Edinburgh Fringe performers share tips to dodge audience participation
Performers at the Edinburgh Fringe explain how audiences can avoid being picked on, as crowd work grows in popularity.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Audience participation at the Edinburgh Fringe has become a central part of many shows, but not everyone wants to be dragged into the spotlight. This year, performers are offering practical advice on how to avoid becoming the punchline, while also acknowledging that the trend for crowd work is being driven by social media.
Comedians at the festival say the front row is the most vulnerable spot. One performer advised: "Look open-faced look kind and open-faced but like sit far enough back that like you're not in a big light. And if you don't shout stuff out, then obviously you won't get picked on." Another described a woman in the front row who "had crossed everything that she could possibly cross... she calzoned herself" to avoid attention.
Not all performers are aggressive in their selection. One comic said: "I don't really pick on people. At all really." But others are more predatory. As one act put it: "Some people will be like sharks looking for blood if you're a drunk heckler then comedians will... have every right to put you down."
The rise of crowd work is not accidental. Social media has supercharged its popularity, with clips racking up millions of views online. This gives audiences a taste of a comic's style without giving away carefully crafted material. Frank Skinner is even hosting a whole show built around improvisation with the audience, with no pre-written material.
For comedy purists, this shift is concerning. The emphasis on viral moments may be pushing written material into the background. The question is whether this changes comedy for the better or simply changes who ends up as the punchline. As the festival continues, audience members are increasingly aware that where they sit and how they behave can make all the difference.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Audience members can lower the likelihood of being selected by sitting further back and avoiding shouting out. | |
| Social media virality and marketing have contributed to the growing popularity of crowd work in comedy. | |
| Some comedians intentionally single out drunk hecklers and silence them. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News focused on practical tips for audiences to avoid being chosen during interactive shows, while also exploring the growing trend of crowd work and its links to social media. The tone was informative and slightly playful, with quotes from performers offering advice and warnings.
- “Look open-faced look kind and open-faced but like sit far enough back that like you're not in a big light”
- “There was a lady in my audience last night who was on the front row I think just been put there and basically had crossed everything that she could possibly cross”
- “Social media has supercharged the popularity of crowd work because for comedians It's a dream marketing tool”
Broadcast Timeline
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