2015 Edinburgh Fringe

Piff the Magic Dragon answers 10 Edinburgh Fringe Questions

John Van Der Put

Fresh from wowing US audiences on America's Got Talent, Piff the Magic Dragon talks to British Comedy Guide about his 2015 Fringe.

1. Tell us about your career so far. Are you happy with where you're at?

Magic dragon. Born in the year 2008. First Edinburgh 2009. Needed a gimmick. Got Mr Piffles, the World's Only Magic Performing Chihuahua. Travelled all over the UK performing in comedy and cabaret clubs. Lucked out by going viral on YouTube. Performed 5 Edinburgh shows from 2009-2013. 2 runs at Soho Theatre. Performed at Sydney Opera House, Radio City Music Hall, Shakespeare's Globe and opened for Mumford & Sons on their 2012 tour. Moved to the USA in 2013 to headline a show at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Got a green card. Now based permanently in Las Vegas where Mr Piffles and I perform nightly and I work for Penn & Teller on their new material. Also appearing on America's Got Talent this year. Am I happy? Sure. Why not.

2. Describe your show in exactly 23 words.

Magic Dragon with Magic Performing Chihuahua and Mind Reading Goldfish. Assisted by Miss Sophie Sunshine - The Girl With The Dragon To Do List.

3. Why are you putting yourself through this famously stressful experience?

Stressful? Edinburgh is my favourite thing to do.

4. Any cunning plans to get more punters in?

Double deck the chairs. Double capacity! What can go wrong? Apart from fires, stampedes, poor sight lines... Ok maybe I haven't thought this through...

5. How much money do you think you'll lose/make this year?

Fingers crossed this is the year I can pay off Mr Piffles's gambling debts.

6. What's your weirdest past Fringe experience?

Rescuing Mr Piffles from his Dundee Dungeon.

John Van Der Put

7. What other shows are you hoping to see?

Tom Binns, Velvet, Pete Firman, Max & Ivan, and lots lots more.

8. If you took over programming a venue, what would you perfect line-up of comedians be?

Penn & Teller, Amazing Jonathan, Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Pryor, Rich Hall, Eddie Izzard, Asher Trelawan, Gypsy Wood, Bob Williams and Louie, The Muppets, Steve Martin as the Great Flydini, Chris Rock... I could go on and on.

9. Name the one person you'd rather not bump into during the festival.

Mr Piffles's previous owners.

10. Why should audiences pick your show over the 1,700+ other comedy offerings at this year's festival?

If you like Chihuahua Peril and Psychic Sea Creatures, I believe we have that market cornered.

'Piff the Magic Dragon - Breakfast at Piffany's' is at 10:40pm at Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows on 14-29 August. Listing

Published: Monday 3rd August 2015

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