Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
My name is Robin Tran which people think is a stage name because I'm transgender but really it is just a very common last name for Vietnamese people, I swear.
How would you describe your show?
I'd call it a tragic and silly life story with a mix of pathos and very inappropriate jokes.
What is your favourite part of your show?
I love putting together a thesis in the beginning and laying out the hour in a way where it makes cohesive sense so that the themes are clear and all of the jokes and payoffs will land harder, so my favorite part is setting the stage. My favorite jokes are depending on how I'm feeling at the moment. All the jokes I'm doing on this hour have been my favorite at one point or another.
If your show had a theme song, what would it be and why?
I'm not sure if this fits as a theme song, but "The Good Life" by Weezer was my favorite song for like 20 years and I have venues play it at the beginning of some shows because it makes me nostalgic for my formative years. I guess it works because the chorus goes "I don't wanna be an old man anymore, it's been a year or two since I was out on the floor" and that resonates with me in a weird way.
What is one thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
I hope that they laugh a bunch in the moment because the most important thing is to elicit laughter, but I hope the jokes stick with them afterwards because emotional resonance is a bonus.
If you could add a surprise celebrity cameo to your show, who would it be and why?
I don't know if he counts as a celebrity because I'm such a huge wrestling fan that most people would find it obscure, but there's a wrestler named Bryan Danielson that I admire/look up to. His rise to the top of the industry really resonated with me, and it's a long story, but there's a match of his that was the catalyst for me coming out as transgender, and I think it would be funny to have him there and gauge his reaction when I tell the story.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
It's the biggest performing arts festival in the world and it's an honor to be asked, and a real honor to be legitimized. I'm not above saying that there are a lot of comedians who I started out with who do not like me and I think about how livid they must be that I'm doing such huge things as this festival. Of course I'm mostly driven by love, but that doesn't mean that spite doesn't play a part in it as well.
What differentiates it from other festivals?
I feel like there's more of an incentive to make a comedy show an actual show rather than just a string of jokes that are kind of thrown together. The caliber of art feels higher. It has really forced me to look at my material and look at myself, asking myself the hard questions, and has made my preexisting jokes have more resonance now that I've asked myself these questions.
What is one thing you would change about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
There are just a lot of logistics that stress me out. Logistics always stress me out. The travel, the stay, the press. I've always been good at the "show" part but not good at the "business" part. Performing an hour for a thousand people is easy to me. This Q&A is much harder.
How has your background, upbringing and education had an impact on your artistic career?
First and foremost, I was an English major in college so I had to write upwards of 50 or more essays, and I learned that jokes have a very similar structure to an essay. Once I figured that out, joke-writing became very easy. As for my upbringing and background, dealing with so much trauma forced me to have a dark sense of humor as a coping mechanism. Ironically, the person who was the source of much of my trauma is my father who (unfortunately) happens to be the funniest person I know, so I reluctantly admit that he had a huge influence on my sense of humor.
What is your favourite thing about performing for a live audience?
I just love the energy of a live audience. Laughs always feel good, but to me, it isn't just the laugh that I need. Laughter to me indicates that my joke was clear enough to understand. A lot of comedians complain when a crowd doesn't laugh because of "oversensitivity" or whatever else, but I really feel like oftentimes the joke just isn't clear enough, or the comedian didn't emphasize which parts are supposed to be funny, or why it was funny to them personally. Laughter indicates to me success.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you while performing?
This drunken woman named Robin once kept happily heckling me in a supportive way. It was her birthday. She wanted to let me know that her name is also Robin. I said "I don't care" while giggling and it got one of my biggest laughs. She would do it throughout the show and it was impossible to kick her out because she was being supportive. Someone who hates you is easy to deal with. You just have security throw them out. A drunken fan who loves you? That's a much tougher thing to deal with.
What's the most challenging or unconventional venue you've ever performed in, and how did it impact the overall experience?
When I first began doing standup, I'd do open mics at all sorts of random places. The one I remember most was called Tickles Comedy Club, and it was essentially the garage of a sober living home. Time didn't really make sense there. Sometimes we'd do five minutes. Sometimes the host would legitimately leave during our sets and we'd do 25 minutes before he came back because he forgot he was running a comedy show. Some of my most confessional and hilarious moments happened on that stage. It was always in front of 5-10 people, so it felt safe to share anything.
Is there a piece of feedback you've received from an audience member or critic after a performance that’s stuck with you?
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was ten years ago from my fiance. I was a year into standup and had gotten really good at having a good vibe and energy onstage and I'd kind of charm my way through my sets, but I admittedly didn't work hard on punchlines, and my fiance told me "there's a lot of smoke but no fire." It made me a 10x better comedian because it forced me to actually work on the writing rather than relying purely on charm.
What is your favourite thing to do in Edinburgh when you're not performing? How do you relax and look after your mental health?
I just love to lie in bed, do a short workout, zone out and just vibe. I like to keep a clear head. Little to no stimulation at all during my sets. I don't want to feel overwhelmed by the time I'm onstage because there's gonna be a lot of stimulation once I'm up there.
Is there a show you’re excited to see when you’re up there?
There's a drag queen winner named Danny Beard that I'm looking forward to seeing because I always find it funny to be in an environment where I'm a trans woman among drag queens. There's also a queer brunch show I'm looking forward to checking out and performing in occasionally. There are so many acts that I think I'm just going to explore during my time off.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about taking a show up to Edinburgh? If you’ve never been before, what would you say has been (potentially) the most useful?
I'd say to figure out what your show is about and really pinpoint the themes of what the set is and who you are. Also, make travel arrangements early and factor in the time change.
When and where can people see your show?
Assembly George Square, The Box, from August 2-27 (except for the 15th) at 18:25!
And where can people find you online?
I'm @robintran04 on both Instagram and Twitter and @robintrancomedian on TikTok!
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