Fringe 101
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
Sept. 9-19, 2010 — Pick of the Fringe Sept. 23-26
Do you want to perform at the Fringe? Find out more in the sections below.
How do I apply?
What the Fringe will provide for you – Mainstage
What the Fringe will provide for you – BYOV
What you do – Mainstage
What you do – BYOV
Mainstage Selection Process (The Lottery)
BYOV Selection Process
Ticket Revenue
International Artists
Billeting
HOW DO I APPLY?
A company (or individual) applies for a spot in the Fringe by submitting an application form and fee. Mainstage applicants are selected by a lottery (see below). Bring Your Own Venue (BYOV) applicants are approved based on an evaluation process.
Each company is limited to one application per festival.
MAINSTAGE
A Mainstage Venue Spot refers to shows that are placed in a venue supplied by the festival, including a technician, basic lighting and sound. The show can be from 10-75 minutes in length.
A performance company (or an individual) applies for a spot in the Fringe at the end of October by submitting an online application and fee for a Mainstage Venue Spot.
BYOV
BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) refers to performances that supply their own venue, technician, lighting and sound. Preference will be given to unique locations or site specific productions. Technical rehearsal and scheduling is up to the company to arrange with the venue.
A performance company (or an individual) applies for a spot in the Fringe after the Mainstage lottery results by submitting an online application and fee for a BYOV Spot.
WHAT THE FRINGE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU – MAINSTAGE:
- A venue equipped with a stage, basic lighting and sound
- A technician
- A 3hr technical rehearsal
- A show schedule of 5-6 performances
- Advertising in the festival program guide
- Access to the local media list
- Advance and at-door box office
- Tickets, ticket sellers, ushers (Front of House)
- 100% of the regular box office revenue generated by the performing company
WHAT THE FRINGE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU – BYOV:
- Advertising of up to 10 performances in the festival program guide and festival publicity
- Advance (and at door) box office
- Front-of-house services through volunteer teams (might be limited depending on venue location)
- Access to the local media list and publicity information
- 100% of the regular box office revenue generated by the performing company
- Third party liability insurance
- Submit your application and your application fee
- Secure the rights to your production, if it is not original work
- Promote your show. The Fringe will market the entire Festival, and will help out individual companies as much as possible.
- Submit technical information about your show such as running time, lighting, sound and special effects
- Submit a show description and a photo
- Adhere to the festival policies including signage, box office and FOH procedures
- Venue (agreement in place)
- Technician
- Lighting
- Sound
- Technical rehearsals
- Performance schedule
- Front-of-house liaison (from the venue or the company)
- Front-of-house ticket sellers (depending on venue location; training will be provided)
- Submit technical information about your show such as running time, venue seating capacity, etc
- Submit a show description and a photo
- Adhere to the festival policies including signage, box office and FOH procedures
MAINSTAGE SELECTION PROCESS (THE LOTTERY)
All Mainstage Venue Spot applicants will be placed in a public lottery held in December in Vancouver. The lottery determines the selected artists and the order of the waiting lists. Those applicants who do not receive a spot in the Fringe are placed on the waiting list. Waitlisted artists move up on the list or into the accepted list in the event that companies withdraw from the Fringe.
The Vancouver International Fringe Festival accepts applications into the following categories:
- 1/3 Provincial Artists
- 1/3 National Artists (outside BC)
- 1/3 International Artists (including USA)
There are around 15 spots available in each category in 2010.
BYOV SELECTION PROCESS
BYOV applications will be evaluated when submitted based on the following parameters:
- Administrative capacity of the festival (available staff and volunteer time)
- Accessibility (i.e., distance to festival office, Fringe history of the venue, accessibility for patrons and performers, etc.)
- Site specific aspects, uniqueness of locations
NOTE: Once the Fringe has approved the venue the application will be confirmed. That means applications are approved on a rolling basis, NOT on a first-come first-served basis. The Fringe reserves the right to limit the number of selected BYOV companies based on administrative capacity.
- The Fringe returns 100% of the regular box office revenue to the relevant artists/companies.
- The weekday ticket price and weekend late night (10:00 PM or later) ticket price is $10.00 for all companies.
- The weekend ticket price is $12.00 for all companies.
- The Fringe charges a $2 surcharge on all advance tickets sold online to help cover the overhead costs of such sales, but the entire face value of the ticket is returned to the artist ($12/$10).
- There is no surcharge on the at-door ticket sales.
We pay 100% of the regular box office proceeds (excluding the $2 advance ticket surchage) to the artist. There are two cheque payouts during the run of the festival. The average artist payout is approximately $2,500. Some artists with very successful shows make upwards of $10,000, while others bring in only $100. There are a number of factors that affect artist payouts, so we recommend managing a conservative budget for your show.
Federal Non-Resident Withholding Tax (Regulation 105) for non-Canadian Performers:
This is the Federal Government’s form of income tax for non-residents. International groups can apply for a waiver which allows performers to earn a base amount that is non-taxable. The basic exemption is $15,000 for American artists and $5,000 for other foreign artists. Registered non-profit groups from Britain may apply for a complete exemption.
Companies may apply as a single entity claiming expenses against projected revenues, but this may not be as advantageous as claiming individually. Applicants should apply for this waiver at the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) office in the city of their first stop on the Fringe circuit at least one month before they arrive. CCRA will forward the waiver instructions from Fringe to Fringe. We have had some difficulties with communications from CCRA offices in other cities and for this reason we strongly suggest that you forward us a copy of your waiver application and first waiver letter from CCRA in advance of your arrival in Vancouver.
If the waiver isn’t confirmed by the CCRA and a copy isn’t sent to the festival office, the Fringe is required to withhold 15% of your ticket revenues and the performers/company will have to apply for a refund from CCRA at the end of the year.
For a Regulation 105 Waiver Application Form in PDF format, click on the link below or for more information, contact the International Tax Services Office:
Ph: 1-800-267-5177 (within Canada & the United States)
1-613-952-3741 (outside Canada & the United States – collect calls accepted)
Fax: 1-613-941-2505
LOAD PDF – Federal Withholding Tax Waiver Application
Note: If you are using Firefox, this form may not load properly. In that case, open this form in Internet Explorer, instead.
BILLETING
The Fringe will try to provide a place to stay (called a “billet”) for those artists who will require accommodation. There are a lot of wonderful people in Vancouver who open their homes to host artists. A billeting form will sent in July to all artists accepted into the Fringe. The Fringe does not guarantee a billet placement and encourages artists to arrange their own accommodations if possible.
