Performer Information Pack Edinburgh Festival Fringe 7 – 31 August 2015

18-22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA Tel: 0131 524 3311 Email: [email protected]

Contents As the largest Arts Festival in the world, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival thrives on attracting a plethora of extraordinary, innovative, wonderful and bizarre entertainment to the Scottish capital for the month of August. Alongside the Book, Jazz, TV and International Festivals, the Fringe offers a prestigious and accessible platform to showcase artists and groups to an international audience as well as influential press and industry guests. Participating is exhilarating, ambitious and demanding. We recommend that all participants read this booklet carefully and touch base with the Fringe Society to make the most of your experience. 

The Edinburgh Festival & Fringe Society

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The Edinburgh Playhouse & The Boards

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Making Theatre Magic Commitment

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Operating Information

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Mandatory Costs

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Discretionary Costs

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All aBoard? How do I apply?

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Application Form

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society The Edinburgh Fringe Festival runs from Friday 7th of August 2015 to Monday 31st August 2015 with previews on the 5th – 7th of August. IMPORTANT DEADLINES Early registration fee discount – Wed 11th March 2015. Inclusion in the printed programme – Wed 8th April 2015. Printed programme launch – 4th June 2015. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Registration fees for 2015 are: • Full run - (6 or more performances - discount rate) - £295.20 (£246.00 excl VAT) • Full run - (6 or more performances - full rate) - £393.60 (£328.00 excl VAT) • Limited run (3 to 5 performances) - £204.00 (£170.00 excl VAT) • Limited run (1 or 2 performances) - £96.00 (£80.00 excl VAT) Please note there is no discounted fee for limited run shows. Your registration fee includes:  Access to facilities and professional development events at Fringe Central, the Participants’ Centre, in August.  Bespoke advice about how to manage your media and marketing campaign from the Media Office.  Individual advice from the Participant Development service to identify what you hope to get out of the Fringe and help you make the right contacts, whether you are interested in touring your show or more personal career development.  Year round support on all aspects of your Fringe visit including choosing your venue, legal and licensing issues and information for international companies.  Your show listing and image in the Fringe printed programme, online at www.edfringe.com and in the Fringe App. The Fringe Society website has a catalogue of online booklets to help anybody looking to participate in the Fringe. This includes a ‘How to do a show on the Fringe’ guide and information regarding publicity, budgeting and funding. Feel free to contact a member of their team at any point throughout your fringe journey using the following details: The Festival Fringe Society 180 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1QS Tel: +44 (0) 131 226 0026 Email: [email protected] www.edfringe.com

Edinburgh Playhouse & The Boards The Edinburgh Playhouse is the UK’s largest theatre and one of the most respected venues in the country. With over 3000 seats in the main auditorium, over half a million visitors each year and the best of Broadway, comedy & music on offer, we pride ourselves on providing an extraordinary experience for all who tread The Boards at our world-class venue. We showcase the best in ballet, opera, concerts and musicals and our diary boasts sell out performances of Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia and Mary Poppins. Due to our strong heritage, many comedians chose to film their UK tours in front of our loyal audience and we consistently attract the glitterati of the entertainment world. During the month of August the main house plays host to the Edinburgh International Festival as we embrace an eclectic programme of events. We also have main stage commitments to popular comedians and sell out variety shows. The Boards The Boards is our recently refurbished function space located at the front of the theatre above the main foyer of the Edinburgh Playhouse. Open throughout the year as a candlelit piano bar, the intimate venue is ideal for Cabaret, Music and Comedy. During the Fringe, the piano bar is transformed into a suitable fringe space by adding basic technical elements and a raised stage area. The glossy cabaret feel of the room is not sacrificed and both audience and artists alike favour this venue for the luxurious atmosphere maintained in the room. Without losing the organic essence of the fringe, this space offers a stylish, professional and affordable alternative to the black box and would suit acts looking to add a touch of glamour to their Fringe adventure. The Boards operates independently from our main stage programme of events. The venue has its own private entrance, technical facilities as well as Bar and Front of House facilities. Over the last 3 years, The Boards has gained in reputation as an official Fringe venue and we take care to design a programme with our predominantly commercial audience in mind. Essential Contacts General Manager – Adam Knight Development Manager – Sarah Jane Dooley Marketing Manager – Dean Feasby Deputy Marketing Manager – Pam Aldred Press Officer – Sarah Moyes Technical Manager – Graham Wade

Making Theatre Magic Our commitment We have a commitment to providing the best entertainment throughout the year to a huge and varied audience base. During the Fringe, we enjoy the opportunity to share our expertise with the wider arts community and are looking for acts who crave the same high standards and professional approach. You need to have a realistic expectation of the Fringe environment and be willing to collaborate and take advice from both the Fringe Society and the Edinburgh Playhouse. A proactive and energetic approach is paramount and we expect you to take the lead on managing all promotional activity including flyering, doing guest spots and attending networking events. Demonstrating stamina, good organisational skills and showing a willingness to learn and adapt will be key to your success. With this attitude in mind, we adhere to the following objectives:    

To quickly establish and maintain strong relationships with Visiting Companies. To develop the reputation of The Boards and maintain the integrity of the venue To provide links to our experienced Press & Marketing teams in order to generate recognition across the Media and Fringe Society. To facilitate ticket sales through our own ticketing platform both online (www.atgtickets.com) and through the Edinburgh Playhouse Box Office to maximise sales.

“From our initial meeting to the load-out after the show, every detail was attended to with great care. Not only is it a fantastic intimate performing space, but the support of the Playhouse and Boards team was instrumental in making our show a big success.” Countermeasure, Visiting Company, JAN 2015 “From publicity to marketing to venue configuration to sound and light technicians, the team brilliantly looked after every requirement of the group. In short, the Boards/Playhouse team showed that not only did they understand our show but they cared about promoting it and delivering the right audience.” The Other Guys, Visiting Company, AUG 2014 “The Boards at The Edinburgh Playhouse is one of those rooms playing host to Fringe performers that just exudes glamour…. everything seems designed to remind you that this is a special night out. Miss Hope Springs, Broadway Baby 5 Star Review, AUG 2014

Operational Information Scheduling Performance slots in The Boards are available across the full run of the Fringe. Shows can commence anytime between 10am and 8.30pm with the latest show closing at 9.30pm. It is important that we work together to programme your show at the optimum time of day to attract the right audience. While some time slots are rumoured to be more profitable than others, we believe that the success of your show relies heavily on its quality.

Slot Length Your show must run no longer than 60 minutes with no interval. The Fringe audience are known to commit to multiple performances each day and will expect each show to run to this tight schedule. To ensure our Front of House team can efficiently turn over the space and facilitate back to back performances each day in The Boards, we ask that you are able to complete your get in and subsequent get out of the space within 15 minutes. This brings your total slot length per show to 90 minutes including get in/out.

Show Run Length Most shows chose to commit to the full length of the fringe. To gain maximum exposure and benefit from early reviews, preview offers and to simply face the competition head on, we recommend you commit from Week 0. We are open to artists who want to do shorter runs and while we advise that opening a show in the middle of the run can prove difficult, we do have experience of delivering this type of scheduling.

Rehearsals All performers will be offered a dress rehearsal slot in the space. This time slot will be limited to 90 minutes per show. It is essential that you bring a fully rehearsed and performance ready piece to the fringe and that all cast members are present at this rehearsal. The 90 minute slot will allow time to acclimatise to the space and rehearse any technical requirements. To make this process as efficient and streamlined as possible you must complete and submit a technical questionnaire in advance. There will not be time to make changes during the run.

Performance Space We allocate the north end of The Boards Bar as the performance space. There is a raised stage (3.5m x 4.2m), basic fixed front lighting rig, PA and hand held microphone sound system and an acoustic appropriate for a cappella, solo voice or small band. CABARET STYLE CAPACITY (candlelit plush seating with drinks tables): 60 THEATRE STYLE CAPACITY (black chair rows of seats): 90

Operational Information cont... Dressing Room & Storage Facilities Dressing room space is available 30 minutes before each performance. Mirrors, water and power supply available upon request. No costumes or props are to be left on site overnight.

Front of House Facilities A full bar service will be available before and after each show. Coffees, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages will be available and we can offer a table service throughout the show if you desire the full cabaret atmosphere.

Accessibility Please note that due to the location of The Boards and the age of our Grad A listed building, the space is not accessible for wheelchair users. There are a total of 25 steps from ground level to The Boards with no lift facility available. Please note that we do not operate a Loop System for the Hearing Impaired in this area of the theatre.

Staffing The responsibility of operating your show on our premises lies with a member of our experienced in-house technical team. You will be assigned a technician to assist with your 90 minutes Dress Rehearsal and each performance slot including any changeovers. Any additional hours incurred as a result of special technical requirements or further rehearsal times will be subject to additional costs and must be agreed in advance. Front of House staff and Box Office staff are provided by the venue.

Box Office & Ticketing The Edinburgh Playhouse is owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group. We operate our own ticketing platform offering 24 hr tickets sales online. www.atgtickets.com is the most visited theatre website across the world. Using approved copy and images we will build your own dedicated show page to facilitate ticket sales. These tickets will also be available to purchase by phone and in person at the Edinburgh Playhouse Box Office. At all times, we ensure that the Fringe Society Box Office has the majority allocation of tickets. This allocation can be managed on a daily basis between Venue Management and the Fringe Box Office to ensure potential audience members have full access to all available tickets. When it comes to building your pricing plan, we offer advise and collaborate with each artist or group to find an appropriate pricing structure. We recommend considering a preview price, a weekday price and an elevated weekend price. We can also discuss the potential of opting into the Half Price Hut and adding student or concessions to your plan.

Operational Information cont... Marketing & Publicity The services of our Press & Marketing teams should always be considered as supplementary to the efforts of the Visiting Company. Your success at the Fringe relates directly to your imaginative and proactive approach to self publicity on the street, through social media and through the ability to garner reviews and star ratings. Requests for images, copy, video and quotes must be responded to in a timely and professional manner. All print and digital content must be subject to approval by the Venue Management. Here’s how our resources can help boost your show:   

1 x On-sale e-shot to previous Fringe audience database 1 x joint e-shot sent to previous Fringe audience database in advance of the August previews 1 x Press Release sent to national media contacts

Fringe Festival Brochure Inclusion All shows must be registered with the Edinburgh Fringe Society and place an entry in the Festival Fringe brochure. Entry is collated through an online portal called edfringeware. Venue Management will proof and approve your entry to this publication. The cost for inclusion in this publication is covered by your show registration fee which must be paid by the Visiting Company directly to the Fringe Society as a matter of priority. Please note that all approved images and copy will also appear on the Fringe website and application.

PRS If you are playing music that is within copyright at any point in your production you will be liable to pay PRS. The Fringe Society has an arrangement with the Performing Rights Society as regards to charges. Full details can be found on www.edfringe.com. You will be required to complete an online PRS form. This applies even if you are not playing music. All shows must submit as per the agreement between the Fringe Society and PRS.

FET If you have performers that are not resident in the UK, Foreign Entertainers Tax may apply. If you do not apply for FET to be reduced or waiver we are obliged to retain 25% of your gross box office receipts. The FEU8 form must be submitted to HMRC to see how much tax you are liable to pay. This must be submitted at least 2 months before your first performance date. Late applications may be refused and the Fringe are legally required to withhold any Box Office takings until tax has been calculated. Full guidance on how to arrange deductions is on www.edfringe.com. This must be done in advance of the fringe.

The Hire Deal We provide as part of your rental fee:       

Basic performance space 1 x Technical Staff for Dress Rehearsal (90 min session) 1 x Technical Staff for each scheduled performance (90 min per session including changeover time) Box Office & Front of House Staff Designated Venue Management contact throughout your hire agreement 2 x e-shots at the discretion of the Venue Management 1 x Press Release to national and local contacts

You provide:      

A fully rehearsed show complete with cast, costume, music, band & props. A brand for your show including logo and print design and all additional promotional materials Personal Insurance PRS declarations FET declarations Technical Questionnaire

Mandatory Costs Venue Hire Fee: £150 + VAT per performance Venue Box Office Commission is 4% plus VAT on all gross Box Office sales made through the Edinburgh Playhouse Box Office, ATG websales and phone sales. Fringe registration to be paid by the Company direct to the Festival Fringe Society. Fringe Box Office Commission is 4% plus VAT on all gross Box Office sales made through their Box Office. This deduction is made prior to your final payout and a statement itemising VAT & Commission will be provided. Fringe Registration Fee & Brochure Inclusion: • Full run - (6 or more performances - discount rate) - £295.20 (£246.00 excl VAT) • Full run - (6 or more performances - full rate) - £393.60 (£328.00 excl VAT) • Limited run (3 to 5 performances) - £204.00 (£170.00 excl VAT) • Limited run (1 or 2 performances) - £96.00 (£80.00 excl VAT) PRS (Performing Rights Society) Rate Foreign Entertainers Tax (if applicable) Personal Insurance (if applicable) Payment Plan & Deposit: The rental fee guarantee shall be paid in 3 instalments with the final instalment due one month in advance of the first performance. The first instalment will act as the non-refundable deposit for the rental. Settlement: The Fringe office will pay out money taken via their Box Office, minus their commission, 4 weeks after the end of the Fringe Festival directly to you. You will also settle directly with the venue for all ticket sales processed through the ATG platform taking into account any additional discretionary costs incurred. This can take up to 8 weeks from your end date to process.

Discretionary Costs Technical Staff If you require any additional technical equipment or man hours to operate this equipment, this is subject to additional charge and is not covered by your room hire agreement. Equipment is ordered and delivered to the venue in advance of the Fringe to ensure availability and competitive prices. Formal approval of costs must be agreed in advance and will be recharged at settlement stage. Merchandise All merchandise sold by our Front of House team will be subject to a 25% commission. Any merchandise sold by the Visiting Company will be subject to a 15% commission charge. If you intend to sell merchandise on the premises this muse be declared and an audit of stock levels completed at the start and end of the run. Miscellaneous Charges Please be aware that use of the photocopier and office resources are subject to an additional charge. Taxis and couriers can be organised on behalf of the Visiting Company and will be subject to recharge at settlement stage.

Come aBoard! To register interest, simply supply the following information by email:       

Company Name A Brief History or you or your Company’s work Brief Show Synopsis Reviews & evidence of recent accolades Any supporting videos or sound bites Basic Tech Requirements Why do you want to perform at The Boards?

CONTACT INFORMATION: [email protected] [email protected] 0131 524 3311

We look forward to hearing from you.