Edinburgh Buzz: Credit Crunch Adds to Perfect Storm of Fringe Worries

You can't get far without finding that the credit crunch is having an impact and nobody is terribly surprised that the credit crunch is squeezing ticket sales at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. But, it seems that ticket sales are only one element in a four-part perfect storm of woes hitting the fringe:

1. As reported in the Scotsman today, Charlie Wood, director of Underbelly, one of the larger venues, says that "riskier" performances are not selling out and - at least on the comedy front - audiences are choosing to spend their limited funds on big name acts and safer shows. He also noted that people seem to be booking three shows a day rather than five as they might have done in the past.
2. Centralized and online ticketing was hit by serious problems caused by the new computer system, at the start of the Fringe, which has had a big impact on advance ticket sales.
3. The weather has been abyssmal, with wind and rain keeping festival goers home.
4. The Olympics being televised throughout key early weeks of the Fringe can't be helping either.

It's too early to tell what the ultimate effect on the Fringe will be. But, Fringe organizers should take a look at the trend for bigger and bigger stars coming to the Fringe, filling up bigger and more expensive venues and taking away potential audience from the smaller, risker and, some would say, more exciting Fringe ventures. What is happening to the Fringe spirit? And is it time for the Edinburgh Festival to get back to its colorful and anarchic roots?