Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Fringe Festivals are a ton of fun and have the potential of being very lucrative if you play your cards right and understand how to maximize the exposure of your show. The way in which these festivals are organized varies a little bit from city to city, but the basic concept comes down to this. You become your own producer front all the costs of putting the show on and in turn collect all of the profits from it as well. If you’re able to get lots of bums on seats by creating a buzz about your show, coming up with creative marketing techniques and having some great reviews then the potential of doing very very well with a show that’s got a broad appeal. 

Though I’ve been to many many Fringe Festivals over the years (Adelaide, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria) I’ve always played the Street Venues which were glorified street performance pitches. In my case, the fee I paid (if any) covered the cost of a sound/light technician who was present at all of my shows and helped ensure that my technical needs were properly addressed. I’ve enjoyed great success at Fringe Festivals and had my biggest hat of all time (the amount in tips collected in one’s hat at the end of a show) at the Edmonton Fringe Festival many moons ago. 

The beauty of these festivals though is that experimental theatre has a chance to get tested out in an environment that is receptive to artists taking risks. I’ve seen some really amazing shows at Fringes around the world and made some amazing friends at these festivals as well. Beyond just doing your own shows though, the Fringe Festival Circuit ends up feeling like a lifestyle choice as you end up becoming a part of a community of artists who are pursuing risks and creativity much more so than at some other gigs.

Useful on-line resources – 

Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals
http://www.fringefestivals.com/members.html
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
http://www.edfringe.com/
The Adelaide Fringe Festival
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/

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