A Fringe Quickie (#72) with ‘Tom Short: I get ChatGPT to write my Edinburgh show’

Questions answered by Tom Short.

Q1: Aside from this Quickie, what is the most desperate marketing tactic you plan on using to get bums in seats this August? 280 chars

I intend to gradually degrade my own Edinburgh posters throughout the month, until they become an unrecognisable mess. It’s partly a marketing stunt, partly an art project, and partly a warning about what happens when you let technology make too many creative decisions.

Q2: All shows will have their tough days. What sophisticated self-care strategies will you employ to survive?

I’ll do what any emotionally mature adult would do: ask ChatGPT for validation, remind me how breathing works, drink too much coffee and convince myself tomorrow’s ticket sales will be better.

Q3: We all have weird pre-performance rituals. What is yours, and how confused would a normal person be if they walked in on you doing it?

I stand in front of the mirror and remind myself that I voluntarily chose a career where strangers score my thoughts out of five. A normal person would be deeply concerned.

Q4: If all the shows running right now were at a massive Fringe house party, what is your show doing?

My show is livestreaming itself from the kitchen, desperately trying to go viral while missing the fact that the party is happening around it.