Opinion: Sober is the New Rock n Roll

Comedy used to be the new rock n roll. Comedians spoke truth to power, led decadent lifestyles and rose to sex symbol status. With that, came a hedonistic lifestyle. But, as a younger generation usher in a new age of sober curiosity, are green rooms wall-to-wall with cigarette smoke and cocaine being swapped out for ring lights and protein powder?

A third of GenZ are TeeTotal. Even massive music artists match their sober streak. Despite residencies in Ibiza and Vegas, DJ Calvin Harris has been sober for over a decade. He told Cosmopolitan (a serious political magazine) “If you drink, you can’t even remember if it's a good show or not – and that's probably for the best, because it would have been rubbish because I’d have been drunk and not making any sense”.

If you’re looking for a sober Fringe, here's four tips to get you going.

Financial

Obviously. Sure, mocktails are equally as expensive (How is a Virgin Mojito £12? It’s just juice. Might as well have a FruitShoot) with the average night out costing £73.91.

Instead: Invest that money achieving your Edinburgh goals. Buy an industry magazine, tickets to a show that inspires you, or even tickets to your own show. (It’s still a sell-out if you sold it to yourself, right?!)

Maximise performance

The Fringe takes stamina and consistency. We’re essentially athletes (athletes that sleep until noon and work an hour a day, but still athletes) that expect our bodies to operate on a diet of Hennessy and Haggis. I remember being so hungover the crowd had to lift me from the stage, above their heads, and pass me to the back of the room so I could spew Sambuca into a plant pot. Least glamorous crowd surf imaginable.

Instead: act like an athlete. You would never ever see an athlete poison their body with a performance altering stimulant. Uh-huh. No way. Dope. I mean, nope. Not drinking helps your body feel 100% everyday.

Smug satisfaction

It’s rare to be surrounded by so many of our creative colleagues; making the temptation to party past dawn hard to resist. Even when we have early morning promo spots and press events.

Instead: Match an early night with an early morning. Nothing is more satisfying than walking down Grassmarket at 9am, seeing the last limping late-night revellers stagger back to their hostels, when you’ve already done two hours of hot yoga. You’re paying over a grand to sleep on a shelf, in a kitchen corner, with a potato as a pillow; make the most of it.

Networking

Networking is the cornerstone of your Fringe experience. With an obligation to schmooze and impress it can be hard to avoid the wine fuelled bar events. 

Instead: Try the gym. You’d be surprised how many top tier comics and casting directors take that PureGym early spin session. Show them your creative reach is as long as your lunge. “These calves? Almost as swole as my audience numbers.”