How would you describe your show?
My show is what happens when someone takes the advice, ‘find your audience,’ entirely literally. I’m genuinely collecting people’s faces (and their data – to help me find even more people out there who are ‘my audience’). It’s this, mixed in with a compilation of my favourite jokes from over the years. Someone once described it to me as ’thoughts that people have at 3am,’ which is not far off…
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
I came up with this show idea before the pandemic, and I feel the Edinburgh Fringe is just the best place to take it! It’s a massive event to see my little idea finally realised.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
I think there’s just a lot more hype for Edinburgh that you don’t really get from smaller festivals around the country. There’s hot buzz for it, and lots of people from around the world get really excited. I think that’s what makes it stand out!
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
When I was a teenager looking to move to the UK for uni, it was my mum who found a newspaper clipping of the comedy course in Southampton. I’ve kind of been in and out of it since then! My dad was always a big Tommy Cooper fan, so he was probably one of the first bits of comedy I’d seen. Now I’m making my own show I can always feel myself going back to him as inspiration. A kind of controlled chaos. Just when you think it’s all falling apart there’s that one beat of reassurance where you go, oh, this guy actually does know what he’s doing. Then you watch it all unravel again. More recently I’ve become a big fan of Tig Notaro. Whenever I feel myself wanting to chase the laughs, I ask myself what would Tig do? Ah yes. She’d sit in the silence and then she’d start bathing in it.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
I grew up in Singapore and went to an International school. This probably explains my tendency to stay away from cultural or identity based material – as my reference points aren’t necessarily that relatable! Although on one hand it has made it harder for me to find material, I think it has helped me to form a unique style and rhythm.
What is your earliest childhood art memory?
All I can think about from this question is when I was a child and refused to finger paint because I didn’t want to get my hands dirty. Wild that I waited until I was 29 to go into CBT for OCD (and got diagnosed with ASD). Ah, yes. That all makes sense now.
If you didn’t have your current job, what would you probably be doing?
I currently work as a model and comedian. If I wasn’t in this line of work I still think I’d be in a similar industry! After working in retail for a bit (which sucked the soul out of my body) I became self employed, and I think at this point it would be hard to go back.
Did Covid-19 change the way you create work? Do you approach shows with a different mentality now?
Lockdowns took away all of my work, it was a real double whammy. Although it was hard, I think I found certain aspects of it quite liberating. I learnt how to focus on myself instead of others and appreciate the moments of progress I did have. I was able to put all my energy into comedy projects and experiment with new ideas
Since the world has been opening up again, I’ve been a bit swept off my feet! This year has just gone from zero to one hundred in terms of work and opportunities coming back. It’s been a bit overwhelming actually! Think I’ve had a bit of a wake up call recently that if I arrive in Edinburgh in my current state of complete exhaustion I’m just not gonna make it through. I’m now trying to think back to those locked-down few months and handpick some bits from that life to bring back. It’s time to rest up and really focus on my show for the final month before it all kicks off.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Absolute whirlwind.
If you could work with anybody, from any point in history, who would you pick and why?
Scott Wheeler in 2014 (and been in Avalanche Sharks), because I’m a sucker for a shark movie – especially if it’s rated 2.3/10 on IMBD.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
I think it’s quite a big investment so I’d definitely say, go with something you’re excited about and put as much time and effort into it as you can
When and where can people see your show?
Edinburgh!
Aug 4-14, 16-28
17:00
Just the Tonic at The Iron. Tickets: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/eryn-tett-finds-her-audience
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
Im @eryntettcomedy across all platforms! But I’m mostly on Instagram, so come find me there!
Eryn Tett Finds Her Audience debuts at the Just The Tonic Tron at 5pm from 4th – 28th August for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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