Mark Smith provides perhaps the most succinct answer to our 'what is your show about?' question yet.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

Ok, this shouldn't take long. My 'career' basically started by doing a gig at Leeds University as part of the Chortle Student competition in 2009. It wasn't great but it was enough to continue. Since then I've done hundreds and hundreds of gigs, done some TV, written for others on TV and written two solo shows.

I think I'm reasonably ok with where I am at the moment, although I don't think anyone is really happy with where they are, so I guess I'm about par.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

Logflume is a stand-up comedy show where I do all my best new stuff and then the audience leaves, followed by me.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

I want and need to get better at stand-up. Edinburgh is a really intense month but no matter what happens you always come out better than when you went in. Plus it's the only time of the year where all my friends in comedy are together in the same place. So that makes up for the stressful side of things.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

By starting a promotion where I give away £50,000 to the millionth customer.

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

My show is free this year so there is an optional donation into a bucket at the end. So basically I will lose the price of a bucket.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

I was part of a sketch group a few years ago and on the 4th day of the festival I had to go to hospital with heart trouble brought on my quite a heavy first few days. I called one of the members of the group to tell them I might not be able to make it to the show and it turned out he was in hospital as well, for gangrene in his leg after falling off a trampoline and not getting the cut sorted. And we didn't win the spirit of the fringe award. What bullshit.

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

So many. Rhys James, Adam Hess, Phil Wang, James Acaster, Jack Barry, Lolly Adefope, Ian Stirling, Sheeps, John Robbins.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Burr, Hannibal Buress, Jerrod Carmichael, Mitch Hedberg. Then the second half would be British, so Tony Hancock, Russ Abbot, Peter Cook, Tommy Cooper, Steve Coogan. A nice mix of American and British, old and new.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

The guy that gave me food poisoning 3 years ago. I can still taste it sometimes.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

Because it's the best stand-up show I've written and I'm proud of it and I'm proud of you.

'Mark Smith: Log Flume' is at 6pm at Cowgatehead on 8-18, 20-25, 27-29 August. Listing