Step Two: Apply to and Communicate with your Preferred Venue(s)

This page will help you understand every part of Step Two: Apply to and Communicate with  your Preferred Venue(s)

Before you start Step Two of the process, look at this page.   We will try to tell and show you what takes place in this step.

If you missed Step One, or need to go back to it click on the Step One button below:
Did you read everything on the 2019 Performers page?  Everything you need to know is on that one page.  ​

COSTS FOR STEP TWO: 

VENUE RENT:
Venue rents vary.  Many venues charge no rent, but will keep a percentage of box office.  Others may charge a small amount, but will allow participants to keep all or most of the box office.  Some venues may be free, but ask you to encourage your audience to buy a drink at their establishment.  Some fees may include technical, some may just be a bare room. Please make sure to be very clear with your venue about what is and is not included in your deal.  We are hoping on average that for a 1 hour show with minimal load-in and load-out, and some very basic lighting and sound equipment that costs are around $20-$60 per performance for those venues that charge up front, or 10%-30% of box office for those venues that work off of the box office split.    

Find a Venue:

STEP TWO: APPLY TO AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PREFERRED VENUE(S):
Ready to take the next step?  Get ready to hunt for a venue.  We have made this process easier by securing a list of venues interested in hosting Fringe programming.  When you apply, they will receive an email with a link to your project. 
 
Already have leads on a venue in the Fringe Zone?  You can register your own venue for free. Participants converting unlikely spaces into full-fledged Fringe venues is the lifeblood of the festival.  You might also open your new venue to other fringe projects, offsetting your costs and expanding opportunities to other artists.
 
Remember, Fringe venues can be anywhere: theatres, clubs, bars, restaurants, found spaces, outdoor spaces… anything you have rights/permission to control for the duration of your event/performances/exhibitions.  All we ask is that you keep it in the Fringe Zone, to make it easy for audiences to experience and walk to as many shows as possible. Fringe audiences like to pack in as many experiences as possible during the festival, and close venues help with this experience.
 
If you have trouble finding a suitable venue, or want to find a fun found space for your specific show, or have trouble booking a venue or communicating with your venue, contact us at support@pittsburghfringe.org.
 
ONE SHOW / ONE VENUE
We have a one show / one venue rule. Once you confirm your show with a venue, you cannot perform that same, exact show at any other venue. In the Fringe printed guide and website, your show will be listed as playing at one venue only. If you are an actor in a play or a musician in a band, you may perform at more than one venue IF you are also in a totally different play or band. (For example, John Doe can perform in Romeo & Juliet at one venue, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at another venue, but the same exact production of Romeo & Juliet cannot be performed at more than one venue.) That said, any individual or group may submit multiple productions to the Fringe: simply create a different project.

FESTIVAL FOOTPRINT
To keep the festival a walkable and festive environment, we are requiring all venues to stick to our Fringe Zone area.  The second big change for 2019 is that we are moving the Fringe Zone to better accommodate our new venue structure. 

The new zone is up or down Penn Ave about a mile in either direction from The Alloy Studios, 5530 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, and off of that area of Penn Ave a few blocks in either direction.  If you aren't sure if you are in the "Zone."  Please contact us to see if your venue would be approved.  ​

Log In:

If you have left after Step One, you'll need to Log In.

Explore Venues:

Since we are just moving to this new structure, we are still getting new venues to sign on.  We hope to have even more venues soon!  Also, remember the venues are new at working with the fringe in this way (and the website), so be patient with them.

How to get there:

To browse venues any time you want, click the orange "Venues" in the top navigation area.

Venues vs. Spaces:

On the website we call a venue a specific location, and a Space is the actual Performing space.  This is because some venue locations may have several Performing Spaces.  So click on the Venues, and you can also explore the spaces within a venue.

Sample Venue Screenshot:

This sample screenshot of Kelly Strayhorn Theatre's Alloy Studios About page.  On the left you can also view pictures and videos if the venue has them.

Sample Spaces Screenshot:

Sample Pick a Venue Screenshot:

Once you know which venues you want to apply you can go back to  your "Choose Space" part of the process.  Remember this screen below?  Next we'll show you how to get back to this page.

So to find that follow the following steps:
Go to the Me Drop Down on the far top right corner.
Select "My Projects" (see arrow)

This is your Projects Page:

You'll probably just have one.  These are some sample shows.

Select the Project that you want to find a venue for:

It will bring you to a show page:

Select on the large orange "Complete Registration" page to get back to the workflow you started in Step One:

That will take you to the workflow page:

Select where in the workflow you want to go.  In this case you are going to "CHOOSE SPACE"

You'll go back to this page:

Remember when you hit APPLY - that is it.  Your show information goes right to them.  That is how you ask to apply.  So don't hit "APPLY" until you know you want to apply to them!

You can apply to more than one, or start with one, and come back and do another if you are not accepted.  

If after applied you select the "Next Step" button the bottom....

Right now there is a little known error on the site that is being worked on.  If after you click next like...
If you do happen to select that (and who doesn't want to!), you will go to this error page.

See you applied to the first one!

You are welcome to apply to as many spaces  as you want (yes, notice it is listed by space not venue).  But don't overdo it, and waste their time.  

You have a deal!

When a venue offers you a deal, you'll be able to see it on your show page. (Look above to remember how to get there, but basically under the "ME" drop down, select "My Productions" and then the show you want to look at.   (You will probably also receive an email alerting you to that fact.)  

If you don't see it above - here it is.  Select the "View Deal" link.

NOW: The Deal

If they want your show, they will send you a "Deal."  It will look something like this (of course this is super fake). On the right will be the dates and times they offer you.  Make sure you can perform all those times!  On the left will be a deal value (which doesn't really work if you are doing a %).  Under that is "Deal Terms" this is where the venue should line up the basics of your deal.  This will probably not outlay everything, and you may also sign a contract.  This is just a great place to agree on the basics of the deal, and all be super clear on the dates.  The dates here will populate your show and ticket sales automatically.  So make sure they are right!

Deal

Notice there will be a total deal value (which may not quite work in some sorts of situations, so read the terms carefully).  Then you have the Deal Terms - Read that carefully.  If you aren't sure what they mean, or you can make a deal suggestion back.  Just remember some venues, are going to want to be consistent across the board for all the shows, and may not accept your suggestions.  If you don't like the deal, you can say no.  There are other venues, or find your own venue!  There are always more options.

Notice on the right they list the dates and times they are offering you.  You can agree to them, or not.  But make sure you can perform at all those times, it is very hard to make changes after you agree to the terms, and indeed they may not be able to at all!  

Confirm Deal

To confirm the deal just push the "Confirm Deal & Register."  It won't really register you, but you will now have a venue!  You now just need to do Step Three (if you haven't already - you could have already done it).

Check on your Performances

Once you have your shows agreed upon with your venue, they will show up in your Admin area.

That will take you here:

You'll have lots of good information you can find here for the future.  Like ticket sales, and your program guide proof etc.!

That's It!  

You have now completely finished Step Twp!  Now on to Step Three - Finalizing registration for your show!