Friday, 23 August 2019
Reading time 1 minutes 16 seconds
Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity – Roy T. Bennett
I’m at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival performing my first solo show “Skydive to Stand up”.
It’s a 45 minute story covering my skydiving accident. It’s part of the Free Festival which means I cover the costs by accepting donations from my audience as they leave.
Some people donate, some don’t. I’m only angry at one person so far. I know I shouldn’t be but I am.
It was a Sunday and the audience were 47 strong and the show went well. Not my best if I’m being honest but I entertained and the feedback was very good as I stood by the door and people left and generously giving.
A young man in his twenties stopped and explained how he enjoyed the show and could really relate but that he wouldn’t be donating.
I enquired as to why, remembering to late that curiosity killed the Mat.
On one of my jokes his mate whispered something in his ear that was funnier than my joke. He went on to explain that he wasn’t being rude but he thought his mate was more entertaining in that moment so would not donate.
I should have thanked him for his time and let him walk on.
I should have done a lot of things that day.
I told him his mate was a terrible whisperer as I heard something during the show but could not make it out and when I asked them what it was the pair of them said nothing. Which I was the very definition of being rude. He looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and walked off. I Long to feel that sense of privilege that the young man carried with him.
The next person in line gave a bigger donation explaining they had overheard our encounter and were sitting near the rude man and his pal and that they were idiots as it was a great show. This travelled down the line and the donations increased proving that humans are very kind.
I’m still angry about that rude man. Not because he didn’t donate, the interaction between us gave me more money than if he would have reached into his long pockets with his very short arms.
I’m furious because I’ve woken up three times at night now thinking about that show and the encounter. I want to know what his mate said so I can compare the jokes. Not knowing is killing me.
I still Love this festival!
Picture: My favourite place to relax in Edinburgh to get my feline fix. https://www.maisondemoggy.com