COVERING THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL SINCE 1996
Question Time: Progressing your career at the Edinburgh Fringe
There are many reasons for performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, but for many people, one key objective is progressing their career – and their business – as a creator, producer and/or performer.
We asked a team of people with plenty of experience in producing, performing and/or marketing shows at the Fringe for their tips on how people performing and producing at the Festival can get the most out of the experience in career terms.
Based on their advice, we’ve identified ten top tips. You can also then read their individual responses below the tips.
OUR TEN TOP TIPS…
1. Attend networking and educational events
The Fringe Society presents a whole series of events for producers and performers at Fringe Central. These include workshops and panel discussions where you can access the advice and insights of industry experts. These sessions are also good for networking – as are the launch parties and other events staged by the Fringe venues – where you can meet, chat and exchange ideas with other producers and performers.
2. Connect with other performers after their shows
You will obviously go and see lots of other shows while you are in Edinburgh for the Fringe. Where you see shows that you really rate, it’s worth letting those performers know, maybe directly at the venue after the show, or via email or social media later in the day. This is a nice thing to do either way, but can also result in useful connections.
3. Look for collaboration opportunities
There are lots of opportunities at the Fringe to partner with other performers. There are the shows that have different line-ups each day or you could collaborate with other performers on promotional activities. This has marketing benefits while you are in Edinburgh of course, with each collaborator helping to promote the others’ shows, but short-term collaborations in Edinburgh can sometimes result in longer term collaborations beyond the Festival as well.
4. Reach out to potential partners and supporters
There are many people from across the creative industries at the Fringe looking to check out the work of performers and companies they might want to work with in the future. You should reach out to relevant people and invite them to see your show. Everyone has a packed schedule, so it may not be possible, but it is definitely worth dropping the person a short email. Your venue and the Fringe Society might be able to help identify the right people and put you in touch.
5. Do your research
Which brings us to this one – it is worth spending a little time researching the promoters, producers, agents, venues and other people that might be interested in your work. This can begin with a Google search, though again your venue and the Fringe Society might be able to offer some guidance. Another reason for attending Fringe Central events is that you will hear from and meet lots of people and, through that process, identify who you think might be interested in your work. This will help you target who you contact.
6. Stay in touch with new contacts
Once you have made new contacts at the Fringe, make sure you stay in touch. Connect on social media. And if you can get an email address, send a short follow-up email thanking them for their time and linking to where they can find you online. Simply keeping track of who you have met and what they do can be super valuable.
7. Engage your audience and allow them to stay connected
As well as building your network within the industry, you obviously also want to keep building your audience. The first part of that process is getting people into the show, of course. But that’s only step one. Make it easy for people to stay in touch with you after the show, via social media, and possibly a website and mailing list. Find subtle ways to encourage audience members to make that connection, so you can keep them informed about future work.
8. Seek and curate reviews
Reviews still play an important role at the Edinburgh Fringe. That’s partly to help sell tickets during the Festival, but it’s also about what happens next. Curate your positive reviews, share them on social media and your website, and collate them into a pack that you can share with venues and other future business partners after Edinburgh. With so many shows taking place at the Fringe, getting onto the radar of reviewers is difficult. But try reaching out to a diverse range of people who are reviewing at the Festival, including specialist Fringe media like ThreeWeeks, as well as local media and bloggers.
9. Capture content for social media
Your Fringe experience can also double up as a big content generation exercise: use your time at the Festival to capture lots of photos and videos. You will likely be doing this anyway to promote your show on social media during the Fringe to potential ticket buyers. But you can also create content that keeps your social media feeds refreshed long beyond August. This content is also really important for sharing with venues and bookers who might be interested in working with you in the future. Try and have footage of you performing, your audience appreciating the show, and your promotional activity around the Fringe.
10. Really hone your performance
This probably goes without saying, but the other crucial way the Fringe helps performers progress their careers is by allowing them to hone their craft as a performer. Getting to perform your show every day (more or less) for a period of time – maybe up to a month – will simply make you a better performer, and is a key benefit of the experience.
WHAT OUR INTERVIEWEES SAID…
What tips do you have for performers hoping to use the Fringe to build their profile and progress their careers?
Alexander S Bermange: Take advantage of other performance opportunities that present themselves during the Fringe; use social media strategically; always be the type of person others will be eager to work with in the future.
Anthony Alderson: The most important thing for any performer is to plan what you want at the end right from the beginning.
Brendan Murphy: In my opinion, the best way to build your profile and progress your career is to get really good at what you’re doing. You’re up at the Fringe because you love making art, so don’t get sucked into the idea that you should be networking at every waking hour. Prepare for your show each day and make time to note your performance afterwards. What went well? What could be improved? You have an opportunity to perform every day for a whole month – make the most of it. If you make something great, you won’t need to chase people to build your career, they’ll come to you. And crucially, you’ll have learned something, further developed your skills and enjoyed yourself.
Caleb Lee: Own your brand. Make your show’s theme and promo materials unique and memorable. Buzz is your buddy. Create a buzz even before you arrive. Use social media, tease your performances and engage with potential audiences. A witty tweet, TikTok or a clever Instagram story can go a long way in building anticipation. Finally, reviews matter. Encourage reviews from local bloggers and critics. Positive press can shift your show from “just another performance” to “must-see theatre”. And don’t shy away from feedback – it’s all part of the growth process!
James Seabright: I know the focus is often on how many tickets have been sold each day, but I think quality is more important than quantity! Focusing efforts on getting people who can help with next steps is more important in many ways than filling every seat. The Fringe can also be a great magnifier for performers’ social media profiles – so finding ways to amplify the message through strong content on those channels is really important too.
Nick Abrams: The Fringe is a good opportunity to make contacts and build friendships. Attend professional development workshops and press events. There will be mixers and social events throughout the Fringe to bring together performers, producers and agents.
Sarah Cameron-West: The Fringe is a wonderful place to meet new people and chat about your show. Everyone is here to celebrate theatre so once you get chatting, share your socials. Meet as many people as you can because you never know down the road who might be the perfect fit for an upcoming project or you might be the perfect fit for theirs! Also keep plugging away on your social media, content is everything. You can use apps that allow you to schedule posts ahead of time so you can do it all in one go and you’re sorted for the whole month but your platform keeps growing.
What are good ways for performers to grow their professional networks while at the Fringe?
Alexander S Bermange: Attend the Fringe Society’s (and other) events; don’t be afraid to strike up conversations with strangers (you never know who those strangers might be); use any opportunities to make the acquaintance of those staging other productions.
Anthony Alderson: The Fringe is the world’s biggest marketplace for theatre and comedy, with promoters registering with the Fringe Society to see shows they may wish to programme. It is the same with talent agents and TV producers. Find out who those people are and what type of work they are looking for. There are numerous showcases, discussions and marketplace meetings throughout the Festival, and a huge amount of work is booked from Edinburgh.
Brendan Murphy: Meeting other performers is one of the most rewarding parts of being at the Fringe. Go and see shows, explore art forms outside of your own discipline, enjoy some socialising in your free time afterwards, and don’t be afraid to tell people that you’ve enjoyed their work. Another good way to grow your network is by connecting with your audience in a meaningful way. If you find your audience, give them the chance to stay in touch. Several years from now you may well find these people are supporting you and acting as your base, helping spread the word about your shows.
Caleb Lee: Mingle after shows. The real magic often happens off-stage. Attend other performances, stay for Q&A sessions and participate in post-show discussions. You never know who you’ll meet in the Fringe crowd. Hit the social events. Join launch parties and informal gatherings, these events are perfect for networking. Arm yourself with a friendly smile and a short elevator pitch. Just remember, everyone’s in the same boat, so don’t be shy! And team up – strike up conversations and partner with other shows for mutual shout-outs on social media and flyering.
James Seabright: The Fringe Society has a wonderful programme of events for participants, so I think that delving into their Fringe Central and arts industry offerings is the best way to achieve this. Also, there is a real spirit of performers and the wider Fringe community helping each other out, so I would encourage people to think about the month as a collaborative marathon rather than a competitive sprint.
Nick Abrams: Attend networking events and Fringe Central events. Promote your shows on social media and engage with audiences and other performers. Follow and interact with other performers, industry professionals and Fringe-related accounts. Watch other performances – particularly those in your genre. After shows, introduce yourself to the performers and discuss their work.
Sarah Cameron-West: Go see as many shows as you can and, if you particularly liked a show, go and tell the creative team at the end and get chatting! Also emailing producers to come and see your show is crucial. Equally a lot of them use X so you can always reach out there with a fun tweet.
What should performers be doing during the Fringe to help them get their shows booked elsewhere after the Festival?
Alexander S Bermange: All the things we’ve already discussed, but, most importantly of all, doing your utmost to put on the best show possible.
Anthony Alderson: Theatres from across the country come looking for shows to book. This is why the Pleasance started our Edinburgh National Partnership Scheme, to take some of the energy of the Edinburgh Fringe into the rest of the country. Touring is the lifeline of theatre and every theatre is looking for work.
Brendan Murphy: Talk to people, introduce yourself and do your research. If you see a show that resonates with you, find out who produced it, who directed it, where the company is based. Nobody minds a friendly email telling them that you’ve enjoyed their work. Whether or not it leads to a connection, it’s a first step and one that could well go on to a long-lasting partnership.
Caleb Lee: Record and share – document your performances, record videos, take photos and gather audience feedback. A strong digital portfolio is your calling card when approaching future venues and festivals. Also, stay in touch, follow up with those you met at the Fringe. A friendly email or social media message can keep the connection alive and open doors for future collaborations. And embrace your success. Update your promotional materials with highlights from your Fringe experience. If your show received rave reviews or you played to packed houses, shout it from the rooftops! Prospective bookers love a proven track record. Above all, remember to be kind to yourself – take breaks, enjoy the experience, and celebrate your achievements, big and small.
James Seabright: Attend the Fringe Marketplace events which are arranged by the Fringe Society on Sunday mornings (11 and 18 Aug). Think of it like going to church, only you are praying for a tour booking rather than absolution.
Nick Abrams: Approach venues and producers – the Fringe Society can help you connect with the right contacts. Create a touring pack that can be sent to these venues and producers. Facebook and other similar channels offer networks that can help you find future venues.
Sarah Cameron-West: Ideally you want some cracking reviews that you can slam all over your poster so that when you approach theatres you can show them what a success it was. Equally video content is really helpful and a strong pitch in your email can hopefully get you through the door! But be open minded and email everyone as you never know where it might lead you.
MORE ABOUT OUR INTERVIEWEES…
Alexander S Bermange created ‘I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical’, which was performed at Gilded Balloon At The Museum at Edinburgh Festival 2024.
Anthony Alderson is director of the Pleasance Theatre Trust which runs the Pleasance venues.
Brendan Murphy created ‘Buffy Revamped’ and wrote ‘FRIEND (The One With Gunther)’, both of which were staged at Edinburgh Festival 2024.
Caleb Lee produced ‘For The Love of Spam’ at Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Festival 2024.
James Seabright has been producing at the Fringe for 25 years.
Nick Abrams is Head Of Press at theSpace venues.
Sarah Cameron-West performed ‘KAREN’ at Underbelly Cowgate at Edinburgh Festival 2024.