This blog post will be continually updated as more artist marketing opportunities get announced.

See below for the Fringe-sponsored and organized marketing opportunities you’ll have at your disposal – there are many chances to let people know about your show now through June!

Office Hours

It’s at the top for a reason! Join Hollywood Fringe staff and participants for weekly casual meet-ups at different bars and restaurants around Hollywood. These events are your chance to start building your network and market your show! Office Hours take place on Wednesdays from 7 – 10 pm. As the schedule is updated, be sure to check out the events page for where they’ll be.

Lightning Round
Come on down to Fringe HQ on May 24th & 25th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and us your favorite line from your show! Come in costume, make that impression! We’ll be posting it to our socials during the month of May and June! Sign up here to make sure you reserve a spot!

Postcards & Posters and where to drop them off
Bring your postcards & a single poster to Fringe HQ during any open Fringe HQ hours Wednesday- Sunday. Please keep in mind that poster space is limited, so we cannot accept posters larger than 11 × 17. Please check in with a member of Fringe Staff, and we will provide you instructions on placement (& hang the poster for you!)! We will also begin accepting posters & postcards (limit 40) at Office Hours starting April 30th.

It’s a great way to engage with your audience at Fringe. A reminder: print the Hollywood Fringe logo on your materials; you can find the logo on the Fringe site at https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/branding

Fringe Venues & local Hollywood businesses are also great places to put up your posters and flyers. Please make sure to talk with the venue or establishment manager first before putting up your promotional material. 

Postcard Etiquette Reminders!
Do not move/cover up other postcards with your own in any spaces. Fringe staff won’t hesitate to remove your flyers if you do this. If you’re having trouble finding room, consult with the person you asked permission from to drop them off! 
Don’t hand out postcards to an audience walking out of a show unless you have explicit permission. 
Do not hand out postcards in the public areas of the Ovation Center (the mall surrounding Fringe HQ) as there is a strict no solicitation policy and you will be asked to move. You may promote your show on Hollywood Blvd, though!
Don’t leave flyers at any business without permission. And don’t litter!

Ads on the Fringe Site
You can purchase ads on the Hollywood Fringe site with special participant rates (50% off the normal rate). This is an effective and inexpensive way to draw a wider audience to your show. Visit hollywoodfringe.org/market to check out your options.

HFF25 Discounts for Commissioners Club members and volunteers
Hollywood Fringe Festival is a nonprofit organization that relies heavily on volunteers and small donations to continue to support this amazing community of artists. We wouldn’t be able to run the Hollywood Fringe Festival without these amazing people! One way you can help us say thank you is by offering them a free or discounted ticket to your show.  

Here’s how to advertise your discounts for HFF members and volunteers:

STEP ONE: Create your code – our suggested discount is $5 off (or more)! Please name your code “HFFThanks”

STEP TWO: Fill out this form so we can add your show to the list!

Cabaret
Fringe Cabaret is the only official Hollywood Fringe Festival sampler platter! Applications are open now! You can also promote your show by offering free tickets or swag to be raffled off during Cabaret performances!!

Runway: Showcasing The Best of Hollywood Fringe 2025 Costume Design
At our annual fashion show and party we shine the spotlight on the brilliant costumes that will grace stages across Hollywood during the festival. Select shows will be given the chance to strut their stuff, then the audience will vote for their favorite design! Get audiences excited about your show and celebrate the work of incredible fringe designers.

Hollywood Fringe productions can apply for the chance to compete in Runway using this form.

The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 25th before midnight. More information about the qualifying criteria is available on the application form. Good luck!

Sponsored Drink Auction for our June 11th Opening Night Party

This marketing opportunity will become active and available for entry at the end of the month- check your emails!

Busking

Busking is back better than ever! We have some options for you this time for you to perform and get the word out about your show! Sign-up here!

KEEPING IT LEGAL 

We are not lawyers, so we are not able to give legal advice, but we wanted to provide some resources that may help you start your own research journey! Always consult a lawyer if you have any questions.

Reminder, just because Fringe is a non-profit organization and most shows that participate are low-budget (or free ticket) productions doesn’t mean copyright holders can’t claim infringement. You still need to make sure you have the rights to fulfill your vision.

For reference, all primary producers should be aware that there is a paragraph in the registration materials that requires you to assure that you own or otherwise have the rights to any and all intellectual property in your project, in the marketing materials as well as the production itself.  Your show’s content is ultimately your responsibility, and you should clear all materials (visuals, music, sound, script, promotional materials, printed and digital images, etc.) before anything goes to print or you perform on stage at HFF. Consult with your attorney if you have any questions. 

Below are some examples of issues that may need to be resolved or considered before your guide listing goes to print and tickets go on sale: 

• If you (or a team member) are not the writer on your HFF project, ensure you have the writer’s permission, OR have the rights to the published work you present at the festival. 

• You should have the rights to any imagery you use in promoting your HFF show (in the guide, on our website, and any other place you print or publish images) or within the show itself. Taking a photo off a website is likely problematic; please confirm it is copyright-free or obtain a license for the use.

• You should not use a likeness that may be protected or is otherwise subject to copyright (for example, part of an image that is slightly modified or re-created but still visibly similar to branding or an image that you do not own). 

• You should use copyright-free music, music that you (or a team member) wrote, music you have direct permission to use AND/OR music you have obtained a license for (each individual published song needs a license) before, after or during your show.

• Parodies (or even imagery/sound/catch phrases/costumes) that resemble a real person, group, company, or organization too closely may be legally problematic, so please consult an attorney to obtain a legal opinion before proceeding. 

• Public domain is a complex issue, so please consult an attorney and don’t make assumptions that material is free to use.   

There are many online resources, but AI or ChatGPT should not be considered reliable for advice. 

Additional Sources:

https://www.eyeem.com/blog/photo-copyright-101-is-it-legal-to-use-photos-from-the-internet

https://images.google.com/

Hello Artists! 

This June, we’ll see over 350 show premieres in Hollywood at over 25 venues in LA and while everyone’s been getting ready for their productions, the question of “How do I market my show?” may have entered your mind. Well, no fear! We’ll touch on just some of the ways you can market your show in print media! 

However, before we dive in, we have to talk about rights, licensing, and branding.

You must own, have permission to use (copyright-free counts here) or have a license for every element of your show (music, sound, script, visuals, promotional materials/printed and digital images, etc.).

An additional reminder: We strongly encourage placing the Fringe logo on your print materials to indicate your show is a part of the larger festival. All those branding images can be found here: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/branding

Any materials dropped at Fringe Central without this logo will be filed and available for pickup until the last day of the festival, when it will be recycled.

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s dive into all the ways print media will possibly come into play with your Fringe experience! 

Guide Ads

The Hollywood Fringe Festival will be releasing a festival guide, which will feature all of the shows that registered by April 15th. The Guide ads are the only way to have an image of your show in the Guide. Once a show is registered (i.e. paid the registration fee $300) you will get access to discounts on the guide ad pages as well! To check out last year’s 2024 Guide, check it out here.

For information on how to purchase an ad for our guide check out https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/market

More information on specs, Canva, and Photoshop templates can be found here!

Postcards & Posters

Distributing postcards, posters, and/or other creative marketing products is a great way to market your show. And keep in mind, based on last year’s 2024 festival, that 12.7% of surveyed festival audiences made decisions on which show to see based on a show’s poster & postcards. Here are some rules (and tips!) regarding your printed goods.

You MUST…

• Print the Hollywood Fringe logo on your materials. 

• You can download the logo at hollywoodfringe.org/branding (if you forget to do this, you can print stickers of the Fringe logo and place them on the flyers).

You MUST NOT…

• Leave or adhere your promotional materials anywhere without permission, especially in public places. The city can issue a fine for unauthorized posters/flyers. If you have a relationship with a local business or would like to put up your posters at a local business, you MUST always ask first!

You SHOULD…

• Use creativity to make your materials stand out from the crowd!

• Make sure the main text is legible, even from a few feet away.

• Include essential info: What, Where, When, and How Much are the most important details. Don’t leave this out, but also don’t include so much text that it overwhelms your materials.

• Spell check, spell check, spell check!

• Offer your materials to people you don’t know, but make conversation first. Be engaging!

• Place your postcards in Fringe Central (where we’ll only be able to take 40 postcards from each production, and we’ll only accept posters no larger than 11×17 inches). Please bring them to any Fringe Office Hours (Wednesdays), and Fringe Staff will collect your materials for Fringe Central.

You can also ask Fringe Venues & Hot Spots (make sure to talk with the venue or establishment manager first). Let them know you are part of the Hollywood Fringe, and they’ll let you know where you can display your materials if they have space.  

You SHOULD NOT…

• Move/cover up other postcards with your own. The Fringe staff won’t hesitate to remove your flyers if you do this. If you’re having trouble finding room, consult with the venue’s manager.

• Hand out postcards to an audience walking out of a show unless you have permission. 

• Print more flyers than you need – please be mindful of the environment.

• Leave flyers at any business without permission

Finally, Discounts! 

Make sure to check out our participant packet (found at https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/participants) that also has some wonderful discounts from local businesses and artists on such services like media packages, graphic designers, and printing!

So go out there, be brave, be kind, and market the hell out of your show!

Hey Everyone! 

So we’ve been getting questions on how to start one’s digital marketing journey while here at Fringe— no worries! I’m happy to review some starter pointers that can be super helpful when marketing your show. After all many of us are creating and producing our show so I totally get how daunting marketing can feel. This blog post will give you a couple of ideas on how to market your show in the digital landscape— Let’s start!

Actually! Before we dive in, we have to talk about rights, licensing, and branding.

We live in a world of AI, which means that now, more than ever, it is quick and easy for lawyers to search images, show titles, and show content for potential infringements. You can be held liable years after your show has ended because items on the internet live forever.

You must own, have permission to use (copyright-free counts here) or have a license for every element of your show (music, sound, script, visuals, promotional materials/printed and digital images, etc.).

An additional reminder: We strongly encourage placing the Fringe logo on your digital materials to indicate your show is a part of the larger festival. All those branding images can be found here: https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/branding

Okay, now, back to digital marketing…

Tapping into your Community

Okay, so this one may sound a bit obvious at first, and that’s okay! Many of us have social media accounts and use it to stay in touch with friends and family. Bringing a show to Fringe is no small feat, and letting your circles know what you’re up to is the first step! Now I understand that it can sometimes feel like you’re shouting from the rooftops of Mt. Digital, wondering if anyone is listening— people are! Honestly, when I would be producing a show it even took me a while to make sure that everyone knew what I was up to (in fact, sometimes I still don’t manage to tell everyone— big mistake!).

I understand that there are some nerves you might get even when telling your friends, but you’ll have to know that you’re community wants to support you! Even those closest to you appreciate a reminder about what you’ve got going on— feel free to tell ’em!

Using the Fringe Site’s Ad Impressions

Our site is a crazy wonderful work-in-progress that has continued to change and morph based on the needs of our artists. Honestly, it’s an amazing piece of tech that was created alongside the origins of the Hollywood Fringe Festival back in 2010 (actually, work on the site began in 2008 if I’m not mistaken— thanks Ben!). 

The Hollywood Fringe site is a unique platform because it hosts our artists’ project pages, allowing for the editing and curation of these pages, while also hosting our ticketing sales. This means the site gets a lot of traffic from both artists and audiences. In 2024 alone, the site saw 1,385,912 visits— that’s like if the whole population of San Diego visited the site!

Now, what is an Ad impression? An Ad Impression is the singular time your image, followed by a short description of your choosing, pops up on the site ad is seen by a user. This is why when you check out the Hollywood Fringe Market located at https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/market you’ll see Impressions sold in packs of 4,500 all the way to 45,000.

Tip: Be aware of when you buying your Ad and the duration your Ad may be shown for. For example, 4,500 Ad Impressions purchased and activated right now may last a week as fewer users are on the site, but buy and activate that same group of 4,500 Ad Impressions in mid-May when artists and audiences are on the site and you may see that those Ad Impressions last a couple of days due to high user volume. 

Discounts to Volunteers and Commissioner Club Members

Get a head start on packing your audiences and promoting your show by providing discounted tickets for Hollywood Fringe club members and volunteers – after all these are the people that make this festival possible! One way you can help us say ‘Thank You’ is by offering them a free or discounted ticket to your show through our Google form.

STEP ONE: Create a discount code on your project page, use HFFThanks. Our suggested discount is $5 off (or more).

STEP TWO: Fill out the Google form so we can add your show to the list!

Tapping into the Fringe Community

We’ve got the Official Hollywood Fringe Facebook Group! Connect with your fellow artists there!

There’s also a couple of unofficial Hollywood Fringe Groups run by past and current theatre artists called Hollywood Fringe Festival 2025 & Fringers Alliance.

Outside of Fringe, other Facebook groups that talk about Socal & LA Theatre at large are Los Angeles Theatre Artists and So Cal Theatre News.

Finally, Discounts! 

Make sure to check out our participant packet (found at https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/participants) that also has some wonderful discounts from local businesses and artists on such services like media packages and graphic designers.

And that’s what I have for ya right now on marketing your show digitally! Now go out there and shout from the top of the mountains that you’ve got a great show coming this June!

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING INTERNSHIP 

Hollywood Fringe is currently seeking a Social Media and Marketing Intern for the 2025 festival! Interning with Fringe is the best way to get hands-on experience behind the scenes of the largest performing arts festival on the West Coast. Interns work directly with Fringe staff to help run various aspects of the festival. 

DESCRIPTION

The Social Media and Marketing Intern will work under the supervision of the Marketing and Operations Manager, Jeannette Srinivasan, to plan and execute social media posts for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival on the West Coast, taking place in Hollywood in June. They will analyze social media data from past years to plan new branding for Hollywood Fringe 2026. The intern will assist with the new Fringe podcast, “On the Fringe,” taking creative lead on at least one episode. This position will work 20 hours a week from June 2nd through October 17th, 2025.   

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be 18+ years of age. Specific desire to be involved in late-night Hollywood Fringe events and planning. Background in customer service or community engagement (as an employee, student, or volunteer) is a plus. Experience working at large events is great! Experience with social media platforms, especially Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Ability to keep a level head amid great fun and confusion. DIY skills are a major plus. Must be proficient in Google Docs, especially Google Sheets and Google Forms. Experience with Canva is a plus 

BACKGROUND

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is an annual, open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community. Each June during the Hollywood Fringe, the arts infiltrate the Hollywood neighborhood: fully equipped theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants, and unexpected places host hundreds of productions by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers.  Participation in the Hollywood Fringe is completely open and uncensored. This free-for-all approach underlines the festival’s mission to be a platform for artists without the barrier of a curating body. By opening the gates to anyone with a vision, the festival can exhibit the most diverse and cutting-edge points of view the world has to offer. Additionally, by creating an environment where artists must self-produce their work, the Fringe motivates its participants to cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurialism in the arts. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please fill out the following Google form by Friday, May 2nd, 2025, at 11:59 pm PT to apply for this position: 2025 Social Media and Marketing Internship Application