If you're the time of person who likes to see things for yourself, there are several opportunities to catch short previews of shows once you're here in Edinburgh. Depending on how you do it, they're either free or grouped together into good-value variety shows; either way, you can sample a number of performances before you commit your time and money to a single one.

Royal Mile stages

Free performance on the Royal Mile

Each stage does have a programme for the day written up beside it, but previewing a particular show requires a super-human level of organization; it's far easier just to turn up and see what's on offer at the time. You never know what you'll find - a musical chorus on one stage may be drowned out by the rock band just next door, while behind you two slapstick clowns vie for laughs from the fickle crowd.

The experience isn't that rewarding in itself, not least because the Mile is always hopelessly crowded, but it's free and it's a good way to pick up some ideas for acts you want to see. You won't need to take notes - as soon as their segment is over, the performers will appear in front of the stage to hand out their flyers.

Fringe Sunday

For one day only, Fringe Sunday, a scaled-up version of the same idea happens on the Meadows - a large public park just to the south of the central Festival area. Just like on the Mile, you can catch a few minutes from a range of shows completely for free; the added advantage is that it's all inside tents, so you needn't get wet if it's raining. If that sounds your cup of tea, we've got lots more information on what to expect at Fringe Sunday.

Variety shows

An alternative way to pack in a few quickfire previews is to go to one of the Fringe's variety shows, where a series of performers strut their stuff and have a chat with the compere on stage.

Variety shows

The idea has been copied by notorious celebrity couple Neil and Christine Hamilton, whose saucier interpretation of the concept runs at the Pleasance Dome

The principle is dusted off again at the end of the day at each of the Fringe's main comedy venues - this time, with the emphasis squarely on the stand-up segment of the programme. These alcohol-fuelled late-night parties, which can run for several hours, are a bit like the kebab at the end of a pub crawl: not honestly all that nice, not something you'd choose when sober, but somehow irresistible at the time. The running orders change nightly, and typically feature one or two well-known names - together with a whole load of also-rans. Examples include Late and Live at the Gilded Balloon, and the Underbelly's Free Beer Show.