This isn’t officially a fringe, but it is run by the same people who run the Victoria Fringe Fest – hence the Fringe Baby Alert!. Mr. Fringey applied this year with his show that isn’t very edgy, but has become a PBS special, and he didn't get in – so he’s assuming they are looking for edgy over credentials. They know best what they can sell up there. I have a friend who performed in the festival a few years ago – a show called, “Babylove,” - so I’m assuming they’re looking for something that is a little left of center. Still, it’s the best solo gig around. With performers getting $400 bucks a show and all travel and accommodations paid for it’s the best kept secret in the solo performing universe.
Save the Date
When: May 21- 31, 2009
Where:Victoria BC, Canada – Intrepid Theatre
What: An annual international festival of solo theatrical performance.
Info for Performers
You get:3 performances, a technician, box office service, and promotional assistance in a 50-150 seat theatre, hotel accommodations and travel expense.
Mr. Fringey absolutely loves it when a new fringe baby is born. This one, in Long Island, New York, looks good from all the calculations too, in terms of size, weight, and birth mother. Although Mr. Fringey is somewhat reserved in committing to a new festival because the return isn't usually worth the investment, if you're looking for a great way to make it out to New York, this fringe seems to be the way to do it. With a built in audience connected to Long Island University, my prediction is that this fringe won't suffer the same ticket sale problems that Frigid Fest and the New York Fringe suffer from. Stay tuned for a review of this one when it's all done.
Long Island Fringe Festival
Save the Date
When:September 25-27, 2009
Times of Fringe: September 25 -3pm-11pm
September 26 12pm-11pm
September 27 10am-7pm
Where: CW PostCollege of Long IslandUniversity
Info for Performers
What: Shows must be between 30 and 45 minutes only!
You get: At least 2 performances a day.
Performer Split: Performers get 100% except for certain main stage events where the split is 50/50.
Ticket Prices: No more than $10
Fringe Info
Selection process: Jury/Lottery Combo (15 juried spots and the rest by Fringe lottery)
Application Deadline: January 30, 2009
Cost: $50 or $100 for groups of 3 or more.
Additional Costs: Venue rental from $5 - $200/show.
Guest Review:Minnesota Fringe Fest
By Guest Reviewer: Courtney McLean
Guest Festival Ranking: 4.75 bow ties (knock off .25 for % of earnings and massiveness of the festival)
Mr. Fringey’s Description: The Harvard-bound-home-schooler who grew up learning about the birds and the bees from Swiss, polyamorous, mathematic ex-patriots.
The Sunny-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe is the bomb)
1. Extremely well-organized: venue techs, nice venues (actual theatres!), lots of staff to help you.
2. Extremely well-promoted: huge audiences & practically a built-in theatre community that loves the Fringe.
The Flip Side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe sucks or what makes it difficult)
1. Due to all the amenities MN Fringe provides, the artist payback is less than most Fringes it seems - 65% of ticket sales. I think it's worth it, but it can be a turn-off
2. There are sooooo many shows to compete with (150+) and by the second week, there's the top 20 shows that seem to be getting the most press and if you're not in that group, it's hard to get butts in the seats.
3. They're working on this, but there are some venues that are far away from the central area that makes it quite difficult without a car to go from show-to-show (there's only 30 minutes between shows here). Although MPLS has a lot of bike lanes, so that would be a good way to go.
Your Money Sock:
How big of a money sock do you need here, based on food prices, and other expenses? (Choose one: A tiny sock, a men's tube sock, a full blown stocking)
You could do this Fringe with a tiny sock, easily. It's a $400 app fee and then the rest is cake. Billeting is FREE here (there's a form with your application), so your housing is covered. If you bring a bike or buy one for the week off Craig's List ($50 maybe?), your transportation is covered. MPLS is an easily bike-able city and it's gorgeous here around Fringe time. Artists all get unlimited rush passes to see other shows for free. The only thing you need money for is booze and food. Buy some groceries to stash in your hosts' fridge and take advantage of the drink specials and take advantage of other Fringers who will buy you drinks.
How to Fill Your Seats: What's the best way to fill your seats here marketing-wise?
GO SEE OTHER SHOWS and pass out your cards/flyers!! And come out to hang out with everyone, every night at Fringe Central (see below) and meet people - most of us are pretty into meeting the out-of-towners. Don't be a dick and have fun. Also, MN Fringe gives you a press list with your producer handbook. Don't rely on press, but definitely make the effort to reach out to them. This town loves Fringe and the press supports it, particularly the Onion, the City Pages, and radio stations like KFAI and the Current. Don't be shy!
Is there a fringe central?
I believe they have brought Fringe Central back for good! This past year it was Bedlam theatre and it was great! In 2006 and 2007 (my first and second years), they had different locales for each night, but the Fringe Central is so much more convenient and easy to know where everyone is going to be.
Ticket Prices:
Do you get 100% of door? If not, how much.
Artists only receive 65% of the door. A lot of people see this as a downside, but for the numbers of audience you can potentially turn out and the amenities you receive like PROFESSIONAL light and sound techs, house managers, ushers, beautiful venues that are actually theatres and not art galleries with sunlight and horrible acoustics.
Do performers see other shows for free?
Yes, but they get rush passes, so they aren't admitted till 10 minutes before a performance. If your show is sold out, an artist doesn't get in, but the good news is that you're making the most money you can.
Payment:
Do you get paid each night? If not how? Were you paid on time if the money was sent to you?
You get paid in one check 2 weeks after the Fringe closes. I have been paid on time each year I've participated.
Showcase:
Is there a showcase for out of town performers?
YES! In fact, sometimes there's more than one. The main one happens the night before the Fringe opens.
Venue Location:
Can you walk to all the venues? If not how did you get around?
You can walk to most of the venues, but it's much easier with a bike or car. Buses are frequent, but with only 30 minutes between each show, it's advantageous to have a bike or car or friend with car to help you travel. There are some venues that are too far to bike or bus to in time, so having a car is best.
Travel-in:
What city do you fly into and how did you get to your destination?
MSP airport (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and the Light Rail will take you right into downtown for pick-up or bus accessibility. Super easy to get to your destination.
Billeting:
Did you use fringe fest lodging? If so, how was the lodging?If not, who did you stay with?
I have never used the Fest Lodging (FREE!), but all the experiences I've heard about have been positive. My boyfriend lived here, so I stayed with him the second year and a friend of a friend the first year.
Fringe Specs:
Age in Fringe Years: Oh, to be 16 years old again with the knowledge and clear skin I now possess.
Festival Dates:July 30 – Aug. 9, 2009
Application Deadline: Jan. 30, 2009(that’s not a postmark deadline—be careful!).
And:Located in the Minneapolis neighborhoods of Uptown, West Bank, Northeast and North Loop
What categories does your show fall under? (IE, comedy, women, religious, etc).comedic, feminist, science fiction, satire
How long have you been fringing?
Three years
How many fringes do you do each year?
Varies - 2-5+
What has been your favorite fringe?
Minnesota
What has been your biggest money making fringe?
Capital Fringe 2007
What fringe did you make your most important contact?
I cannot possibly narrow that down! It's between Minnesota and Capital (DC) Fringe
In one word, why do you fringe?
FUN.
What's the name of the show (s) you are fringing this year?
Standing On An Amputee
Do you use your own tech person at your shows? If so, how much do you pay them?
I have before and I pay them, depending on their role, $50-$150 for the run of the show. It's not much, but as a self-produced solo performer, I hope that anything is good. If I were to reap unexpected profits, I would pay it forward as I could.
Any fringes to avoid?
We had a racist jerk for our tech in Kansas City, MO. He was subsequently fired once we made our difficulties with him known, but Kansas City has a ways to go in other areas: venue quality and proximity, offering artist billeting, and getting the performers together at Fringe Central. We didn't meet too many people and those we did meet were pretty clique-y.
Photos by: Craig VanDerSchaegen and Mark Rosenberg
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Guest Review:OttawaFringe Festival By Guest Reviewer: Amy Salloway
Guest Festival Ranking:4 Bow Ties out of 5. Mr. Fringey’s Description: The Humid Panty Pantry.
The Sunny-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe is the bomb)
1. The Ottawa Fringe is really well-managed. The staff (Artistic Director Kevin Waghorn and his crew) has a lot of fun together and creates a really congenial, comfortable, inclusive atmosphere for the artists -- it's clear they value the Fringe participants and want them to have fun and be happy. The staff members are good communicators, they welcome artists into the office, they're easy to get a hold of, they're not easily offended or ruffled, and they run a Fringe that's quite smoothly organized, and yet also isn't overly bogged down by rules and regulations. They also listen to feedback, and take suggestions for how to improve -- for example, the Ottawa Fringe used to have virtually NO web presence -- their website was awful, and no one ever updated it. Performers said, "Hey, um, you guys really need to move into the technological era", and this year -- TONS of web presence. The website is now interactive -- audience members can log in to write reviews, and folks can add interviews, links, photos, etcetera -- and there's a Facebook application.
2. It's a low-stress Fringe. The Ottawa Fringe has a dedicated audience. The city is easy to get around, and easy to poster. Audience members don’t mind being flyered while they’re in line. The technicians are all really nice and really competent. The theatres are decent and close together. There’s food and shopping two inches from the Fringe grounds (entirely surrounding the Fringe grounds, actually). The atmosphere is consistently cheery and relaxed.
3. It’s really social. It’s not a huge Fringe, so it’s a great place to get to know other performers and locals; there’s lots of hanging out at the end of every night, lots of really great conversations.
The Flip Side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe sucks or what makes it difficult)
There’s really no suckage. The entire festival has such a relaxed, endearing feel, I've never met anyone who didn't enjoy being there. I could say that, on the whole, you might not find Ottawa your piece of cake if you're looking for a BIG Fringe with BIG moneymaking potential -- if you feel unsatiated by anything smaller than Winnipeg, yeah, you're going to be disappointed here. However, if you're not a size queen, there's little pain to put up with. Here are my minor gripes:
1. The volunteers have varying levels of competence, and it’s not unusual to have some box office discrepancies or ticket count errors.
2. The papers are VERY erratic in their willingness to review shows. This is kind of a pain — the Ottawa Sun and the Citizen used to be good about reviewing, but this past year, they were AWFUL — reviewed a handful of shows the first weekend and then quit giving the Fringe publicity altogether. Boo.
3. There's a wide variance in venue size, so if you were hoping for a 100-seat venue and you get one of the 60-seat venues, you might feel a little cheated at the reduced income potential.
4. ....Oh, and 3.5 HUMIDITY. Ottawa is a freakin' HUMID CITY in the summer. Yuck.
Your Money Sock: How big of a money sock do you need here, based on food prices, and other expenses? (Choose one: A tiny sock, a men’s tube sock, a full blown stocking) Men’s tube sock. Ottawa’s relatively affordable. How to Fill Your Seats: Whatâ•˙s the best way to fill your seats here marketing-wise? Flyer, talk up your show...nothing unusual. Is there a fringe central? There is a “beer garden” on the lawn next to the Fringe's main building (The Arts Court), that contains the outdoor showcase/band/karaoke stage, tables to hang out at, port-a-potties (with hand-washing sinks!), one beer tent, and one food booth. It’s small and, uh, sort of homely, but everyone hangs out there anyway (and puts their sandwich boards up there too).
Ticket Prices: Do you get 100% of door? If not, how much. YES.
Do performers see other shows for free? YES, with passwords.
Payment: Do you get paid each night? If not how? Were you paid on time if the money was sent to you?
Yes, you get paid after each show. If you forget to pick up your money, or if you're the last show of the night, you can get it in the office the next day. You get the advance ticket sale payout (the NON at-the-door sales) your last day in town, or you can have it mailed to you.
Showcase: Is there a showcase for out of town performers? There are showcases at the beer tent all throughout the Fringe, every night starting at 9 pm. They're often themed, like "Solo Performer Showcase!", "Musical Showcase!" etcetera. Some performers really like to participate in them, others feel that flyering and hanging out around the audience in the beer tent is equally good publicity, since it can be hard to get people to pay attention to stuff on an outdoor stage. Besides the showcase, there are also karaoke nights and dance nights at the beer tent, so you can always schmooze that way too.
Venue Location: Can you walk to all the venues? If not how did you get around? Yes, you can walk to all the venues.
Travel-in: What city do you fly into and how did you get to you destination? You can fly into Ottawa and take a taxi or bus to downtown. Ottawa overlaps the last weekend of Montreal, so the Montreal performers take the bus or train from there, or drive.
Billeting: Did you use fringe fest lodging? If so, how was the lodging? If not, who did you stay with? Yes -- the first year I did Ottawa, I stayed with the festival director (Kevin); the following two years, I stayed with a volunteer four blocks from the festival grounds. Ottawa is good about finding people billets, though there's not always a lot of lodging super-close to the Fringe area. The University also rents dorm rooms close to the Fringe.
Fringe Specs: Age in Fringe Years: That sweaty hip 12 year old with all the pimples. Festival Dates:June 18 - 28, 2009 Application Deadline: December 1, 2009 And: In 2008 The Ottawa Fringe gave over $80,000 back to the artists involved in the festival. Tickets sales increased by 10% and 12,000 tickets were sold. Applying:www.ottowafringe.com. Snail mail application. Festival Cost: $577.70 Ticket Prices: $10-$12 or lower. You can also participate in the 2-4-1 opening night ticket deal, which almost everyone does to get audiences in the door.
What categories does your show fall under? (IE, comedy, women, religious, etc). I have three shows, all semi-autobiographical solo comedy narratives -- "Does This Monologue Make Me Look Fat?" (written in 2003), "So Kiss Me Already, Herschel Gertz!" (written in 2005), and "Circumference" (written in 2006/2007).
How long have you been fringing? I've been doing the Fringes in the cities in which I've lived (Seattle and Minneapolis) since 1994, but I've been TOURING to multiple Fringes since 2004 -- that is, 5 years.
How many fringes do you do each year? 4-7 -- a mix of US and Canadian Fringes. I have never had a year in which I got into all the Fringe lotteries to which I applied. I usually apply to anywhere between six and nine, and usually get into three to seven!
(If it’s relevant, I've participated in: Seattle (now defunct), Minnesota, Thunder Bay (now defunct), Atlantic (Halifax), Victoria, Vancouver, Cincinnati, Orlando, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, the Rogue Festival (which is basically a Fringe), the Berkshire Fringe (not a CAFF Fringe).)
What has been your favorite fringe? Ottawa and Winnipeg.
What has been your biggest money making fringe? Winnipeg.
What fringe did you make your most important contact? Minnesota and Vancouver maybe, but really, I’ve made great contacts all over the place...
In one word, why do you fringe? I would have said “opportunities”, but Cody Rivers took that one, so: “connections”. :-)
What's the name of the show (s) you are fringing this year? "Circumference" Do you use your own tech person at your shows? If so, how much do you pay them? No, no tech person. Any fringes to avoid? I have answers to this in my head, but I don’t want them on a public website. :-) I try to think of everything as being a learning experience...
Guest Review:Indianapolis Fringe Festival By Guest Reviewer: Zehra Fazal
Guest Festival Ranking:4.5 bow ties our of 5.
Mr. Fringey’s Description: Thomas the Train goes to thebig city and gets molested by Amtrack.
Sunny-side: (3 reason why this fringe is da bomb) 1. All the venues are located along 5-6 blocks of Massachusetts Avenue, making getting from venue to venue really easy.
2. The Fringe Office staff headed by Executive Director Pauline Moffat make great efforts to make performers feel welcome, including providing free lodging to out of town artists.
3. Because everything is so localized, you find yourself running into other performers, volunteers and technicians constantly, creating a "theatre summer camp" atmosphere.
The Flip Side: (3 reasons this fringe sucks or what makes it difficult) 1. Though it's progressing, Indianapolis doesn't have a huge theatre going community, because it is a smaller city in the Midwest. You have to market fairly hard to get people out.
2.The Fringe is centered around Mass Ave--if you want to go beyond that into Indianapolis or surrounding areas, a car is necessary.
3. This particular year, comedy, variety and magic acts comprised most of the programming. Most audiences went in looking for a laugh--making it a harder sell for straight theatre.
How big of a money sock do you need here, based on food prices, and other expenses?(Choose one: A tiny sock, a men's tube sock, a full blown stocking) A nylon footie--food and drink is relatively cheap in Indy. There's a supermarket near the Fringe so it makes it easier to prepare food at home. Lodging for out of town performers is free, so you save massively there.
How to Fill Your Seats: What's the best way to fill your seats here marketing-wise? There are publications in Indy that try to get to most of the shows on opening weekend, ensuring reviews by mid-Festival. These early features and reviews are the best way to generate buzz--and there is a fairly active blogging scene here. Flyering at local business and after shows is key.
Payment: You get 100 percent of the door. You walk out of the venue with an envelope each night full of the money received at the box office.
Showcase: Yes, there is an opening night preview party--variety style, where groups are selected at random and are given three minutes to perform material from their show before being given the GONG. It's an exciting, high-energy presentation with a fairly nice turnout.
Fringe central: Yes,there is a central office, as well as a tent set up on the weekends for music acts and performers to preview their shows.
Venue Location: All venues are close and within walking distance with the exception of some of the find your own venue/Fringe Next programming.
Travel-in: Flew into IndianapolisInt'lAirport. From there it's about a $30 cab ride to downtown Mass Ave. There is a $7 bus from the airport that drops off at several locations in downtown Indy, and from there it's a 25-30 minute walk to Mass Ave. There are apparently cheaper shuttle options than a taxi, but I used the bus.
Billeting: Yes! Pauline, the Executive Director of the festival, coordinated housing, and found me a spot to stay where I'd feel safe walking alone at night. I was housed with an extremely nice and gracious volunteer, who had two extra rooms to spare for festival artists. It was a three-minute walk away from my venue!
Fringe Specs: Age in Fringe Years: The well-behaved 5 year old with a vocabulary that will make you fall in love with him (ignore the lisp and the hair lip that was corrected during bohemian infant surgery.
Festival Dates:August 21 – 30, 2009
Application Deadline: January 30, 2009
And: Part of CAFF - 6 performance slots per entry - 45-60 minute shows with 30 minutes load in/load out.
Ticket Prices: 10 bucks. Performers see shows for free.
About Mr. Fringy's Guest Reviewer: Zehra Fazal
Mr. Fringey’s tag: It’s no wonder so many Jews are bisexual. I really think the Jews knew, way back when, that Hitler was this talented, this sexy, and this damn charming.
What categories does your show fall under? Solo-performance, drama, adaptation
How long have you been fringing? This is my second summer of Fringing
How many fringes do you do each year? I did the DC fringe last summer, and two this summer (Indy and San Fran)
What has been your favorite fringe? As an out of towner, I really enjoyed IndyFringe for cultivating that "fringey" community spirit.
What has been your biggest money making fringe? Washington, DC--as a local actor to the area, it was easier to market and get audiences/resources there. Plus, ticket prices are $15--higher end among the Fringe circuit.
What fringe did you make your most important contact? Well, this remains to be seen...but as a local of DC, I had the opportunity to showcase my work to a lot of the local directors/performers I want to work with in the area.
In one word, why do you fringe? To make an opportunity for myself to perform in a way I wouldn't necessarily be able to in the mainstream, commercial world of theatre. Oops, that's not one word. I fringe because...ADVENTURE!
What's the name of the show (s) you are fringing this year? My Friend Hitler
Guest Review: Montreal Fringe Festival By Guest Reviewer: Sophie Nimmannit
Guest Festival Ranking: 5 out of 5 bow ties (for fun and kinda frenchy)
Mr. Fringy's Description: The Captain Beefheart/Jenna Jameson Express.
The Sunny-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe is the bomb) 1. 13th Hour – awesome nightly variety show that lets audience and artists join the party, and gives good publicity opportunities
2. Audience attendance
3. Some stellar, professional venues.
The Flip Side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe sucks or what makes it difficult) This fringe did not suck. Difficulties included 1. Billeting. One of our performers was there last year, had a problematic billet and found his own place to stay on couchsurfing.com. Two of us were able to return there this year. Our number three didn't have a billet until the day we arrived, and switched midway through.
2. Not having an artist pass. Sure, the password system encourages us to meet each other, maybe or earn a few extra bucks, but there's so little time! I have plenty of strategizing to do for my show. Putting energy into figuring out what shows I have passwords to during the times I'm free just makes me sad. And other shows aren't going to make money on me. I'm on a budget. Without the password, I won't go to the show. I was so excited to see all the French language shows at this fringe, but being an out-of-towner, I missed their showcases, so I didn't know who to approach to get passwords, and I didn't have time to do detective work, so I missed most of them. When I have an artist pass, I see everything I can, and I get so excited about being an artist. It's a 2 week utopia.
3. Managing sleep cycles: the nightly party starts at 1am, get home around 4am. Sometimes I had to miss out on the party to feel sane.
Your Money Sock: How big of a money sock do you need here, based on food prices, and other expenses? (Choose one: A tiny sock, a men's tube sock, a full blown stocking) How much money did you spend on this one when all was said and done? A men's tube sock. Food was a little more than I'm used to, (I'm spoiled by NYC cheap eats),but beer was a little less! Taxes were higher, so at the register things cost a bit more than on the price tag. And beware, iced coffee is expensive, and they kept serving it to me with half a cup of milk already in it – once with assorted fruits skewered on my straw. The following is in USD.
Travel: about $120/person round-trip NYC-Montreal driving, gas & tolls Festival Fee: about $620 Food/Personal Budget: $200/person for the festival
How to Fill Your Seats: What's the best way to fill your seats here marketing-wise? Do a show about anal sex with full-frontal nudity and walk around town wearing a glittery dildo under your tutu. Or: Get the paper buzz-forms, hand them out right after your show. Flyer, perform in promotional events, etc.
Is there a fringe central? Yes. And it serves beer, has bands and shows and an art market to keep attracting the passers-by.
Ticket Prices: Do you get 100% of door? If not, how much. Yes, minus 15% tax. You can apply to be exempt from the tax. Our application was rejected by the Canadian government.
What's the ticket range price? $5-$9
Do performers see other shows for free? No. Boo. See above.
Payment: Do you get paid each night? If not how? Were you paid on time if the money was sent to you? We could choose to get cash the day after, at the end in cash, or at the end by check. We took cash the day after each show, and a check for the last night because we left town. The check arrived promptly! My bank charged me a fee for depositing a Canadian check.
Showcase:Is there a showcase for out of town performers? Yes! We all got a minute at the kickoff party after the parade. It was big and fun and had talented MCs.
Venue Location:Can you walk to all the venues? If not how did you get around? You're asking the wrong person. We brought our bicycles and I didn't walk anywhere until the 4th day. That might have been the only time. Venues are walkable, though sometimes I guess it would be half an hour. (the schedule has half an hour between shows).
Now, Montreal is AWESOME for bikes. They have great routes and lanes. On bike I could zip from venue to venue in a chill, breezy 10 minutes. Such a joy, and the rest of the city is out on their bikes too. They don't wear helmets. Occasionally stuck in traffic, had to circle the block occasionally to find parking.
Travel-in: What city do you fly into and how did you get to your destination? We drove from NYC. We looked up swimming holes on the internet and jumped in one on the way. It should have taken 8 hours, but then one of the bridges into Montreal was closed because a storm had blown a truck over. We spent 2 hours waiting to get over the other bridge.
I heard the train was also a reasonable option. We might try it when we go back up for the Harvest Festival with our other show FLUID (Harvest/Recolte is the LGBT theater festival, www.villagescene.com)
Billeting: Did you use fringe fest lodging? If so, how was the lodging? If not, who did you stay with? I listed this as a Flip Side difficulty. Last year, one of us had to leave a fringe billet and found a great place on couchsurfing.com. Two of us stayed there. Our other person was got a message about her billet as we drove up, but could only stay in that place for 4 days, and had to switch.
Fringe Specs: Age in Fringe Years: A 17 year old who was raised by a porn star and Frank Zappa. Festival Dates: June 7-17,2008 And: 90 companies from 8 different countries, 5 provinces, and 5 states.700 performances in 10 main Venues and 6 OFF Venues, an outdoor site and Fringe Club. Application Deadline: October 31, 2008 Applying:www.montrealfringe.ca Festival Cost: $660
About Mr. Fringey's Guest Reviewer: Sophie Nimmannit Mr. Fringey's tag: Like going back to school and getting that really sexy education you always thought you were missing in your prerequisites.
What categories does your show fall under? (IE, comedy, women, religious, etc). Burlesque sex-ed. Kinda queer.
How long have you been fringing? I first fringed in 2005. My co-performer started in 2003.
How many fringes do you do each year? 1-2. Limited by travel costs.
What has been your favorite fringe? Minnesota. (I've been to Victoria, Vancouver, Boulder, Minnesota and Montreal.)
What has been your biggest money making fringe? Montreal What fringe did you make your most important contact? Ha! Well, I think I have to say Boulder. That's where I met my co-collaborator on Peg-Ass-Us, John Leo. We made out at party there, and we started dating, and we started making a show. (Slash was in Boulder too, but I met him in Minneapolis.)
Otherwise, Minnesota has given us a pile of contacts – it's a very social fringe.
In one word, why do you fringe? Strangers.
What's the name of the show (s) you are fringing this year? Peg-Ass-Us, FLUID. We have one more stop: San Francisco. We're in a non-traditional venue, the Center for Sex and Culture!.
Do you use your own tech person at your shows? If so, how much do you pay them? We use fringe techs. We bring along a competent stage manager.
"Welcome to Fringe or Die. Home of Mr. Fringey, The Famous Fringe Festival Fact Facilitator and his Fellow Fringe Friends Full of Fresh Fringe Opinions. As you navigate through the information contained here-in, it might help to think of this site as your friendly bohemian courtship counselor, sent here by the International and National Fringe Theatre Festival Goddess to help ensure that your love of fringe performance leads to Fame, Riches, Adventure and lots of Fringe Karma Points."
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