Pittsburgh Fringe

We are a small and newer festival in the Northside area of Pittsburgh (right across the river from downtown). The 2018 festival will be our 5th anniversary. Currently we have all our venues in a walkable footprint, just across the river from the downtown. Our venues are not usually theatre spaces, but the back of bars, clubs, conference rooms and restaurants and they change frequently as the Northside is in the midst of a ton of changes - so venues are popping up and closing every year.

Pittsburgh Fringe Website

Festival Overview

Type of Festival

We are a small and newer festival in the Northside area of Pittsburgh. Currently we have all our venues in a walkable footprint, just across the river from the downtown. Our venues are not usually theatre spaces, but the back of bars, clubs, conference rooms and restaurants and they change frequently as the Northside is in the midst of a ton of changes - so venues are popping up and closing every year.

About our Audience

We currently have a Teen and College Fringe program, and are working on developing a Children's Fringe, but we do highlight Children and Family shows to grow our future audience. We have a newer visual program, and free events also sprinkled throughout the festival.

As we are a newer festival, we are still really working to train our audience on what a Fringe is, and how to "Fringe."

Festival Stats

Length of Festival: 3 Days in 2017 & 2018
Number of Productions: 38 in 2017
Overall Performances: 88 in 2017
Number of Performance Spaces: 6 in 2017
Ticket Price Range: $0-$15 in 2017

Artist Information

How Artists are Accepted

Performing artists apply online in the fall. Visual artists apply in the winter online.

After applications close, we use the non-curated hat method, but also have different hats for locals, nationals and internationals, as well as Teen and College hats, and a Children's Fringe hat. Deadline may stay open for any hat that hasn't reached its required needs.

Benefits of Applying

Awards System: We work with an independent reviewing organization to select most of our awards, as well as, a few based on audience numbers, and a few fun ones we give out.
Reviews Situation: While we can never guarantee reviews, Pittsburgh In the Round was able to review almost every show in 2017. And they reviewed some shows more than once.
Billeting Situation: We try, but artists cannot count on this at this point. Only about 20% received billeting in 2017.
Artist Comp Policy: Completely free on a stand-by basis?

Costs and Deals

Application Fee: $35
Production Fee : $30-$180 (and a 25% discount for any show less than 45 minutes, and/or using our lower price bracket for audience members)
Box Office % to Artist: 60%
Other fees: If you need tech, or any additional services. If you want ads or additional marketing not covered.
Average Payout: $120.00 (some artists do only 1 performance, some do 3 - this number includes artists doing just 1 performance)

Tech Information

We set up in the back of bars, in restaurants, conference rooms, basements, etc. We usually have to bring in any equipment ourselves, so set up is very simple. You are able to sign up for almost no tech - simple tech, or basic tech venues. A simple tech has at least 4 LED DJ lights, but no curtains or stage. Basic Tech will have a black curtain backdrop, and and very basic light and sound (usually LED DJ lights). We can discuss projection and screen needs, but you will need to be in a Basic Tech for this. Usually we can make projection work.

Performance Schedule

We don't have any hard pre-scheduled slots, so we can be very flexible on slot length. We do ask that shows less than 45 minutes long don' t charge full price, but rather use our half price system for audience members. We also have a discount to offer shows that are using this lower price system (25% less on production fees). If a show is very long, because it limits how many other shows we can do, it is preferred that they do a BYOV or find a cool place just for their show. This is something we can talk about if you are considering it, but remember audiences like shorter shows at fringe!

Other

We like to be very clear that we are a small fringe, and are still building our audience. We are rarely a profitable festival for shows, especially those coming from out of town. But we are at the beginning of the year, and many shows like to use us for awards and reviews to kick off their tours, and try out new work. Just make sure you know why you are coming, and that you are clear on the limitations of our festival. We would love to have you at our fringe!

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fringe Central in 2017
518 Foreland St,
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(Don't mail us here, it was a temporary venue we used.)

"Pittsburgh was particularly recognized for its arts, museums, food, drink and sports teams. Shout-outs went to the Warhol Museum, the National Aviary, the Cathedral of Learning, the Benedum Center and Rivers Casino." 19th Most Livable City Article in Post Gazette