Performers Resources

General Information for Performers 2008

Currently the 2007 venue and performance space details are listed below, and will will give you a good idea of our venues. Full details of the 2008 venues will be available in late 2007 and will feature all of the venues listed below.

About The Free Festival Venues - How does it work or differ from other Fringe venues?

All performers at our venues can book a space FOR FREE. There are no venue costs, whatsoever. However, acts at our venues cannot charge audiences to see their shows, although the performers can carry out a collection at the end of the performance. We provide a fully set-up venue - lights, PA, stage, seating - you provide your show and your own publicity.

In 2004 - 2007, a well-performed collection averaged £1.20 per audience member, with most show averaging 40-50 people in the audience at both venues. Most shows in all venues can achieve or surpass these sort of audience figures with an entry in the Fringe programme, and effective advertising during the Fringe.ringe.

Peak evening audiences of up to 80-100 are possible and were achieved throughout the Fringe in 2005, 2006 and 2007 at many times of the day.

The average audience at one of our evening Free Festival shows in 2007 was 45 people, with lots of evening shows selling out. With audiences of 20-50 expected at lunchtime and afternoon shows for well publicised shows. This is a lot more than for a lot of shows in the bigger venues. On average, if your show is good, somebody will donate £1.20 to a properly carried out collection at the end of a performance. The Free Festival gives you the opportunity to 'do the Fringe' and either make a small amount of money, break even or only loose a little - and you will loose a lot less money by doing it this way that spending £1000's on a traditional venue.

By doing a show for Free you still have all the benefits of performing a show the traditional way, without the financial burden and stress. There will be a full programme launch to the press in 2008. Most shows at the Free Festival Venues in 2007 was reviewed, some several times, with Eight 5-star reviews, 30 4-star reviews and numerous three-star reviews from all of the main reviewers, including The Scotsman, The Times, Metro, The List, The Stage, Chortle, Festival FM, Three Weeks, Freshair, Scotsgay, Edinburgh Guide and many other publications. Shows have been picked up to tour other festivals, performers have received bookings for further work through the year, and advanced their careers. During the Fringe acts have also had the chance to perform their shows in front of large, appreciative audiences - instead of the small audiences usually associated with the Fringe.

Over the last three years we have proved to audiences, the press and performers that our Free venues relate to quality shows that just happen to be free; quality and professionally organised venues - that just happen to be free. Free does not, and should not mean low-quality or unprofessional.

The Free Festival lets performers enjoy the Fringe - without the financial burden of running a show the traditional way, performers can concentrate on their show. There isn't the competitiveness between performers trying to grab audiences for their own shows, and in previous years all performers have shown a genuine community spirit helping each other and developing larger audiences and a wonderful social atmosphere.

Other Benefits - Laughing Horse also organise a series of social events throughout the Fringe for performers, and all of our bars offer performer discounts on Food and drink, and  with the aid of the 'Free Fest performers card' performers get other offers liek Free nightclub entry. There is also Free internet access available at several locations (available to all performers at all venues) and in the run-up to the Fringe we will organise discount poster and flyer design and printing - in 2007 our printer charged only £120 for 5,000 flyers and 50 posters, all delivered on-time to each venue.

We only use venues where there is a specific performance space or spaces, that is completely seperate from the main bar areas of a venue; and all our venues are centrally managed and rigged to a high standard, including PA, microphones, backdrops, seating; all venue equiptment is provided - we don't ask you to bring your own as we have heard some other free venues have asked performers to do! All of our venue plans and details are described in our venue downloads below.

We Provide fully managed venues through a network of volounteers and experienced club promoters, and do not expect professional performers to do all the leg-work themselves - however, as a peformer you are responsible for all aspects of your own slot and show.

Time Slots

Most venues will book shows in hour slots, this usually includes the get-in and get out, however we are flexible and can book any length time slot if needed (a lot of new performers choose to do a 30 minute show at their first Fringe with us, or a comedy club show could last an hour-and-a-half). At our venues we have a comfortable 15 minutes between each show to allow the audience to come and leave in a civilized manner, and allow the performers plenty of time to set-up and pack away, and also to do a full hour show.

Laughing Horse Comedy have ten years of expertise in running comedy shows and venues nationally, along with five years experience of running venues and free shows at the Fringe. all members of our organising group have previously worked at the Free Festival, and all have a large amount of experience as performers, promoters and venue managers.

We aim to make a Fringe performers experience an enjoyable one, and less expensive one, and we will be on hand before and throughout the festival to offer any advice you may want. Our venues are friendly, and have a great atmosphere to make your Fringe experience an enjoyable one, as well as a productive one. (click here for a full list of our aims)

The Rooms

We carry out advertising for the Free Festival venues, and each venue will have general advertising such as show lists, notices, schedules etc. We will also be producing press releases, a brochure and poster advertising for all venues in general - however it is the responsibility of the performing group for the main push of publicity the individual shows. We will be able to give a special offer on Poster and Flyer Design and Printing again in 2008..

Please click on details links  below for a detailed description of each venue and room. For venue locations please see the venue map - click here

Please note these are currently the 2007 venue details - these will be updated in late 2007 for the 2008 Fringe - although most venue details will remain the same for the 2008 Fringe.