Fringe Flyerers have a hard job, they really do! Even if they do make an effort to connect, keep smiling, be gracious – that does not correlate at all to bums on seats! And all those variables to consider, maybe flyering closer or further away from the venue? How long before the start? Does that matter if the show is on every day? Does caring about these things make any different to the numbers? Probably not, unless no-one’s turned up to see the show for days, then the easy option would be to blame the flyerer (For what? Human fickleness?) fire them and get another one.

And where has this new found respect come from, Brucie? From trying my hoof at it the last couple of days, that’s where! Speaking to a fringe chum their show wasn’t getting many in, one possible solution was more flyering, but flyerers cost and they haven’t had enough bums to seats to pay for one, catch 22. As I have wondered just how good I would be at it, here was the perfect opportunity to help a friend and try something new, step out of my comfort zone. They couldn’t hand me a stack of flyers quick enough!

OMG!! It is so draining! Flyerers of the Fringe you have my sympathies, apart from the ones who don’t give a monkeys, though I can see that’s an easy coping option if you’re able to not give a shit (it’s not in my dna not to care). But, hey, it is fun work too (wouldn’t be in the rain, though, I dont think), of course, I’ve never minded being flyered unlike many who mump and grump about it, see Flyerers are our Friends from back in 2019.

《EDIT those late ten minutes flyering before the show starts – they’re kinda like the last ten minutes of a car boot sale. It’s nearly done, you’re knackered, others are already packing up, or even packed up and sitting waiting to go, but you want to keep going ’cause just maybe there’ll be another along any second. Yes, I’m that car booter packing up as others tear off home. Avoidance techniques deployed by passers-by can be funny, not quite so much after an hour or so; there’s intently staring at your phone, intently looking at something in the distance, suddenly realising how utter fascinating the pavement is, slowing so that you can then zoom past as the person in front is targeted. I would love to hear from flyerers about their best, worst, funniest experiences!》

So folks, if you’re visiting the Edinburgh Fringe, or any other Fringe around the world, please be kind to flyerers, connect, smile, be gracious when declining. You never know if that flyer will lead you to seeing something truly brilliant!

G’night!