OK, now I discover that it was cheap tickets for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and two for the price of one today and tomorrow, so it's little surprise that Saturday's numbers were down. People are not going to pay full whack just to see an evening show on a Saturday when they know they can get it cheaper on the days either side. So I got about 140 in today (which even if it is only 70 paying is still better than the Saturday audience). I dream of the day when I can just sell out in Edinburgh in advance. That would be about the height of my professional ambition.
The show was OK and only three minutes over, but I've managed to get ill already. It wasn't until I arrived at the venue that I realised how fucked my voice is. This is a usual occurrence, caused by the shouting you have to do in the smoky clubs and pubs of late night Edinburgh, whilst gargling alcohol. I've only really got drunk on one night (and not all that drunk), but it's been enough in my current fragile state to both hurt my throat and affect one of my ears with mild ringing. Man it's great getting old. Ten years ago it took me at least a week to get to this stage! At this rate I should have had a stroke by week two. But hey, I won't cancel the show. I'm a professional.
Despite this the show was fine, though I was a little uninspired due to my pain. Hopefully it will get better.
Had had the Edinburgh blues a little during the day, so sat in my room playing Civilisation instead of doing the last bit of work on my show. I snapped out of it by the night-time. Much as I like to think I am old and wise enough to deal with the slings and arrows of this mainly wonderful festival, it only takes a smallish crowd to get me down. God knows what I'll feel like when I get a bad review!
