The Edinburgh Fringe Festival programme is now out and has caused much excitement among the comedy fraternity. This year there is a real controversy, caused by four of the biggest venues – The Assembly Rooms, The Pleasance, The Gilded Balloon and The Underbelly – launching their own Edinburgh Comedy Festival. On the one hand this should make little difference. The dates are the same as the Fringe, the listings still appear in the big fat brochure, they will have the biggest PR push in Edinburgh, but then they always do that, hoovering up the tourist pounds and dollars, thanks to their high profiles and big names. This year they play host to the likes of Joan Rivers, Clive James, Paul Merton and various other veterans alongside newer rising stars. And the real worry is that this is the start of a much bigger full-on breakaway. They couldn't have upset the Edinburgh apple cart more if they'd booked Jim Davidson.

There are alternatives to the Edinburgh Comedy Festival though. Comedy's most compassionate misanthrope Daniel Kitson and battle-hardened satirist Stewart Lee are both appearing at The Stand and are perpetual must-sees. And then there is what must arguably be the most expensive – not to mention exclusive – Edinburgh show ever. One rich punter can spend 23 August with wild, edgy American comedian Doug Stanhope if they are prepared to shell out £7,349. Doug is very good, but whether he's that good is another matter. But being a one-off in every sense this gig throws up some intriguing potential problems. What, for instance, is going to happen if more than one critic wants to review Stanhope's truly solo show.

On the other hand, if cash is tight, there is a much cheaper option, where you won't even have to cough up the fare from London to Scotland. On July 7 the Arts Theatre plays host to 28 acts doing 3 minute previews of their Edinburgh shows. Performers include veteran Nick Revell, Extras extra James Dowdeswell and rising cowboy character comic Wilson Dixon. Tickets are £10, which works out at about 36p per act. Of course, if you like what you see you may have to head north to see more. But you could probably commute daily to Edinburgh and it still wouldn't cost as much as a day with Doug.