By Guest Reviewer: H.R. Britton
Guest Festival Ranking: How many bow ties would you give this fringe? 4 out of 5
Mr. Fringey’s Description: Lenny Bruce meets Martha Stewart.
Overview:
The Sunny-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe is the bomb)
1. Provided you find and arrange a venue, you're always guaranteed to be part of the festival. You can plan on it, as opposed to other festivals which either judge you, or pick you out of a hat.
2. You can set your own schedule.
3. Philly is a friendly city, and the audiences are enthusiastic.
The Flip-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe sucks or what makes it difficult)
1. It can be a hassle to have to find and arrange the venue.
2. You're responsible for providing your own light & sound people, as well as your ownbox office person.
3. As I'm a solo performer, I find it a bit of a hassle to go to the Fringe Central to collect the 'will call' tickets before the show.
Ease of Filling Seats:
What's the best way to fill your seats here marketing-wise?
I've tried a number of things. I take a small ad out in the program guide. I put cards out in nearby coffeehouses and bookshops. Sometimes I stand out on the street and give out cards and talk to people. I've never been disappointed with the size of my houses
Is there a fringe central?
Yes. There's a ticketing center, and there's also a late night hangout for the artists.
Is there a showcase for out of town performers?
There's not a specific "out of town" showcase. However, leading up to the Festival there are events where fringers can get to know one another and perform excerpts from their work. There's one called "The Binge" and there's a "late night cabaret," which may be unofficial, and of course, at the night-time artist hangout there are performances too.
Potential to Make Money:
Do you get 100% of door? If not, how much.
Tickets at the door: 100%. Tickets through the fringe Box office have about 8 or 10% deducted
Do performers see other shows for free?
As I remember it, you get to see shows for $5
Do you get paid each night?
At the door ticket proceeds go directly to the theater company, since they're administering their own box office.
If not how? Were you paid on time if the money was sent to you?
The proceeds from the tickets sold online and at the Fringe Ticket Central come later, maybe a month or so.
Navigation of the City
What city do you fly into and how did you get to your destination?
You can fly, bus or train into
Can you walk to all the venues? If not how did you get around?
You can walk to a lot of the venues, especially the ones in the
Did you use fringe fest lodging? No
If so, how was the lodging? If not, who did you stay with? One time I stayed at the youth hostel on
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
Fringe Specs:
Age in Fringe Years: 13 going on 43.
Festival Dates: September 4 - 19
Application Deadline:
And: They also have a Facebook application
Applying: $80 on-line at http://www.livearts-fringe.org/
Festival Cost: Mandatory Fees: $80 application fee, Marketing Fee: $100 for 50-word description; $200 for 50-word description and photo. 10% fee for box office ticket sales. General Liability Insurance $95-$177, Sandwich Board rental fee $40.
Ticket Prices: You set your own in whole dollar amounts
About Mr. Fringy's Guest Reviewer: HR Britton
Mr. Fringey’s tag: The man in the overcoat with the anxiously comic stories and monologues.
Check himout at:
www.myspace.com/overcoattheater
What categories does your show fall under?
Solo show, storytelling, travelogue, religious rant.
How long have you been fringing?
last 4 years, plus one in 2001
How many fringes do you do each year?
1 to 3
What has been your favorite fringe?
Hard to say, obviously. I really liked the close knit and supportive feeling of
What has been your biggest money making fringe?
Probably Philly.
What fringe did you make your most important contact?
At what fringe? FringeNYC. I got a great review of "Jesus Rant" in BackStage, also, through that show I got a paid gig at another solo festival.
In one word, why do you fringe?
Exposure
What's the name of the show (s) you are fringing this year?
"Jesus Rant" (in
Do you use your own tech person at your shows? If so, how much do you pay them?
At Philly and
Any fringes to avoid?
No.
Photos by: Ignacio Carballo
Cards by: Amy Mees
Guest Festival Ranking: 5 BOWTIES OUT OF 5.
Mr. Fringey’s Description: Benjamin Franklin meets Will Rogers in drag.
Overview:
The Sunny-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe is the bomb)
1. THE STAFF: I loved the Fringe staff at the Saskatoon Fringe Theatre Festival! Very friendly, very helpful and everyone of them came to see my show. I'm still friends with them! I was billeted, all my questions were answered in a timely manner whenever I called, I was paid on time and always treated with a friendly smile!
2. THE AUDIENCE: They came out in droves! I was scheduled into a 160-seat venue and had several sold out performances! The audience was fun, welcoming, playful and numerous! Very friendly city!
3. THE MEDIA COVERAGE: The media coverage at the Saskatoon Fringe was amazing! From the newspapers to the radio to the television stations (big and small) -- the coverage of this Fringe was so well-rounded and complete! My show (and my ugly mug!) appeared several times in the StarPhoenix, I was interviewed by two radio stations, and appeared on two television programs (one national, one local). Lots of press -- it was great!
The Flip-side: (Give 3 reasons this fringe sucks or what makes it difficult)
1. FRINGE CONFUSION: There are two Fringe festivals of sorts in
2. HOT GYMNASIUMS: I hesitate to even mention this as my venue was a hot gym and I had the third highest selling show of the fest in 2007. It's clear, the heat doesn't keep audience away! Hot venues and sweating are to be expected at many Fringe fests but in July on the plains in
2. AGAIN, THE DRY RIBS: I loved and hated dry ribs - all at the same time! If you have never had a deep-fat fried beef rib, you can't begin to imagine the agita involved! Love the taste, hate my waist! Get ready to gain weight on all the yummy street fair food! :)
Ease of Filling Seats:
What's the best way to fill your seats here marketing-wise?
Like any Fringe -- get out on those streets and chat people up! Whether it's postcards or giant posters attached to the top of your backpack (my personal fave that worked well for my show!), talk and talk and talk and have fun and talk some more! Get your press out on time with great, colorful professional photos, go see other Fringe shows -- be seen! Make yourself as accessible to the press, the potential audience and other Fringers as possible. PS. Really, in my experience, flyers are a bother to audiences waiting in line. Be creative and that will get you more audience than shoving flyers in people's hands that end up in garbage anyway.
Is there a fringe central?
Yes, there are Fringe offices where the staff works/lives -- :) -- and tickets are sold. Signboards for each show are displayed outside of these central offices. PS. In 2007, a performer could sign up for a free sandwich board for the entire fest. Decorate it as you wish!
Is there a showcase for out of town performers?
Not that I'm aware of. There were press/marketing opportunities but not outright one-night-only showcases for either local or out of town performers.
Potential to Make Money:
Do you get 100% of door? If not, how much.
Yes!
Do performers see other shows for free?
Not in 2007. We all used 'passwords' that immediately put us on a 'Comp ticket' list and got us into shows. Oops -- was I not supposed to mention that? :)
Do you get paid each night? If not how? Were you paid on time if the money was sent to you?
No. I think I was paid twice -- once half-way through the fest and a final payment the day after the fest closed. I was paid on time and correctly by check.
Navigation of the City
What city do you fly into and how did you get to your destination?
I drove. I was touring the CAFF across
Can you walk to all the venues? If not how did you get around?
Absolutely! I found that all the venues were centrally located and within easy walking distance of each other. And you can always get some dry ribs from that street fair along the way!
Did you use fringe fest lodging? If so, how was the lodging? If not, who did you stay with?
Yes, I was billeted by the Fringe at a volunteer's house. I loved it! The billetors were wonderful people, I had plenty of room and privacy (a private upstairs apartment to myself), located very close to the Fringe. Thanks,
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 tiny sock. I didn't find
Fringe Specs:
Age in Fringe Years: 37 (Wow!)
Festival Dates: July 30 - August 8
Application Deadline: September 2, 2009
And: The "Best Little Fringe" in Canada.
Applying: On-line application form http://www.saskatoon.org
Festival Cost: $650.
Ticket Prices: $12 or under.
About Mr. Fringy's Guest Reviewer: Fiely Matias (17 Fringe fests)
LOUNGE-ZILLA! (
Mr. Fringey’s tag: The freest fruit on the tree.
Check her/him out at::
http://www.loungezillasings.com
http://www.facebook.com/ fielymatias
http://www.thenakedguyonline.com
http://www.myspace.com/loungezillasings
What categories does your show fall under? (IE, comedy, women, religious, etc).
Comedy, cabaret
How long have you been fringing?
17 years! I'm that old! My first Fringe was in 1992 (Seattle and Vancouver if I remember correctly) and I have performed at the Orlando (4 times), San Francisco, Vancouver (twice), Kelowna (defunct, I think), Seattle (defunct, I know), Edmonton, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Sudbury (defunct?), Atlantic/Halifax - if you include non-CAFF Fringes like the FringeNYC (twice) and Prague, I have performed in 17 Fringe fests.
How many fringes do you do each year?
Varies -- some years one or two, some years I tour, some years not at all.
What has been your favorite fringe?
Oh gosh -- you're asking me to pick my favorite child. No can do. Let's just say, I've never met Fringe that I haven't liked. There's been many great experiences at each Fringe in which I've participated!
What has been your biggest money making fringe?
Top 4:
What fringe did you make your most important contact?
In one word, why do you fringe?
FREEDOM! If you allow me more than one word: I Fringe because it's an artist's dream come true in that it is a non-censored, non-juried playground for theatre performers to express their creativity however they like. And if you saw my shows, you'd understand why this appeals to me! :) Bonus: I have made some great, lifelong friends over the past years Fringeing around
What's the name of the show (s) you are fringing this year?
I'm writing a new show this year so look for me in 2010 with several shows: 'LOUNGE-ZILLA!' - we have yet to perform in Montreal, Winnipeg, among others -- 'Bitches of The Kingdom', a new musical in which the storybook princesses comically bemoan their treatment and exploitation in the Disney animated films -- 'The Naked Guy', a live sitcom hit that played to sold out houses at two separate Orlando Fringe fests (100-seats sold-out for entire run & 250-seats sold-out run)!
Do you use your own tech person at your shows? If so, how much do you pay them?
No. I use the Fringe-provided tech and have had great experiences!
Any fringes to avoid?
The ones I'd tell you to avoid are already gone! :)
Photos by:
Eric Esteban,
Mr. Fringey’s Top Ten
Fringe Awards of 2008
1.
2. Best “Fringe Central” Show
Boulder Fringe’s Eddie the Eskimo Show
3. Strongest On-line Presence
Capital Fringe
4. Best Community
San Francisco Fringe
5. Lamest Attitude
6. Best Use of The Silent Treatment
7. Best Party
8. Most Mysterious Fringe Experience
9. Most Anticipated Upcoming Fringe
10. Most Likely to Yelp for Help
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.
Save the Date
When:
Times of Fringe: September 25
September 26
September 27
Where: CW
Info for Performers
What: Shows must be between 30 and 45 minutes only!
You get: At least 2 performances a day.
Performer
Ticket Prices: No more than $10
Fringe Info
Selection process: Jury/Lottery Combo (15 juried spots and the rest by Fringe lottery)
Application Deadline:
Cost: $50 or $100 for groups of 3 or more.
Additional Costs: Venue rental from $5 - $200/show.
Questions: e-mail fringe@debbydoll.com or call 516-931-6849.
Apply
- Download application from http://www.freewebs.com/longislandfringefestival
- Send snail mail application, demo, resume, etc to:
ATTN: Robert Goida
720 Northern Boulevard
Mr. Fringey's Description: The Metrosexual Bohemian
Mr. Fringey’s Festival Ranking: 4 ½ bow ties out of 5:
Sunny-side: Urban with community. The fringe reviewers are mostly prominent well-known journalists and they like to hob-knob with the performers. You can easily make important connections for your career. DC feels like
Flip-side: It’s spread out and really huge. Unless you are an extrovert, you’ll have to work to meet and tap into the fringe community.
Your Money Sock: You’ve got your choice in DC whether to go the cheap route or the expensive route. To me it’s got the best of both worlds. You can eat cheap or go out an splurge.
How to Fill Your Seats: Best bet for marketing is the usual route: Stand outside the most popular shows and hand out your cards as others exit and enter the show. You won’t see many other performers doing this, so you’ll most likely feel like there’s a city ordinance against it. Don’t worry, there’s not.
The crowds are here and they’re there to see shows. If you get your cards in some hands, you can pack your venue. Hands-down one of the easiest new fringes to pack a house – even on off days and times. I did a
Marketing Angle: I don’t recommend spending money for an ad in a festival program, but for this one I do. It’s worth the money. Also, this is a fringe community with an active blog site through the Washington City Paper. Audience members actually read and participate in the “Fringe or Purge” discussions. Also, the fringe reviewers hang out with the performers so it feels like a really unique community.
No need for a marketing angle here. Do your typical postcard salsa dance, hit up your Myspace list and your DC contacts via e-mail. An easy fringe to market.
Fringe Specs:
Age in Fringe Years: A gifted 3-year old who is already taking college courses on-line at the community college.
Festival Dates: July 10-27
Application Deadline: December 31.
Applying: Snail-mail with $45. www.capfringe.org
Festival Cost: $600
Ticket Prices: 0-$15 – Performers pay to see other shows, unless you make contact with a performer ahead of time and they fill out an on-line comp for. Really rather complicated!
Payment: 70% of door. All money sent within 30 days.
Showcase: None in 2007.
Venue Location: Venues are spread through the vast city. You’ll need a car or public transport to get around.
Travel: Fly into DC and then take the Metro in. I stayed with a friend in
Travel Advisory: If you plan on parking in DC, it’ll cost around $10-$20 per show. Make sure you bring a rolling carrier for your gear in case you have to park far away from your venue.
The Boulder Fringe
Mr. Fringey's Description: Like a Breath of fresh air out of your neighbors oxygen tank (you have to use his mask and tubes and he’s 77)
Sunny-side: The fringe staff runs a tight, friendly ship. The nightly CRAB, (a talk-show-like-fringe event at the Laughing Goat Café, and hosted by Eddie the Eskimo, who interviews performers about their shows), is one of the best, funniest events in the entire world, the
Flip Side: It’s a new fringe, the crowds are minimal, as an out-of-towner you’ll be lucky to break even, it’s an expensive town to eat and play in, many of the shows are produced by Naropa University students or alumni which gives the festival an incestuous quality, downtown Boulder feels like Disney-land meets a Crate and Barrel Catalogue, it’s really, really white.
It reminds me of when I went to work in the canneries in
Marketing Angle: With a large article in the Boulder Weekly and another prominent interview in the Daily Camera, I knew it wasn’t enough to pull in a crowd. (Good media coverage will, at it’s best, only bring in 2-5 tickets per show). I sent e-vites out to all the Jewish organizations in town and that went out in their newsletters. I also took a stack of comps down to the newspapers who had given me coverage. I averaged about 25 audience members per show even during off times/days.
Age in Fringe Years: Your run of the mill, mainstream 4 year old toddler.
Festival Dates: August 14 - 25
Application Deadline: December 15.
Applying: On-line application form with $30. www.boulderfringe.com.
Festival Cost: $665
Ticket Prices: 100% of door. 0-$15 – Performers see other shows for free.
Payment: In cash each night. Other money sent within 30 days. (I got my money about 60 days later)
Showcase: One night where all performers get to showcase one-minute of their work.
Venue Location: All venues are briskly walk-able to one another. Fringe Central - The
Travel-in: Fly into
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