20

MAR 2026

Marketing Your Show at Hollywood Fringe

by jeannette srinivasan ·
hff26

Marketing Your Show at Hollywood Fringe

Our model

Hollywood Fringe is an open-access, self-produced festival. That means every artist is responsible for creating, producing, and promoting their own work. The festival provides tools, visibility, and infrastructure—but it does not market individual shows. There is no gatekeeper, and no “built-in audience”. You have to bring them (how exciting!)

Start with your people

Your first audience is your existing community! Friends, family, collaborators, classmates, coworkers- these are the people most likely to show up early and help build momentum.

Do not assume people know what you’re doing; invite them directly. This can look like:

—> Telling everyone you see in-person about your show + how to find info!
—> Personalized texts/emails to close friends
—> Direct group invites (via email and social media)
—> Consistent posting and updates

Use a special discount code to make certain friends, co-workers, and family feel special.

Pro Tip: You can set up as many discount codes as you want, so make them specific and use them to track what marketing is working.

Set your goals

Before you start promoting, define what success looks like for you. Do you want to:

—> Sell out your run?
—> Build an audience for future work?
—> Get reviews or industry attention?

Set specific, realistic goals and build your strategy around them. Pro Tip: Make sure your ticketing goals and budget are in sync. If your plan is to get as many butts in seats as possible, make sure your budget reflects those comps!

Know Your Audience

Your show is not for everyone. The more clearly you define your audience, the easier it is to reach them. Ask yourself:

—> Who is this show for?
—> Where do they spend time (online and in-person)?
—> What would make them choose this show?

Remember, start with your own network, then expand outward into communities that align with your work.

Build a clear elevator pitch

You will talk about your show constantly, so make sure it’s easy to understand (and remember for yourself)! You should be able to describe your show in one or two sentences (like a logline):

—> What happens
—> What is the tone
—> Why it’s interesting

If people don’t understand your show quickly, they will move on- so test out some ideas with some people you trust to see what will “stick”!

Pro Tip: If you are at Office Hours marketing to another artist, ask them about their show! People want to support people who support them.

Your project page is your “storefront”

Your Hollywood Fringe project page is your central marketing hub, so make sure you get familiar with it! For many audience members, this is their first interaction with your show. Make sure it’s:

—> Clear and easy to read
—> Up to date
—> Visually compelling (but makes sense for your show)
—> Utilize that media section!
—> Directly linked to ticketing

A strong project page does a lot of your marketing work for you.

Use the tools available to you

Hollywood Fringe provides a range of tools to help you promote your show. Many artists don’t take full advantage of them (don’t be one of them)! Available tools include:

—> Artist 1-on-1 support
—> Your show’s project page and ticketing system
—> Ad impressions on the Fringe site Guide ads (templates available)
—> Fringe Cabaret performance opportunities (info coming soon!)
—> Fringe HQ visibility (flyers, posters, events) (info coming soon!)

These tools are only useful if you actively use them!

Marketing Opportunities outside the Fringe in the Artist Hub

Check out this article in the Artist Hub for info about opportunities through HFF partners: NoHo Arts District + LAFPI.

Time to make your plan!

Marketing works best when it’s intentional. A simple structure to follow:

—> Objective: What do you want to achieve?
—> Strategy: Who are you trying to reach?
—> Tactics: What actions will you take?
—> Metrics: How will you measure success?
—> Start your marketing at least 6–8 weeks before your show opens.

Use social media thoughtfully

Social media can be effective, but only if used well.

AVOID:

—> Repeating the same post
—> Only posting flyers
—> Spamming your audience

INSTEAD:

—> Share rehearsal moments
—> Introduce your team
—> Post behind-the-scenes content
—> Highlight audience reactions and reviews

Engage with other artists, tag Hollywood Fringe, make sure you stay part of the HFF conversation!

Networking is marketing

A large part of Fringe happens in-person, so showing up matters! Attend events, see other shows, and spend time in the community. Talk to people about your work and support theirs.

Fringe HQ exists as a central place to connect with artists, audiences, and industry. Bring postcards, be ready to talk about your show (logline). Stay visible and supportive!

Go to outside networking events to build your audience: professional development events in your field, comedy shows or standup nights, and table-readings are great examples. Now is the time to say yes to your friends’ invites.

Use your existing network to develop an audience: do you take acting or comedy classes? Are you a part of a community choir? Do you have a religious or spiritual community you’re a part of? Gym buds? Live in a tight-knit apartment building? These are your first questions for your show.

Guide Ads

Printed guide ads must be purchased & uploaded by April 20th!

Available this year: Full, Half, Quarter & Eighth Page Ads!

Your registration already includes a show description listing with your show dates and a listing in the daily schedule, but if you want a photographic representation, buying an ad in the Fringe guide is a great way to market your show!

Prices start at $125 for artists, and all proceeds go back into the printing, designing, and distribution of this advantageous Fringe resource.

Purchase a Guide Ad here!

Check out this link for more information on ads and file dimensions!

Use print materials and take advantage of Fringe printing discounts

Printing your materials doesn’t have to break the bank- Hollywood Fringe participants get access to some great local discounts to help you create postcards, posters, and more!

Minuteman Hollywood is offering 20% off normal pricing for Fringe artists from March 15 to June 30. That discount can go a long way, with sample pricing like:

—> 24×36 posters for around $34
—> 250 double-sided postcards for about $80
—> 100 stickers for about $25
—> Scripts printed at $0.12 per page (full color)

They also include free 11×17 posters with larger orders—so the more you print, the more bonus materials you get!

Just keep in mind: You’ll need to mention you’re a Fringe participant to get the discount. Files should be print-ready (300 dpi, proper bleed). Turnaround is typically about 48 hours, with rush options available

Arnold the Printer is another great option offering special Fringe pricing on postcards and combo packages. Their deals include bundled poster add-ons and free posters depending on your order size, making them especially useful if you’re printing in bulk. They also offer a variety of sizes, finishes, and quick turnaround times (generally 3–5 days depending on the order).

Want more details on how to prepare your files and what to print? Check out our HFF Participant Discounts: Printing Services support page from our Artist Hub!

Reminder: Postcards and posters are still an important part of Fringe marketing!

Your materials should clearly include:

—> Show title
—> Image
—> Time and location
—> Ticket information or QR code

Keep it simple and readable, and especially make sure you follow all posting rules and get permission before putting up materials.

Where to flyer: Hollywood is not a “flyering” town. You will often use your postcard as a business card (more than just leaving them out and about, or flyering on the street). Posters are good to put up in the types of places your people frequent. Are they coffee people? Maybe ask your local coffee shop (easier if it’s outside the Hollywood Fringe “Zone”) to hang a poster on their community board? Are they wine-drinkers? Maybe hit up your local wine shop. Are they library people? Libraries often have community boards. Always keep one poster for Fringe HQ (our box office + hangout space in one).

Want to learn more about what to print at Hollywood Fringe? We have a whole article here!

Need graphic design help? We got you! Check out this Artist Hub article with tons of discounts available to HFF artists!

Press is “DIY”

If you want press coverage, you need to pursue it yourself. This includes:

—> Writing a press release
—> Identifying relevant outlets
—> Reaching out and following up

Start with smaller or niche outlets that align with your work.

Want to learn more about press? Check out our press article here!

At the end of the day, you still need to follow the rules

Marketing only works if it’s allowed. Be sure to:

—> Use the official Fringe logo where required (LINK BRANDING)
—> Get permission before posting materials
—> Respect shared spaces and guidelines

Failure to follow the rules can result in your materials being removed.

Keep promoting throughout your run in June

Marketing doesn’t stop when your show opens! During the festival:

—> Continue posting and inviting
—> Adjust your strategy based on what’s working
—> Stay engaged with the community
—> Daily effort makes a difference.

Continue building word of mouth

The most powerful marketing at Fringe is word of mouth. Focus on creating a strong experience for your audience and encouraging them to share it. After your show:

—> Talk to your audience
—> Ask for reviews
—> Encourage social posts
—> Momentum builds from there.

Be realistic about the work

Hollywood Fringe gives you a platform, not a guarantee. Your turnout is directly connected to your effort. Artists who:

—> Show up consistently
—> Engage with the community
—> Actively promote

…tend to see stronger results.

Think beyond Hollywood Fringe

Fringe is not just about one run. Use it to build toward your future work.

—> Collect emails
—> Stay in touch with your audience
—> Document your show
—> Build relationships

What you build here can continue long after the festival ends, (and that’s we want for each of y’all <3 )

LINKS

—> Here’s a link to our Artist Hub, and some resources from other Fringe Festivals regarding marketing for artists!

Remember, each fringe runs differently, and some tips may not apply to us, but it doesn’t hurt to do some outside research!

—> Atlanta Fringe

—> Adelaide Fringe

—> Edinburgh Fringe

29

JAN 2026

How To Become An HFF26 Artist!

by ellen boudreau-den herder

Step 0: Decide if Fringe is right for you!

Hollywood Fringe is a self-produced festival: there is a time commitment and it costs money. It’s also a great way to produce theatre: venues are cheaper because of shared costs, you share audiences with like-minded artists, and it’s a true producer’s training ground. The Fringe model is designed to teach you how to produce a show from A-Z, giving you a massive leg-up in your producers know how.

Before you register, do your research on if Fringe is right for your show:

Check out the Artist Road Map for helpful links to start your journey.
Go through the extensive Artist Hub for info on how Hollywood Fringe works in 2026, even if you’ve done Fringe before! The Artist Hub is your step-by-step guide on how to Fringe (formerly the participant packet + supportal, now combined into one comprehensive hub).
Create a budget (you can use one of our sample budgets from past participants as a jumping off point) and make sure the festival makes financial sense to you! Don’t forget, 100% of ticket sales go back to the primary producer.
Still stuck? You can always book a 30 minute one:one call with our team to discuss your individual goals + make sure you get some targeted advice.

Step 1: Create your project, find your venue + register for Hollywood Fringe

First thing you’ll want to do is create your project page on the Hollywood Fringe site! Your Fringe profile is a way to communicate with Fringe venues and the first step in registering. Create your project today!

Start your venue search early, many venues started taking inquiries in January. There is no one-size-fits-all for venues, and we recommend that you shop around. There is no such thing as a bad Fringe venue, so it’s important you find a venue that fits your budget, artistic vision, and energy. Start by browsing available HFF26 venues (more will add in mid-February), attending office hours to meet venue teams in a more casual setting, and watching our Meet the Venues panel recording.

Register for Hollywood Fringe! Please note: this year, registration fee is going up to $425 (the first raise in price since 2019). The earlier you register, the earlier you get our primary producer newsletters (newsletters begin the 2nd week of February) for week-by-week reminders of what you should be tracking. Know you won’t be able to register until March? Sign up for our artist newsletters now!

Step 2: Enjoy the benefits of the Fringe community while prepping your work

Being a part of the Fringe community is like theatre camp where you are all in charge of your own artistic vision: a dream, right? With weekly events starting in late March, you’ll get out of it what you put into it. Plan ahead to prioritize working with your fellow artist: it makes marketing + other producing tasks so much easier!

Some important things to do are:

Watch or listen to our recent workshops, via the Hollywood Fringe Youtube and Podcast, especially Hollywood Fringe 101 (great for first-time fringers) + the creative series to get you inspired into creating festival-style work. You can even check out sessions from last year if you want to get a jump start.
Attend HFF26 Office Hours, Workshops + Town Halls. We have dozens of opportunities for you to meet your community and gain every producer tool you need to put your show on stage (digitally + in-person). The full schedule (all the way through June) is available here.

Step 3: Present your show at the largest performing arts festival in Los Angeles!

Over 400 productions last year participated in Hollywood Fringe, presenting works spread across genres. You and 400+ other producers will take the creation of art into your own hands and present the best new works we see in LA each year (ya I know, we’re biased).

16

DEC 2025

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

by rody villegas

Hello Everyone!

Can you feel it? Can you feel HFF26 in the air! Soon enough, we’ll all be buzzing with excitement— but there’s also cause to be excited RIGHT NOW!!!!

Fringe Scholarships are available to Hollywood Fringe producers who identify as one or more of the following identities: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color), disabled, d/Deaf, and/or blind. Spanish-language productions and other non-English productions are encouraged to apply.

New this year, the application opens up to artists who have participated at Hollywood Fringe before, but have not won a monetary award from Fringe (artist fund or scholarship) in the past 5 years (with 50% or more of awards guaranteed to be given to first-time producers at Fringe).

You must pitch a new work that has never been done at the Hollywood Fringe in previous iterations. All scholarship recipients and the show cast/crew must reside in Los Angeles County.

All scholarship recipients and the show cast/crew must reside in Los Angeles County.

More details on program requirements are available here.

EACH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WILL INCLUDE:

Free registration for one Hollywood Fringe production ($425 value)
A $1,000 stipend to use towards venue or production costs to be used towards a minimum of 4 performances between June 4 – June 28, 2026

WORKSHOP + FAQ SESSIONS AVAILABLE:

Tuesday, December 16th, 7:00 – 9:00 PM - HFF26 SCHOLARSHIPS PANEL (recording available here after the panel)
Tuesday, January 6th, 7:00 – 9:00 PM - Scholarships FAQ Session #1

Tuesday, January 13th, 7:00 – 9:00 PM - Scholarships FAQ Session #2

DATES + DEADLINES

Application Closes: Thursday, January 15th at Midnight
Onboarding Day [If Selected]: February 8th at 10 AM in Hollywood
Hollywood Fringe 2026 Festival Dates: June 4th – 28th

Applications for HFF26 are now Open. Apply Here!

¡Para la aplicación en español, por favor, llena esta aplicación!

Happy Fringing & I hope you apply!

- Rody, HFF Programs Director

From Top To Bottom, Left to Right: Mark Vigeant (Best Man Show), Aaron Pang (Falling, A Disabled Love Story), Molly Sharpe (Murder, Oops!), Woody Fu (One Man John Wick), Marnina Schon and Micah O’Konis (Couplet: Honey Honey Moon Moon), and Mayuri Bhandari (The Anti-Yogi)

29

JUL 2025

AWARD-WINNING SHOWS FROM HOLLYWOOD PRESENT AT EDINBURGH FRINGE

by rody villegas

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s 78th-anniversary festival begins this week! Running from August 1-25, Edinburgh Fringe hosts thousands of shows in Scotland, featuring dozens of performers and shows from Hollywood Fringe that have made the leap across the pond. Check out the 36 shows directly from Hollywood Fringe!

Award Winning Shows from Hollywood Fringe 2024/2025

Couplet: Honey Honey Moon Moon (Winner: 2025 NAMBA Splash Award and Transcendent Craft Award; Nominee 2025 Fringe Award for Comedy & Variety Acts and the Adelaide Fringe Festival Exchange Award)

Delusions & Grandeur (Winner: 2024 Best of the Broadwater Award)

Do You Accept These Charges? (Winner: 2025 Scholarship Artist Development Award)

Falling: A Disabled Love Story (Winner: 2025 Movie Book Club Award; Nominee: 2025 Top of the Fringe Award, Fringe Award for Comedic Theatre, Adelaide Fringe Festival Exchange Award, and the Sydney Fringe Festival Exchange Award)

Mark Vigeant: The Best Man Show (Winner: 2024 Fringe Award for Comedy + Best of Broadwater; Nominee: Top of Fringe 2024 and the Denver Fringe Festival Exchange Award)

Mel McGlensey is Motorboat (Winner: 2024 Adelaide Fringe Exchange Award)

Murder, Oops! (Winner: 2025 Fringe Award for Comedic Theatre; Nominee: 2025 The Daredevil Award)

Role Play (Or The Hottest Day in Belgian History) (Winner: 2024 Best of the Broadwater Award)

Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin (Winner: 2025 Fringe International Award, 2024 Sydney Fringe Exchange Award)

The Anti “Yogi” (Winner: 2024 Fringe Award for Dance and Physical Theatre and Zephyr’s Zest Award; Nominee: 2024 Fringe Award for World Premiere, Denver Fringe Festival Exchange Award, and the Sydney Fringe Festival Exchange Award)

Woody Fu: One Man John Wick (Winner: 2025 Fringe Award for Comedy & Variety Acts and Adelaide Fringe Festival Exchange Award; Nominee: 2025 Top of the Fringe Award)

Rounding Out the List

Accordion Ryan’s Pop Bangers (Nominee: 2025 Fringe Award for Cabaret & Burlesque)

All The Boys I Blocked (Nominee: 2024 StageCrafts Select Award)

Beth Wants the D (Sold Out Run HFF25)

Biscuit Barrel: The 69 Sketch Show

Buen Camino

Call Me Crazy

Chris Grace: Sardines (A Comedy About Death)

Furiozo: Man Looking for Trouble (Nominee: 2024 Fringe Award for Comedy and Fringe International Award)

Hurricane Party

In the Black (Nominee: 2025 The Movie Book Club Award)

Just To Be Close to You (Nominee: 2025 Top of the Fringe Award, Adelaide Fringe Festival Exchange Award, and The Daredevil Award)

Marcus Is Alive (Nominee: 2025 StageCrafts Freeway Circuit Award)

Mike Blaha: International Joke

Mr. Chonkers

No Good Drunk

Not Without Right

Olivia Raine Atwood: Faking It (Nominee: 2024 StageCrafts Select Award)

Olivia Raine Atwood: Oops

One Man Poe: The Black Cat and The Raven & The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum (Nominee: 2025 The Screamiest Award)

Pandora’s Boombox (Nominee: 2025 Fringe Award for Dance & Physical Theatre)

RUGBURN

SMUT with Entendre Entendre (Sold Out Run HFF25)

The C Word

There’s Something Seriously Wrong with Cyrus (Nominee: 2024 Zephyr’s Zest Award)

Three Can Keep a Secret (Nominee: 2024 Fringe Award for Comedy and the Top of the Fringe Award)

Trust Me, I’m From Essex

30

JUN 2025

HFF25 Award Winners and Nominees!

by carly regal

HFF25 Community Award Winners
voted on by Fringe patrons and community

Top of the Fringe Award: And Her Children
Fringe International Award: Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin
Fringe First for World Premiere: And Her Children
Fringe Award for Cabaret & Burlesque: Ms. Tucker Will See You Now
Fringe Award for Clown & Alternative Comedy: Absolute Legends!
Fringe Award for Comedic Theatre: Murder, Oops!
Fringe Award for Comedy & Variety Acts: Woody Fu: One Man John Wick 2.0
Fringe Award for Dance & Physical Theatre: Holy Holy: The Birth of Disco
Fringe Award for Dramatic Theatre: And Her Children
Fringe Award for Immersive & Games: Funeral Show
Fringe Award for Musicals & Operas: One Up: The Musical
Fringe Award for Solo Theatre: QFWFQ

HFF25 Discover Fringe Award Winners
presented by organizations outside of the festival

Adelaide Fringe Festival Exchange Award, presented by Adelaide Fringe Festival in Adelaide, Australia: Woody Fu: One Man John Wick 2.0
Best of Fuery, presented by Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre: Sentience
Denver Fringe Festival Exchange Award, presented by Denver Fringe Festival in Denver, CO: Black and Blue
Ella Turenne Award, presented by Hollywood Fringe Access Advisory Committee: The Troll
Fringe Italia Off Exchange Award, presented by Fringe Italia Off in Italy: Stuck
International Fringe Encore Series, presented by SoHo Playhouse: And Her Children
No Room in the Green Room Award, presented by Make Believe Stage Productions, LLC: Tamra Wasserman presents: This is Real, This is Me (By Tamra Wasserman)
Playwright’s Promise Award, presented by The Inkwell Theater: NAPOLEON’S WH*RE SISTER
Spirit of the Fest Award, presented by Short+Sweet Hollywood:
79 Ways to Die – The Interactive Shakespeare Speedrun
Splash Award, presented by Namba Performing Arts Space, Inc: Couplet: Honey Honey Moon Moon
Sydney Fringe Festival Exchange Award, presented by Sydney Fringe Festival in Sydney, Australia: QFWFQ
The Daredevil Award, presented by Electric Lodge: Trans Mom vs. Family Court: Justice Sees No Gender
The “FIERCE ARTIST” AWARD, presented by Playhouse Arts “Zero to Fierce Festival”: A Peacock In The Rubble
The Loud Karma Emerging Women and Nonbinary Playwright’s Award, presented by Loud Karma Productions, LLC: First Place: The Road Theory; Second Place: I Hope You’re Having Fun in Hell, Dad; Third Place: So Baby
The Movie Book Club Award, presented by The Movie Book Club: GU; Falling: a disabled love story; To Be Liberated; TRU$T
The Planners’ Pick Award, presented by Theatre Planners: Menswear
The Sacred Fools’ Award for Bold Theatricality, presented by Sacred Fools: Holy Holy: The Birth of Disco
The Screamiest, presented by Midsummer Scream: Todd Macabre
The StageCrafts Freeway Circuit Award, presented by The StageCrafts: What Happens in the Dark
The Theatre Theater Playwright Award, presented by Theatre Theater Podcast: Dog of Carnage by: Benjamin Schwartz
Transcendent Craft Award, presented by Trans Stories / Joy Who Lived: Couplet: Honey Honey Moon Moon; Trans Mom vs. Family Court: Justice Sees No Gender
Zephyr’s Zest Award, presented by Theatre Planners Venues / Zephyr Theatre: The Server Slasher Massacre