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Performers downloads updateds for Fringe 2008 - click here


General Information for Performers 2008


The application process for the 2008 Free Festival has completed, however we are still able to take in last-minute requests, right up to the start of the Fringe, and can accomodate if we have remaining space - just email us on info@freefestival.co.uk

Our current performance spaces for 2008 are listed further down this page, and will will give you a good idea of what our venues are like. Our main application process for 2009 will start in january 2008, however you can email us at info@freefestival.co.uk at any time to tregiste ryour interest or ask us any questions!


About The Free Festival Venues - How does it work or differ from other Fringe venues?


The Upstairs room at Lindsay'sLaughing Horse Comedy, along with an organising group including several other Fringe Promoters and Performers (see here) offer a completely different deal in a Fringe venue for performers. Usually venues at the Fringe charge performers a large amount of money for a room, and then further costs for appearing in venue brochures, a split of the door, publicity costs, technicians and usually many other things. This is on top of the already expensive accommodation, publicity and programme entry that need to be organised for a Fringe show. WE DO NOT DO THAT.

All performers at our venues can book a space FOR FREE. There are no venue costs, whatsoever. However, acts at our venues cannot charge audiences to see their shows, although the performers can carry out a collection at the end of the performance. We provide a fully set-up venue - lights, PA, stage, seating - you provide your show and your own publicity.

We also organise shared publicity,  with a large print-run (30,000) programme available and distributed for Free Festival shows, for this the performers share the costs which is minimal.

In 2004 - 2007, a well-performed collection averaged £1.20 per audience member, with most show averaging 40-50 people in the audience at both venues. Most shows in all venues can achieve or surpass these sort of audience figures with an entry in the Fringe programme, and effective advertising during the Fringe..

Peak evening audiences of up to 80-100 are possible and were achieved throughout the Fringe in 2005, 2006 and 2007 at many times of the day.

wpe1.jpg (5398 bytes)The average audience at one of our evening Free Festival shows in 2007 was 45 people, with lots of evening shows selling out. With audiences of 20-50 expected at lunchtime and afternoon shows for well publicised shows. This is a lot more than for a lot of shows in the bigger venues. On average, if your show is good, somebody will donate £1.20 to a properly carried out collection at the end of a performance. The Free Festival gives you the opportunity to 'do the Fringe' and either make a small amount of money, break even or only loose a little - and you will loose a lot less money by doing it this way that spending £1000's on a traditional venue.

By doing a show for Free you still have all the benefits of performing a show the traditional way, without the financial burden and stress. There will be a full programme launch to the press in 2008. Most shows at the Free Festival Venues in 2007 was reviewed (click here for a selection of 2007 Reviews), some several times, with eight 5-star reviews, 30 4-star reviews and numerous three-star reviews from all of the main reviewers, including The Scotsman, The Times, Metro, The List, The Stage, Chortle, Festival FM, Three Weeks, Freshair, Scotsgay, Edinburgh Guide and many other publications. Shows have been picked up to tour other festivals, performers have received bookings for further work through the year, and advanced their careers. During the Fringe acts have also had the chance to perform their shows in front of large, appreciative audiences - instead of the small audiences usually associated with the Fringe.

Over the last four years we have proved to audiences, the press and performers that our Free venues relate to quality shows that just happen to be free; quality and professionally organised, set-up and managed venues - that just happen to be free. Free does not, and should not mean low-quality or unprofessional.

Basement RoomThe Free Festival lets performers enjoy the Fringe - without the financial burden of running a show the traditional way, performers can concentrate on their show. There isn't the competitiveness between performers trying to grab audiences for their own shows, and in previous years all performers have shown a genuine community spirit helping each other and developing larger audiences and a wonderful social atmosphere.

Other Benefits - In January/February there will be Free Festival roadshows in London and Edinburgh for you to talk to promoters and performers from previous years, and there will be a pre-Fringe get-together in July. In June & July there will be a London preview season of shows. We offer advice and emails helping you put your show and PR together. Laughing Horse organises a series of social events throughout the Fringe for performers, and all of our bars offer performer discounts on Food and drink, and  with the aid of the 'Free Festival performers card' performers get other offers like Free nightclub entry. There is also Free internet access available at several locations (available to all performers at all venues) and in the run-up to the Fringe we will organise discount poster and flyer design and printing - in 2007 our printer charged only £120 for 5,000 flyers and 50 posters, all delivered on-time to each venue. There is also a nightly performers club, and for the first time in 2008 there will be a performers nightclub.

We only use venues where there is a specific performance space or spaces, that is completely separate from the main bar areas of a venue - there are no rooms that are general bar areas as professional shows do not work in venues like this; all our venues are centrally managed and rigged to a high standard, including PA, microphones, backdrops, seating; all venue equipment is provided - we don't ask you to bring your own microphones as some other free venues ask performers to do! All of our venue plans and details are described in our venue downloads below.

We Provide fully managed venues through a network of volunteers and experienced club promoters, and do not expect professional performers to do all the leg-work themselves - however, as a performer you are responsible for all aspects of your own slot and show, and your own publicity.


Time Slots


Most venues will book shows in one hour slots, this usually includes the get-in and get out, however we are flexible and can book any length time slot if needed (a lot of new performers choose to do a 30 minute show at their first Fringe with us, or a comedy club show could last an hour-and-a-half). At our venues we have a comfortable 10-15 minutes between each show to allow the audience to come and leave in a civilised manner, and allow the performers plenty of time to set-up and pack away, and also to do a full hour show if they wish.

Laughing Horse Comedy have ten years of expertise in running comedy shows and venues nationally, along with five years experience of running venues and free shows at the Fringe. all members of our organising group have previously worked at the Free Festival, and all have a large amount of experience as performers, promoters and venue managers.

We aim to make a Fringe performers experience an enjoyable one, and less expensive one, and we will be on hand before and throughout the festival to offer any advice you may want. Our venues are friendly, and have a great atmosphere to make your Fringe experience an enjoyable one, as well as a productive one. (click here for a full list of our aims)


The Rooms


 
rickm2.jpg (4526 bytes)All of our performance spaces are set-up as you would expect a small comedy club room, with a small raised stage, spotlights to flood the stage, a mixer and sound system, backdrops, seating and backdrops. Each room is supplied with two microphones, mixer and mic stands and two CD players - Any further show-specific equipment will need to be supplied by the performers using the room and we can advise the best way to use these with our mixers and current equipment. As such all rooms are suited to Stand-up comedy, Music, one person plays or very small scale theatre

We carry out advertising for the Free Festival venues, and each venue will have general advertising such as show lists, notices, schedules etc. We will also be producing press releases, a brochure and poster advertising for all venues in general - however it is the responsibility of the performing group for the main push of publicity the individual shows. We will be able to give a special offer on Poster and Flyer Design and Printing again in 2008..

Please click on details links  below for a detailed description of each venue and room. For venue locations please see the venue map - click here

Please note that all these venue details are correct for 2008, even though the venues from 2007 still have the same downloadable info sheets as they did last year. The 2008 shows run from July 31st to August 25th.  

                   

Espionage

Venue 185

New Venue for 2008

Situated next to George IV Bridge, with entrances on Cowgate and Victoria Street, Espionage is a 5 floor venue, with 5 bars and three performance spaces right in the centre of Edinburgh.

   

Download Espionage Information:

The Argyle

Venue 353

Fringe venue since 2007

A Free venue in 2007, and now part of the free Festival organisation -a fantastic basement bar just off of the Meadows

   

Download Hide @ the Argyle Information:

Meadow Bar

Venue 264

Fringe venue since 2005

One Performance space, with a capacity of 60 in the upstairs room of an intimate bar, located near to the Spiegelgarden and Bristo Square venues. Very Busy throughout Fringe 2006 & 2007.

Download Meadow Bar Information:

Meridian

Venue 305

A brand new venue, fully refurbished in October 2007 - with a single perfomance space, with a capacity of 80, above a contemporaray and stylish bar on Leith Walk.

 

Download not available for merdian, please email info@freefestival.co.uk for details.

 

Jekyll & Hyde

Venue 259

Fringe venue since 2006

One Performance space in a unique gothic style bar, with a capacity of 80 - just around the corner from the Assembly rooms. Very busy due to location.

   

Download Jekyll & Hyde Information:

Edinburgh City FC

Venue 164

Just around the corner from our Linsay's and Hillside venues, ECFC is a smart, intimate room with a capacity of 60, in a great location next to the Playhouse Theatre and Jongleurs.

  

      Download ECFC Information:

 

Downloads For Fringe Performers 2008

Click Here for Performers Downloads

Free Festival Forum

Discuss your ideas, speak to other performers, get help and advice, look for accommodation - click here to sign-up and visit the Laughing Horse and Free Festival Forum.

    

Guest Performers in a Fringe show in 2008

If you are a professional, or newer act there will be several shows that will have "Guest spots" at the Free Festival venues. These should be booked directly with the promoters of these shows, and not through this web site. For places at The Laughing Horse Comedy Club shows you can email info@laughinghorse.co.uk after April 2008.

  

Comedy Courses

Newer acts may be interested in attending the About Comedy Courses run at Edinburgh City FC during the festival - these help new performers develop, and also the tickets sold for these go towards supporting the Free Festival venues. See www.aboutcomedy.co.uk 

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