Does anyone know when the festival is this year?
I'm hoping to go for the first time but not really sure how things work? Do you book tickets before for the shows or do you book a package beforehand or something?
Edinburgh Comedy Festival
Robin Innncccee!
Cute.
Isn't it every August, for the whole month? Aside from that, no idea how it works. I have a feeling it's just turn up and hope, but really not a clue.
August. Most definitely.
When I went, we were able to see a lot of people just by turning up and getting the tickets a few minutes before, but to avoid disappointment, I would get tickets in advance for the really popular acts because they're usually sold out. However, sometimes it doesn't matter - we missed out on Josie Long but we saw Jon Richardson instead, etc.
If you don't want to be all spontaneous, slightly prepare for who you want to see and where you need to head to as well, i.e., The Stand is a small distance away from The Udderbelly and Gilded Balloon and likewise, so is the Pleasance.
Do you know when they release the info? Is there somewhere you can sign up for updates or something?
I think you sign up to somewhere and get sent the schedule.
A mate of mine went, back when the stage version of Garth Merenghi's Darkplace won the big prize.
Here is the fringe website address, http://www.edfringe.com/ my recommendation is GO! GO! GO! You may well regret not doing it sooner, but then again you may not! 
It would be wise to try and book your accommodation as early as possible, prices completely sky-rocket from April onwards and getting digs becomes near-on impossible.
In addition to all the major hotels, there are dozens of reasonably priced studio/apartments and cheap hostels available in the city and a campsite called Morton Hall http://www.meadowhead.co.uk/MortonhallHome.aspx is a bus-ride away, and has wooden chalets, caravans and tent pitches available as well as lots of amenities for the whole family or just yourself! Again, book early to avoid disappointment and being ripped off.
There was a terrible mess made implementing a new ticket booking system this year, resulting in the resignation of one of the Fringe bigwigs in September, but in other years you could indeed book online and bag the tickets you require a long time in advance. A catalogue is printed every year around June which costs about £1 and gives you a rundown of absolutely every single listed event during the month of August, from comedy to theatre.
There is just so much going on up there, it has the best atmosphere of any type of festival I have been to, with all manner of street performers attracting crowds in their thousands on the Royal Mile and Princes Street and comedy to suit all tastes and pockets being offered in every single nook and cranny of the city from dawn til dusk and beyond!
We tried the haunted tour of 'Auld Reekie' last year, which saw a party of about 40 of us running round the streets adjacent to the Royal Mile at 11pm taking in infamous landmarks before a visit to some haunted dungeons where the atmosphere just wasn't right! A top class night.
The only drawback to the whole adventure could lie in whether you travel by train, just try to find a damn seat whereby you are not going to be asked to move halfway through your journey by a person or persons that appear to stand for everything you hate and detest about mankind, and who just happen to be the designated user of said seat, but that is indeed another story for another time!
Might see you there???
Can ANYONE really perform at the festival?
If you have enough money to put on the show, rent the venue... I think so?
Quote: catskillz @ December 30 2008, 11:53 PM GMTCan ANYONE really perform at the festival?
That is affirmative! My mates performed as part of the Free Fringe under the umbrella of MUCK (Merseyside Uncut Comedy Kollective - http://muckcomedy.com/ ) COMEDY and there are loads of open mic outlets for absolutely anybody who feels brave enough to pit their comedic boney wits against largely welcoming audiences, but don't quote me on that - the largely welcoming audiences I meant!
Last year, the Eddies panel afforded everybody who had performed during the festival a joint award, not bad for the old CV to say you were up there with the likes of Rhod Gilbert, Russell Howard, Brendon Burns, Sarah Millican etc! 
Oh, you're from Merseyside? So am I. I noticed on your site, you've performed at The Zanzibar. I DJ'd there, a few years back. I didn't know they had comedy nights as well.
Hi Catskillz,
yeah MUCK have got everywhere! They started out as a merry gang of chaps who graduated from the 'Funny Business' course run by the Rawhide Comedy Club about 3 years ago and things have ballooned from there, culminating in their now regular slots at the PBH maintained Edinburgh Free Fringe (keeping things on topic!)
I know the Rawhide Club. I went to a few shows there, back in the 1990s, when it was at the Everyman Theatre. I think I saw a young Bill Bailey there, in 1996, when he was supporting Donna McPhail. It was obvious he was destined for greatness, even back then. Does Terry Titter still compere the night? He plays Count Arthur Strong's son/nephew, on the radio, doesn't he?
Perhaps we should put together a BSG troupe for the festival! We must have enouh sketches to perform!