Jo Caulfield is a comedian and writer who has been a successful performer for over 20 years. She currently holds the Comedians’ Comedian award as Best Circuit Comedian of the Year. Based in Edinburgh, she’s better-placed than most to discuss the Fringe from the perspective of both performer and resident. We talked to her about her new show Here Comes Trouble, the controversies over accommodation and that mythical Fringe app, and some standout Fringe memories.

How have the last few years been for you?

I wrote a book, wrote a new show, did 40 or 50 zoom shows in lock down, appeared on the Royal Variety Performance, won the Comedians’ Comedian award, recorded a couple of radio shows, guested on countless podcasts, appeared on House of Games, organised a charity walk for September and painted my living room…

I’ve probably been more prolific over the last two years because I haven’t had the time-consuming distraction of constantly travelling.

I don’t think people realise a *normal* comedians day is spent packing a suitcase, dragging the suitcase to a train station, travelling to another town, grabbing a Marks & Spencer sandwich, checking into a Travelodge hotel, unpacking your suitcase, walking to the venue, hanging around until it’s your turn on stage, walking back to the hotel, collapsing into bed, being rudely awakened by the early morning fire alarm test, repacking your suitcase, dragging your suitcase back to the train station and moving on to the next town.
The 30 or 40 minutes the comedian gets onstage isn’t the WORK. That’s the REWARD for all the work of trains or driving they did during the day.

Can you tell us about Here Comes Trouble?

Here Comes Trouble is pure stand-up. No gimmicks. No themes. No mental health issues. Just me and a microphone. I talk about everything and everyone who has pissed me off over the last 12 months.

It’s been three years since the last full Fringe. What would constitute a successful August for you? Do you have any particular hopes or expectations?

I’m hoping that a major talent spotter or one of the big promoters, such as Jack Good or Larry Parnes or Don Arden, wanders into the Stand basement and realises that I am the future of skiffle music.

I have my banjo and my washboard and I am ready to lay down the soundtrack for the hipsters, pill poppers and groovy cats of Auld Reekie.

I continually tell new, young comedians, ‘Performing your show is the reward’. That’s what you want to do. That’s why you’re here. Anything else that comes out of the Festival is a bonus.

What are the best and worst things about the Fringe? How do you feel about the festival as both a performer and a resident of Edinburgh?

I’m like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

As a resident I love the vibrancy and excitement around the city. All the bars and cafes are busy. There’s a good atmosphere. I take reflected pride in visitors venturing out of the Fringe bubble and discovering areas like The Shore and Portobello Beach.

The flip side as a resident is I get annoyed at all the crowds. My favourite bars and cafes are too busy. And areas like The Shore and Portobello are ruined by all the visitors.

The Fringe is far too expensive. Accommodation. Venue hire. Free Fringe shows are now as expensive as major venue shows. I think comics have to be careful not to be too greedy. Also the price of a drink in most venues is ridiculous.

If you want a bit of free entertainment, here’s something you can do… take a walk up the Royal Mile… go up to one of the caricature artists… and ask them for directions to the National Portrait Gallery — then stand back and watch them cry.

As a performer I love the fact I have to write a new show every year. Staring at a blank piece of paper is daunting and exciting in equal measures. The downside is I have to get involved with everything I’ve spent my whole life trying to avoid: the business side of things. The administration. The paperwork. Checking posters are delivered. Checking flyers are being distributed. The World’s biggest Art Event can often seem like working in an office.

You were one of many signatories of the open letter criticising the organisers of the Fringe for scrapping the app and the spiralling accommodation costs among other things. What is your take on the situation, and has the Fringe Society response been enough?

I have appeared at The Fringe every year since 2001. I have lived in Edinburgh for over ten years. I have NEVER met anyone who works for or is involved with the Fringe Society. If I didn’t read about them, I would not know they existed.

I’m not calling for the Board to resign or be replaced but the Fringe Society should refund part of the registration fee it charges comedians after failing to provide an app, because they fucked up. THEN they should resign or be replaced.

They gave some half-baked apology about, ‘the distress that this has clearly caused,’ and how the app would have cost £100,000 to make viable for this year… then admitted to providing accommodation for reporters from many national newspapers. Wow! That really is a slap in the face for Chortle, Wee Review, One4Review, Broadway Baby, etc — all the long-term reviewers who have covered, and supported, the Fringe for several years, out of their own pockets.

If that doesn’t get me unanimous 5 star reviews from Chortle, Wee Review, One4Review and Broadway Baby, they can all go fuck themselves.

You must have seen some incredible things over the years. Have there been any particularly memorable moments, good or bad, as a performer or an audience member?

Too many to list them all but these three stand out…

Standing backstage at Best Of The Fest — I watched a well-known TV personality, moments before going onstage, realise he had forgotten to put in his contact lenses. He had a hissy-fit and demanded one of his entourage remove their contact lenses and hand them over. Which they did! A young man actually took out his contact lenses, gave them to the well-known TV personality, allowing him to go onstage, as though it was the most normal thing in the world!

Strolling down Leith Walk — A man stopped, asked for an autograph, looked at the autograph, said, ‘You’re not who I thought you were,’ and threw the autograph away.

A very full-of-himself ‘bright young thing’ comedian, standing outside his small Free Fringe venue, telling an audience member, ‘You play every venue twice. Once on the way up and once on the way down’… to which the audience member replied, ‘I didn’t realise you’d played here before,’ and walked away.

Are there any acts we should check out that you think deserve more attention?

That is SO difficult. I can’t recommend one act without all the others asking why I didn’t recommend them.

I think the best way to find out about good shows is ‘word of mouth’. Ask other people as you’re queuing for shows for their recommendations. I’d recommend going to different venues; that’s what the Fringe is about too, exploring the city.

I’d also recommend comedian Sally-Anne Hayward. She’s not doing a show at the Festival this year but she is staying with me for three or four days. You can catch her at the Malt & Hops, the Port O’ Leith, the Brass Monkey and many other fun low-rent dive bars.

Here Comes Trouble runs at The Stand Comedy Club 1 until Sun 28 Aug 2022 @20:20