 investment. He kicked up a stink with the agency that allocates the spots, got out into the street, wrote a song, got himself on TV and was shifted to a prime slot - but still only broke even, paying for his trip. Big names of course don't have this issue, the promoters get the prime locations and times, and they fund it all knowing there will be a profit even with the artist fees.

Most clubs try to stop professional photography, some outdoor performers will do the same. You can't always work with a long lens, people will get in the way; you can't always work with a short lens, the performer will spot you and that's another 50p or £1 into someone's hat. A fast zoom like 24-70mm on APS-C is about the optimum. Having said that, in Edinburgh you need all the range from ultrawide to long tele, the streets vary so much in the way they are best handled.

You won't see me around, I never even try to go into Edinburgh centre during the Fringe unless a friend is performing. Parking is so difficult, and with the tramway roadworks, driving into the city is not recommended. Far better by public transport.

David

[stroberaver]

Wow, thanks David, that's most helpful.

It wasn't until I started researching things for this trip that I realised there were so many different festivals in Edinburgh during August. I don't think we'll be actually going to gigs and venues as such, just taking in the sights and the street performers. Planning on taking the train up from Newcastle and hopefully stopping overnight. I think we'll reconsider the timings then if most of the stuff to photograph happens at the start of the Fringe. Maybe go at the start rather than at the final bank holiday weekend!

Thanks again.