Diary of an ex-banker: Be careful what you wish for?
I’m writing this on my way back from the Edinburgh Fringe. The largest arts festival in the World with over 3,500 shows this year. I first sampled the delights of the Fringe in 1995 and this was my 23rd year of attending.
Over the years I’ve seen the good the bad and the ugly. I’ve been lucky enough to see the first shows put on by unknowns such as Lee Mack and Greg Davies. But there have been many more lows than highs. For every League of Gentleman, there has been umpteen epic fails. I was once in a show so bad that the audience (all 3 of us) agreed with the performer that it was in all our best interests to end the show half-way through.
On the other hand, I saw a show last year where the performer, Bill Martin, insisted on buying everyone in the (much larger) audience a drink from the bar! A real star!
I have to say, from my perspective, 2018 was not a great year for the Fringe. I personally didn’t see any standout or mind-blowing shows. But it wasn’t for lack of trying. Many times a day we scrolled through the various review apps and websites looking for those elusive diamond in the rough 5* shows that leave you speechless as you leave the theatre. Unfortunately, these shows were already sold out and we couldn’t get tickets. This seemed to be the case more so than in previous years. And I wonder if technology may be part of the reason?
When I first started going to the Fringe you would start your day with a hard copy of The Scotsman newspaper and eagerly thumb the pages for reviews. Then, after breakfast, stroll down to some of the venues and read the reviews from other publications that would proudly be plastered on any and every wall and spare surface. We would also attend showcases where performers would put on a snippet of their shows in the hope of enticing you to come and see the full thing. Then, of course, there was word of mouth. You would happily chat to people at venue bars or in queues for other shows asking them for their recommendations.
It was like this for most of my 23 years.
Then, a few years ago, apps started to appear publishing details of every show alongside reviews from various publications. You could easily put in a preferred time, date and location and instantly see all relevant shows along with their reviews if any. There was no longer the need to waste time going to the newsagent to buy a paper or to talk to strangers. Even better, you could book tickets at the touch of a button. No more annoying trips to box offices.
The problem, I think, is that maybe it’s become too easy.
Everyone has access to the same information at the same time. So a new 5* review can trigger a mass of bookings. Pity the person trying to get a ticket who read the review late. It used to be an art finding the right shows. Now it feels a bit more like a chore. Just another reason to spend the day glued to your smartphone screen!
I guess the desire to get information first is nothing new. The Reuter’s Telegram Company was founded in 1851 to take advantage of new technology and provide the news first so that subscribers could gain a commercial advantage. Indeed, Reuters was the first in Europe to report Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. But now pretty much everyone can see breaking news at the same time. We all have equal access to information.
This process, I suspect, is part of the reason that certain tourist destinations have become overwhelmed. For example, Thailand and the Philippines have had to close two of their most popular beauty spots. Machu Pichu has had to introduce timed entry. And this month Visit Cornwall said it had actively stopped promoting two beaches because of problems caused by overcrowding.
The problem is that if we all see the same recommendations and lists of top ten musicals/pizza restaurants/beaches/’secret’ bars/B&Bs/things to see before you’re 30 etc. then inevitably large amounts of people will be funnelled towards the same places leading to overcrowding/overbooking. Although this has always been the case to an extent with guidebooks and newspaper reviews, tech has amplified the effects.
So, whilst on the surface having quick, easy and usually free access to online reviews and recommendations is appealing, they may actually be destroying the very things they seek to promote and that we cherish.
Have you seen a favourite restaurant, pub, bar, historic site or beauty spot spoilt by too many visitors/tourists?
Please vote in our Facebook poll or leave a comment.
Originally published at jsixq.com on August 28, 2018.
