Rogue Festival

Rogue Festival champions the gritty, got-something-to-say outlook of the independent performer and Fresno, California's Tower District. By connecting art, artist, and audience in a non-curated, non-adjudicated fringe festival every year, Rogue Festival honors those who speak their truth, challenge the status quo, and perform audaciously – creating a distinctly forward-thinking culture as it goes along. 

Founded in 2002, Rogue has run uninterrupted since its inception.

​

 Festival Overview

Type of Festival

Rogue Festival consists of 6 regular venues operated by the Festival and 1-2 BYOVs ("Off-Rogue Venues"), all within eight square blocks in Fresno's Tower District. Runs two weekends, Fri-Sun and Thur - Sat with several free and community events during the week. Rogue Festival is known for its friendly, hometown atmosphere and casual nature. A low-pressure, off-season festival, perfect for testing new material. Welcomes theater, dance, spoken word, acoustic music, physical theater, comedy, etc. 

About our Audience

Rogue Festival's audiences value the new, the gritty, and the unique. They love to meet performers after shows and are known for their friendliness and openness toward handbilling and new and unusual shows. 

Rogue does not, however, market toward family or children's audiences. We're geared toward entertainment for ages 16 and up.

Festival Stats

Length of Festival:  9 Days in 2018
Number of Productions: 45 in 2018
Overall Performances: 250  in 2018
Number of Performance Spaces: 7 in 2018
Ticket Price Range: $7-$12 in 2018
Unique visitors: 3000 on average

Artist Information

How Artists are Accepted

Shows are selected by lottery. 
Mainstage Out-of-Town Lottery
Mainstage Local Lottery
Cafe Out-of-Town Lottery
Cafe Local Lottery.

​Slots are 50/50 Out-of-Town and Local overall. 

Benefits of Participating

​Awards System: Sold Out Awards only
Reviews Situation: Audience reviews on website (moderated). Local bloggers. 
Billeting Situation: We offer billeting, but cannot guarantee for all. Have a backup.
Artist Comp Policy: Performer badges are comped after all paid audience is seated. Artists may designate a list of comps for their individual shows.
Free Meet n Greet, Wrap Party.

Costs and Deals

Application Fee: $35 non-refundable
Production Fee : $170 - $575, depending on size and style of venue. 
​Box Office % to Artist: 100% box office receipts.
Other fees: Optional Hangover Breakfast on day after Festival Close: $5 donation.
​Average Payout: $1088.00
Ticket Prices:  $12 top price for mainstage. $7 top price for Cafes. Artist can set price up to the maximum. 
​

Venue Divisions

Three tiers of venues (not including the BYOVs)
Mainstage: Seats 50 - 80. Small stage or black-box spaces in an art school, a dance school, and a music academy. Basic tech: General light wash, one special. Light and sound board. One technician provided. Prefer a maximum of 50 cues, combined. 90 minute tech rehearsal provided, scheduled in week prior to festival. Cost: $475-$575 depending upon seating capacity. 
Cafe: Seats 40-50. No tech provided other than a mic and a PA. No more than room lighting provided. Usually spaces in art galleries or meeting rooms. Fee: $170.
Cafe Plus: Seats 70. Patio space, cabaret style seating. Mic and PA only. Patio of a restaurant/bar, so alcohol and food are available for audience. Good for acoustic music and comedy. $270.

Performance Schedule

Festival schedule:
  • Thursday prior to opening: Teaser Show Launch - promo for artists and audience. 
  • Shows Fri - Sun. Beginning 5:30 p.m. Friday.
  • Dark nights - Mon- Wed. Optional community gatherings. 
  • Shows Thu - Sat beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
  • Wrap Party final Saturday and Hangover Breakfast on Sunday morning after closing. 
Mainstage shows: 60 min max. 
Cafe shows: 45 min max. 
30 minutes in between each show. Set up and tear down 15 minutes each. 
​


​

Other

Rogue Festival is an all-volunteer organization and has been since its beginnings in 2002.

60% of our total operating budget goes to the artists for their payouts. Another 30% toward community activities. Only 10% of our operating budget goes towards overhead like keeping the lights on and the phones working. 

Fresno, California

Rogue Festival
710 Van Ness Ave, Ste 187
Fresno, CA 93721

Fresno has a city population of 500,000 and a metro population of over 1,000,000. We're a hard-working, no-frills sort of city where someone's chutzpah to get things done for themselves is valued. Tower District is the bohemian district and the central neighborhood for Rogue Festival.

roguefestival.com

 Important Dates for this Fringe

2019 - Current Year

Festival Dates

March 1 - 9, 2019

Application Dates

Switched to a Lottery system for 2018.
Applications: Opened September 30
​Application Deadline: October 6. 

Other Important Dates

Full application information and dates are listed on our website by September 1.

 2018 - Past Year for Perspective

Festival Dates

March 2 - 10, 2018

Application Dates

Applications Opened:
October 1
​
​Application Deadline:
October 12 @ 6pm PST. 

Lottery Drawing:
October 14 @ 10am PST
​

Other Important Dates

​Full application information and dates are listed on our website by September 1.

2020 - Future Year

Festival Dates

To be announced

Application Dates

Applications Open:  To Be Announced
​Application Deadline: To Be Announced

Other Important Dates

Past Festivals

Rogue 2019 Program
Rogue 2017 Program in PDF

Photos

Contact Us:

Email Address: [email protected]
​Physical Mailing Address
Rogue Festival
710 Van Ness – Ste 187
Fresno CA 93721
Phone or Text: 559-258-1735
(As we are an all-volunteer organization and we spend time at our day jobs, please give us up to a week to respond to general inquiries. Thanks!)

Follow us on our Social Media: