Boulder Fringe FAQ
How do I contact Boulder International Fringe?
General contact info:
Boulder International Fringe Festival
info@boulderfringe.com | www.Boulderfringe.com
1020 1/2 Portland St., Boulder, CO 80302
Fringe Fone: 303-803-5643
What is Fringe?
The Boulder International Fringe Festival is an annual 12-day un-juried arts event packed with live theatre, dance, circus art, media art, cinema, visual art, spoken word, puppetry, workshops and storytelling. The Boulder Fringe hosts artists, local and international that presents a series of events in twelve days at venues throughout downtown Boulder.
When is Fringe?
The 2010 Festival will be Wednesday, August 18 through Sunday, August 29.
Where is Fringe?
Theater auditoriums, art galleries, coffee shops, libraries, churches, rooftops, taxis, restaurants, parks, open space and retail shops play host to fringe artists, all within Boulder’s cultural corridor in the heart of downtown.
How long has Boulder International Fringe Festival been around?
Our first annual festival was in August 2005 and has continued in August every year since. For a brief history of Fringe Festivals, see below.
How much are tickets?
2010 Ticket Prices
Theater and Dance Venues: Ticket prices are chosen by the individual artists (between $0-15). Specific prices for each show will be published online and in our Festival Program in July. Tickets are available online or at the door one hour prior to the event.
Music Venue: Ticket prices are chosen by the individual artists (between $0-15). Specific prices for each show will be published online and in our Festival Program in July. Tickets are available online or at the door one hour prior to the event.
Special Events: Prices for special events vary greatly and prices will be published online and in our Festival Program in July. Tickets are available online or at the door 30 minutes prior to the event.
Workshops: Prices for workshops vary greatly and prices will be published online and in our Festival Program in July. Registration is available online or at the door 30 minutes prior to the event.
Are artists guaranteed anything? (do the artists get paid?)
No. But they do receive 100% of the box sales from their shows. It is up to individual artists or companies to promote their show in conjunction with the Fringe. We promote the Festival and provide our participants with guidance on how to have a successful Fringe run and each artist add their own energy to the process.
How are Fringe shows selected?
Boulder’s International Fringe is unjuried and selects applications on a first come, first served basis and by lottery. No one auditions, no one decides what goes in. All those who did not get in either by first come, first served (Early Bird) or by the lottery drawing are put on a waiting list in the order they applied and notified when vacancies appear. Payment in full confirms your place in the Fringe.
How much does it cost to put up a show at Fringe?
Theater and Dance: There is a $42 non refundable application fee and the Listing and Production fees depend on the size venue you use. $665 is the approximate Listing and Production fee for a theater company with a 99 seat venue. The Listing and Production fees cover venue fees, advanced ticket sales, tech and box office staff for six shows, as well as a listing in the printed program, information on the Web site and online audience rating. For more detailed information, see theTHEATER AND DANCE Application.
Music: There is a $29 non refundable application fee and the Listing/Production fees range between $115-$355, depending on type of venue and desired performance length. The Listing/Production fee covers venue fees, advanced ticket sales, a sound tech and box office staff, a listing in the printed program, information on the Web site and online audience rating. For more detailed information, see the MUSIC Application.
How are venues assigned?
Theater and Dance: The application has spaces for venue size and type choice. The 3 categories are: Small (20-49 seats), Medium (50-99 seats) and Large (100+ seats). Each category has an associated cost. There are also blanks for desired stage/rigging/A/V needs. The Fringe emphasizes raw performance and an adventurous spirit. Keep the technical aspects simple and enjoy the freedom.
Music: The Music venues choices are Small/Coffeeshop venue or Regular/Bar Venue. Based on the selections made in the application and technical questionnaire, we do our best to place each act in their desired venue.
How are the shows scheduled?
We take attendance data from previous years and crunch the numbers to find which schedule slots were historically the most attended and which were the least. From this data, we put all schedule slots into six strata – best, great, good, okay, fine and yucky. Each show is assigned one performance slot in each strata, and no show is ever given two performance slots in one day, unless their own scheduling conflicts require it. The festival is scheduled anonymously and takes at least 30 person-hours to get right. By scheduling the Festival this way, everyone in the Fringe has an equal shot at getting audiences—at least, statistically-speaking.
If an artist is chosen to participate in the Boulder Fringe, what does the Fringe provide?
The Listing and Production fees cover venue fees, advanced ticket sales, tech and box office staff for one to six shows (depending on performance type), a listing in the printed program, listing on the Web site and online audience rating. We also work hard on marketing for the entire festival, and do our best to get every show reviewed in a local paper. We’ll also include you and your artists in any Fringe-artist discounts that we offer including special artist’s ad rates in our program guide.
So what does an artist have to provide?
Passion! Printing your own flyers, posters, programs and other promotional materials. Contacting the press about your own show, setting up interviews, getting listed in previews and reviews. Mingle and work the crowd during the festival, promote your own show, talk to people, give sneak previews, pull in audience off the streets.
What if an artist wants to do their show in a place that is not what would be considered a normal venue?
That’s what we’d call a Bring Your Own Venue (BYOV). See next question.
What is a BYOV?
Any performance space that is not a typical venue such as a the back of a taxi, a school bus, a large cardboard box, a life size dinosaur skeleton or an inflatable life size replica of the post office. If your show falls into this category, you will select to do a BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) on the THEATER AND DANCE Application.
How do I volunteer to help with the Fringe?
To sign up, fill out the simple online VOLUNTEER APPLICATION. Or, if you’d like to get more information about volunteering, click here.
How can I become a Fringe Donor?
As an individual, you can make a big difference to the Fringe by becoming a Fringe Donor. There’s a Donor package to suit everyone. To find out more informationabout Donorship, click here.
How can I become a Fringe Sponsor?
There are many wonderful opportunities to support the Fringe and get visibility for you or your business. To find out more information about Sponsorship, click here.
How do I find out more about the Fringe?
If your question has not been answered here or elsewhere on the website, please email us at info@boulderfringe.com or call 303-803-5643 and we’ll be happy to help you.
