SCOTSMAN: First-Time Fringe acts Get Priced-Out

Belk’s manifesto calls for free adverts and cheaper tickets

By Gareth Edwards

Bringing down ticket prices, providing free advertising and creating more incentives for first-time performers are among the suggestions being made to improve accessibility to the Fringe.

Writer and performer Martin Belk has launched a “Fringe Manifesto” seeking to improve matters for new performers. He said the aim of the manifesto was to bring down the overall price of putting on a show and to reward first-time acts.

He told The Scotsman: “What they have now is untenable because it’s prohibitive not only to audiences to attend but also by actors and performers because of the cost of putting on a show makes it prohibitive to even do.”

The manifesto has already been gaining backing of several performers, and he plans to deliver copies to the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Council, the Festivals Fringe organisers and venues.

Among the suggestions he has made is doing away with the current registration fees for all performers. The current cost is almost £400.

He also suggests that registration fees currently based upon seating capacity should be scrapped entirely and replaced with free performer membership of the Fringe Society, with shows donating 10 per cent of all ticket sales.

Mr Belk told The Scotsman: “We’re seeing a frightening number of shows leave because of the lack of support they get for the performers and companies that make up the bulk of theatre-makers for the month of August.”

Mr Belk said: “Right now, there is no risk to the venue at all and the risk falls on the performer, who is the very last hope.

“The Festival is supposed to encourage and support new performers.”

He said new performers, first-timers and young performers who should be at the heart of the Fringe are being priced out. Another suggestion was for shows to be reviewed quickly and earlier during their run, and for media to be encouraged to attend.

“In most cases there is no risk for the venue and all the risk falls to the performer.”
— Martin Belk

“I’ve managed to get backing, but it has cost a fortune, and all of the risk has been mine. That isn’t going to happen next year. Most of that money would have been better used for performers and flyerers.”

The manifesto said more could be done, too, to help preserve new shows, which usually need more support to survive.

Among the ideas are: a single-tier registration fee; no registration fees to be refunded when shows are cancelled; shows to be discounted, which would enable families to attend; no mandatory fees for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; and performers to get free advertising.

“I’m not certain if the Fringe is really protecting the little guy like it used to. But imagine if two-for-one ticketing could start at the beginning of the festival, or if adverts were free for first-time performers. If you encourage new performers, you encourage Edinburgh’s economy. It would be a grave mistake to ignore their needs and undervalue their contributions.

“I think it’s time we recognise that what we create here is important, not only for the venues but for the performers who take so much risk to come here every year.”

With more than 3,000 shows at the Fringe venues in Edinburgh, the Association of Venue Owners warned last month of the risk to venue operations because of rising costs.

A spokeswoman said: “We understand from performers how challenging it is financially to put on a show, and we want to support them. The financial landscape for venues is also challenging. Our aim is to work collaboratively with partners and support the long-term sustainability of the festival.”