"Yes And" The Fringe #CSZED2015

Hello from Edinburgh! We've already had one show and a great crowd and plenty more shows and slots lined up. The Fringe is a great opportunity to meet old friends, make new ones and have fun with audiences who have travelled from all over the world (though admittedly, not just to see us). For audiences it's a busy, hectic, vibrant place to see loads of great shows. Here's a few thoughts on how you can use the skills of improvisation to make the most of your fringe.

Audiences: Take risks.

The main principal of improvisation is “Yes, And”, the notion that you accept what is being offered to you (in Edinburgh terms this can mean something as simple as taking a flyer from a flagging, rain soaked act) and then building on it (again, in Edinburgh terms this means coming to a show and having fun). In Improv you're never sure what is going to happen. You take risks and you end up in places you never expected. Here's a terrible metaphor, the Fringe is the worlds largest all you can eat buffet so don't just have the chips!

If you're up in Edinburgh then say yes more (unless you're being offered something illegal or asked by a large Glaswegian if you're looking at his wife, obviously) and see shows you weren't expecting to see. Take a punt on that sketch act or that stand-up or that Improv group you've never heard of before - especially if it's a free show!

Don't feel you have to plan every show you're going to see. Just walk down the mile, take every flyer, grab a drink in City Cafe and see what you fancy. Join the half price tickets queue and not know what you want to see (though please have an idea by the time you reach the box office, because that queue gets long).

Performers: Help each other out.

Another fundamental principal of Improv is you make the other person look good even in a “competitive” Improv show such as ours. It would be nice to see more of this in others areas of performance especially Stand-Up. Make recommendations when you’re flyering or when you're on twitter. If you liked a show then tell people. Make recommendations for other shows like yours or acts that you enjoy. You make them look good (because they are) and they'll look after you (because you're good too).

Reviewers: Don't come in with pre-conceived ideas.

I'm not going to go off on some mad tirade about reviewers in Edinburgh but I will ask this of critics for all shows. Too often you read reviews of Edinburgh shows where the critic already seemed to have a pre-conceived notion of what the show was going to be or that they had already decided not to like it. In Improv there are no pre-conceived ideas, if there were then it wouldn't be improvised and it wouldn't be exciting or fun. We don't know what's going to happen but we're always pleasantly surprised by the results.

It's such an important part of Improv to be fully aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Pay attention to the audience around you, if they're laughing then they're giving you an offer, accept it.

Everyone: Have fun.

The joy of Improv is getting to play with other people. To start with nothing and end up with a story to tell. The Fringe is an opportunity to do that writ large, to try new things and make new connections. It's our festival. Let's play.

ComedySportz UK are at The Free Sisters (venue 272) 6^th-12^th August 7.30pm as part of Laughing Horse Free Festival. Follow our adventure on twitter @comedysportz_uk #cszed2015