06 September 2017

How to Fringe 2017: Grant Busé

Grant Busé
Musical comedian, MC, independent producer

The Birds And The Beats
19–24 September
Wonderland Spiegeltent

Grant Busé

If you could invite anyone to your show (and you knew they would come), who would it be?
The Minister for Education. The show is about the importance of sex education. It’s a cheeky look at all the things we should have been taught about sex while growing up, but also an insight on how to better educate future generations.

The Melbourne Fringe in three words.
Cheeky, musical, educational.

A favourite Melbourne Fringe memory.
Doing my first comedy show, The Shuffle Show, with my collaborator and friend Elena Gabrielle. We created something special in Melbourne and then went on to take it all around the world.

What is your experience as an independent artist being part of the Melbourne Fringe?
I think Melbourne Fringe is one of the best festivals I've attended for support independent artists. They have free workshops in the lead-up to fringe that cover everything from budgeting to marketing to sponsorship.

What makes the Melbourne Fringe unique.
The artist support. They also have a great record for inclusion, recognition and supporting the weird and the wonderful. I mean, they had a giant inflatable vulva at the launch party - sooo Melbourne Fringe.

Your advice for choosing what to see in the Melbourne Fringe.
Check out the emerging artists. The festival often is a testing ground for new material and works. There is something incredible about the energy of trying or seeing something for the first time. Works evolve so much over the space of a year. Go see something at fringe then go see it again next year. Be a part of the journey!

Do you think there’s a better system than star ratings for reviews?
Stars don’t really say anything about a show and can be subjective. Rating art is like rating peanut butter. Some people love it, some people don’t and there will always be someone allergic to it. Read the review quotes* is your best bet. They actually say something about the show, what to expect, and what makes it unique. If it sounds up your alley – it probably is.

*SM: and the reviews.

Five shows/events that you will not miss at the 2017 Melbourne Fringe.
The Last King of Vaudeville by Idris Stanton
Hamiltunes. An Improvised History by Impromptunes
Seen & Heard by Becky Lou
High Achievers by Chelsea Zeller 
A Bok In Progress by Lauren Bok