Participant Expectations

The Basics

Most Fringe artists expect the following from their hosting venue:

• An empty space to play (devoid of any standing sets)
• A general lighting plot shared by all projects in the venue
• A basic sound system
• A clean and safe environment

Venues can make their own special arrangements with participants renting their space.

Deals and Financials

There’s any number of deals you can strike with participants interested in performing in your space. Here are some options…

Pure Rentals

Some participants want to pay a fixed rent for 100% of the box office return. We suggest keeping the per-performance rent as low as possible and open the doors to multiple (four to six) artistic projects. Fringey rents range from $75 to $175 per performance depending on a number of factors including the location/desirability of the venue, the length of the performance, and the capacity of the house. Charging low rates to participants is very much the spirit of the event and a much-admired quality in Fringe venues.

Box Office Splits

There is a time-honored spirit of partnership between presenters and producers where box office is split between the two parties. For example, you might agree to provide a space to an artist for a discounted rate ($0 to $75 per performance) in exchange for 35% of box office receipts. You might sweeten the deal by choosing to cover the participant registration cost for the project ($175-$250).

Free Spaces

The truly great amongst venue companies will host some or all of its programming for free. Those that choose to provide free space are true champions of the arts.

Draft a Contract

No matter what, you want to draft a contract outlining the terms of your agreement with participants – even if the venue is offered without charge. Contracts serve to keep everyone honest. There are various resources on the Internet that provide stock contracts you can customize.