During Edinburgh, Scotland’s busiest time of year – the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, of course – I found it easy to get swept up in the crowds of people headed from comedy show to improv show, street act to tourist attraction.
Up and down the streets, festivalgoers with little social awareness stopped awkwardly around every corner, and I weaved past them. With Apple Maps in hand, I was on a mission.
As I climbed a hill (which doubled as a city street) to my destination, a comedian held a flyer out in front of me. “Amazing Irish comedy, just for the girl in the James Taylor shirt,” he said.
I looked down. The James Taylor shirt was mine. My instinct was to brush past him, saying nothing, but his strategy seemed so unique to me that I stopped.
“I’m so sorry,” I said quickly. “But I’m not here for Fringe. I’ll be gone by the time your show starts.”
The comedian nodded, clearly having heard that excuse before. He said, “That’s alright!” and moved on to his next target.
I walked away smiling, pulling up my map once more. My destination was right ahead of me – a tattoo studio tucked under an old building. Almost three hours later, I emerged onto the same street. Travelling with me, tucked under my shirt sleeve, was a new friend, and a newfound appreciation for marketing tactics.
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