Edinburgh Fringe Q&A - Bronwyn Sweeney

Having mastered selling everything and anything in a career of over ten years in advertising, Bronwyn Sweeney now has the challenge of selling herself as a comedian.

Making her full Fringe debut this year, she’s joining the ranks of those whose faces (and often unique poses) adorn the city streets throughout August.

Blackpool-born but American-presenting, her show is described as part branding TED talk, part therapy session, as she talks about her life as a Third Culture Kid and a single, childless woman in her mid-30s.

How are you feeling ahead of your debut solo Fringe show?

Excited. Scared. Nervous. Ready. Hungry? Figuratively and literally. Aroused? It’s a lot of emotions…

Did you enjoy your festival experience last year?

I loved it. But it also felt a bit like going to the gym. You know when you’re in it and it’s hard and you’re tired and want to lie on the floor? Then after, when the endorphins kick in, you think, ‘That was fun! So glad I did it!’ That’s how Fringe felt.

I was only there for ten days and I found it both overwhelming and inspiring. There were gigs I bombed and gigs I crushed and halfway through I cried to my mum then next day I’d have a redeeming moment. Fringe is wild.

What is your show about, and what inspired it?

In my life BC (before comedy) I worked in advertising for over 10 years. My show takes what I learned about developing successful brands and applies them to my own life.

As a creative director, I could sell anything. And I mean ANYTHING.

Then I started doing comedy and realised I’m not good at selling myself. Then I downloaded a dating app at 37 and suddenly realised how hard it is to market yourself to strangers.

What transferable skills have you found between your former job in advertising and the world of comedy?

Advertising and comedy are very similar in that you have a very short amount of time to get people’s attention and gain their trust.

In advertising, they can change the channel, skip your ad, close the tab or pay for a monthly subscription to not watch ads. You’re often presenting your ideas to clients too who can essentially heckle you or not respond in a way that’s encouraging.

Advertising taught me how to handle rejection but also how to know my audience. Learning how to cry quietly in the toilets is something I can do like a pro now.

Why do I keep talking about crying? I promise I love comedy.

Does your global upbringing influence your material?

Absolutely. For anyone who’s grown up as a Third Culture Kid (someone who was raised in a country other than where they were born or that of their parents) being asked where you’re from is the most terrifying question.

For most of my life I’ve hated having to explain myself because I feel bad about how complicated the answer is.

I always used to joke reply with, ‘Have you got an hour?’ Well now I do.

How would you describe how you feel when your walk-on music hits and you take a step out onto the stage?

I have a long history of anxiety and panic attacks. My anxiety definitely comes from the anticipation of something rather than the actual thing.

In the run-up to a show I tend to feel anxious and excited. But when the walk-on music hits, the adrenaline becomes my friend because I know where to channel it.

I try to channel my inner wrestler. If only I could wear a cape with my name on it and play Let’s Get Ready to Rumble.

If you were put in charge of the Fringe, what changes would you make?

If I were in charge of the Fringe I’d fight for affordable accommodation and make it shorter. I know a lot of people who love performing for a month. But for a lot of people that’s a month of not earning money or childcare.

Of course we wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t worth the sacrifice but the cost of living crisis is real.

I basically had to choose between saving for home upgrades, freezing my eggs or the chance to perform at the biggest arts and culture festival in the world. I chose Fringe obvs, the world does not need me to procreate.

Who else are you looking forward to seeing at the Fringe?

I’m really excited to see all the other debut acts this year. So many of them are people I’ve come up with over the years and it’ll be great to see how far we’ve come since those early days of doing open mics to ourselves in stuffy pub lofts on a Monday night.

What’s your favourite one-liner?

Taylor Tomlinson has this bit where she says, ‘A lot of my friends are settling down… and a lot of them are just settling.’ I just love it.

Who’d be your dream…

Podcast co-host / guest

My mother. She’s such a badass. She went back to school in her 40s, got her doctorate while getting a divorce. She’s raised four kids across different countries. She gives great advice and I think people and I think the world needs to hear it.

Karaoke duetter

Peabo Bryson. The silkiest voice the world has ever known. I’m an adult Disney fan and it would be my dream to sing A Whole New World from Aladdin with him.

Wrestling tag team partner

Someone else as ticklish as me. We’d barely touch. Just poke each other and laugh.

Comedian to split an hour with

Myself but when I had just started out. I’d love to show audiences and myself how far I’ve come. That technology exists right?

Bronwyn Sweeney brings her highly-anticipated debut show ‘Off-Brand’ to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, performing at 3.20pm at Pleasance Courtyard Bunker 3 from 2nd to 28th Aug (excluding 14th). Tickets here.