MANIFESTO 2012

Heroes of Fringe launched in 2011 as the Alternative Fringe
Our Manifesto was launched in May and raised issues related to the Pay-to-Play promoters that became one of the most talked about subjects behind the scenes…

Welcome to
THE ALTERNATIVE FRINGE MANIFESTO 2012
We love Edinburgh Fringe, but the worlds largest and best Arts Festival has grown beyond a fringe. The trappings of mainstream increasingly tarnish the beauty. The Pay-To-Play model charges Acts £5k+ to perform at the Fringe and supports the Marketing Arms race that has driven ticket prices up to £10, £15, £20+ to see a single show. “Demand an alternative. Reclaim The Fringe!”

THE ALTERNATIVE FRINGE IS A STATEMENT
We aim to prove that you can offer fair deals at the Fringe. We do not charge Artists any guarantees, rent or other hidden fees. These savings get passed on to the punter through cheaper tickets. The Alternative Fringe is a happy, fun environment, where performers do not have to worry about getting into debt.
“The pay to play venues have their commercial festival, but we are ma king a stand to Reclaim The Fringe!”

Putting some Real Excitement back into Edinburgh…
Genuine Comedy Legends, alongside the most exciting freaks around. Chaos and the unexpected. Recreating the spirit of adventure that thrived before the Alternative went Mainstream…

Line Up Includes:-
Phil Kay doing his only full show with us, Greatest Show on Legs making a triumphant return to the Fringe after some amazingly special one off appearances at Royal Festival Hall, Leicester Square Theatre, Bloomsbury Theatre etc. Supurbly inventive Trevor Lock, king of the Fringe Lewis Schaffer, the very naughty Bob Slayer fresh from causing a stir in Australia… The list goes on John Robertson returns and will be packed out again, as has and will Internet phenomenon Devvo, Dave Cohen (previous Perrier nominee), Godfather of Antifolk Lach, Child trapped in a sex pest’s body Chris Dangerfield, So You think You Are Funny winner Nick Sun, Hackney Empire new act winner David Mills, the glorious Twonkey’s Kingdom, cult This Barry Ferns Belongs To Lionel Ritchie, Josh Richards, Half Past Bitch, Aidan Killian, Joe Davies, Laura Levites…

TICKETS:
We have a mix of Free and Paid Shows over two rooms
Paid shows £5 per show
ALTERNATIVE FRINGE (ONE PAY PASS)

For £12 (£10) you get to see ALL the paid shows in the alternative Fringe

http://buytickets.at/heroesof

THE HIVE, 15-17 NIDDRY STREET (between royal mile & cowgate) EDINBURGH EH1 1LG

NOTES TO MEDIA:

WHO IS BEHIND THE ALTERNATIVE FRINGE?

Bob Slayer is the Alternative Fringe Master of Chaos… described by The Scotsman as “The ultimate off off fringe performer”, he has twice been nominated for The Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality, winner of the Cunning Stunt Award for his role in “Cockgate 2011″ and winner of The Fix “Spirit of The Fringe” Award last year.

Bob Slayer is an ex tour-manager. He has toured with bands such as Snoop Dog, The Bloodhound Gang, Iggy Pop etc
(All the hard work is done by the rest of the Alternative Fringe Team including Alex Petty @ Laughing Horse…)

“The standard deal in the music industry is that the promoter fronts all the costs and then splits the profit 80/20 in the acts favour. So why is Comedy, which is a much cheaper artform to produce, so full of Pay-to-Play? The standard Fringe deal requires that the acts themselves front all the costs and take the promoter risk, they then only see maybe 60% of what comes in. It’s not right I tell you. Im not going to rest until it changes! And Im not a fan of The Pope either” Bob Slayer 2012

GOOD GUYS @ THE FRINGE

There are good guys at the Fringe. In recent years Free shows at the Fringe have come of age, being paid or free is no barrier to being reviewed. Imran Yusuf and Cariad Lloyd both achieved best newcomer nominations with free shows without spending a fortune on marketing. Also in 2012 The Stand, who keep their costs down so that they can offer good deals for artists based on profit splits and cheap tickets for punters, will be expanding as it takes over the Assembly Rooms building. But why do venues persist with artist-crippling deals? And why do artists accept this? The natural next step will see the gap between Free and Paid Shows at the Fringe filled. This change is likely to come from independent promoters which don’t put artists in debt and give them a happy environment to perform.

THE RISE OF INDEPENDENT COMEDY

Comedy has been slower than the music industry to really embrace and use the internet to make the whole process of entertaining folks more efficient and fun. Large names like Stewart Lee, Daniel Kitson, Richard Herring, Doug Stanhope, Paul Foot, Bo Burnham, Louis CK, have all found different ways to connect directly with their own audience. As they achieve more on their own so the industry is marching to their tune. Developing acts are following their lead and there is a growing interesting band of acts who are increasingly looking for alternatives to jumping through the hoops set by the comedy industry…

PRESS SUPPORT:

SOME FURTHER READING:
(Why we need an Alternative)
Censorship @ The Fringe (TheJohnFleming)
Censorship @ The Fringe (Chortle)
Pay to Play @ The Fringe (Chortle)
CockGate (Kunt& TheGang) 2011

ALTERNATIVE FRINGE
www.heroesof.com/fringe