Compering the First Twitter Fringe Comedy Gig

I suspect some of my Fringe adventures will be written up a fair few days afte the Fringe finishes, but lets pop this one in just now. Last Friday I was invited to the Twinge party, put together by a number of people using online tools (such as Twitter) around the Fringe. But it wasn’t just a normal invitation – they had a plan for me.

Performers at the Twinge Party used the social networking site, Twitter, to entertain the sell-out crowd in Appleton Tower. Their jokes were shown on a huge screen, as well as being broadcast to audiences around the world. Organisers said it was the UK’s first live comedy show using Twitter. As well as having to type, rather than speak, they were also restricted by the 140-character limit for each one-liner.

This is the second Twittered comedy gig; unlike the first one run in June, all the performers would be together in the venue, with an audience both local and worldwide. That meant they needed a traditional Compere who would handle both crowds.

In a moment of “I wonder what they were thinking” they chose me.

Ewen Spence, the compere, was in charge of introducing acts in the traditional way, as well as tweeting on screen. He said: “The Fringe is a great place to try new things and push the boundaries. It’s all about using a different format to its advantages. It’s also bringing a taste of the Fringe to people all around the world.”

Have to say it was great fun, and would be more than happy to do it again. There’s a certain amount of planning needed because of the nature of Twitter, but the role of any stand-up is to adapt to the circumstances; which all the acts and (I hope) myself managed!

More reporting on the event at the Edinburgh Evening News.