Alan Gordon

Registration Manager at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society & Playwright

I’m the Registration Manager for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. I joined the Fringe as a Press Assistant for one summer, and, as you do, got the Festival bug – I came back next year as an assistant for the Programme Registration team and then went on to do Media Accreditation. After some years away from the society bringing work to the Fringe, I returned to the role of Media and Marketing Adviser, supporting artists registered with the Fringe in the promotion of their shows. In 2017, I went permanent with the Society in the role that has developed into Registration Manager. In a nutshell, my role is managing the process of the artists registering for the festival, while leading on the team who look after all of the content for the printed programme. I also develop and host our FringeCast series, a podcast and YouTube series advising artists on how best to prepare for their time in Edinburgh. Basically, supporting artists lie at the heart of my role and that’s why I love it.

What do you enjoy most about working for the festivals?
It sounds cheesy but it’s the people. Both the people you work with, the people you meet and the artists we support. Every day is different. Those who love festivals tend to love other humans and the stories that they tell.

Essentially, supporting artists to tell their story is the root of my job and what’s better than that? It’s what I’ve always loved. When else do you get to meet, chat and share with people from all over the world, all the while surrounded by wonderful art.

What is your favourite festival memory? 
It’s a feeling rather than a moment. That first ‘Week Zero’ (preview week) moment, the first time you step outside the office and feel like something has started. You just feel a crackle in the air and almost anything feels possible. Every year there’s usually that one show that you discover. It can be elusive some years – sometimes you have to wait right until the end – but there’s that one show you weren’t expecting that changes you a little bit. You leave a slightly better person for having seen it.

What makes you proud to be a Festival City citizen? 

The absence means Edinburgh hasn’t quite felt like Edinburgh this year. I know there’s a debate over whether it takes up too much room, but even the most sceptical person would surely admit the city feels like it’s missing something this year. I love that Edinburgh opens its arms to the world, and the city becomes more diverse and filled to the brim with stories. Every day there’s an opportunity to meet someone or experience something – it makes me proud that the whole city moves together.