Want to be a venue in 2020?
Do you run a venue or want to manage a venue in 2020?
We made a big change this year, and instead of running the venues ourselves we are using independent venues, and venue managers. If you have a venue in our Fringe Zone, we would be delighted if you were a venue for the festival. You can either book the shows yourself, or we can match you up with a venue manager to handle the artists, tech, box office and bookings.
Big Changes from 2019
NEW MODEL
We are moving to a new model closer to the Edinburgh Fringe model, and which is similar to Hollywood Fringe and Rochester Fringe models. What are these models, and how is it different from last year?
VENUES
The biggest change is how venues are run, and how artists obtain their venues. (in the past they were just randomly assigned venues and slots as late as February. We think this system can be much better for venues and artists.) We are recruiting independently run venues and venue managers. These venue managers either run their venues year round, or are temporarily running the venues during the festivals. Venues can be anything from proper theatres, to rooms in the back of bars, hotels conference rooms, classrooms, galleries, etc. Anything can be a venue at the Fringe.
- Talk to us about your plans. Venues that are in the zone, and gain permission to be a venue (right now we want to have direct contact with possible venues and managers, to help talk them through the process, and make sure they know we are here to support them)
- Then we put up your basic venue information.
- You select the shows that work for you, schedule them, and offer them a deal. (flat fee, %, combination, etc.)
- They accept or reject your deal. If they accept, you have booked your first fringe show!
- Book another show!
We are encouraging venues to be similar to past years in costs.
NO VENUE? BUT WANT TO MANAGE?
We already have some venues that don't want to do the task of booking the shows (it is easy in our online system), figure out the tech (fringe's have simple tech), run the box office (we have a system for that in our same software program), or help the audiences into the shows. That is what we need managers for. If approved, you could be matched up with a venue that just wants to be a space, and not manage everything. Talk to us about this!
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.
2019 Fringe Zone
Ready to run or manage a venue?
Contact us at [email protected] with your address and any other information. We will talk with you about your ideas, and if it is approved we will give you a link to add your venue. We will also happily set up a meeting with you to help train you, and set up or information in the system! We know no one has ever done this before this way, so we want to help you every step of the way!
