It’s very nearly Fringe season, and if you’re a performer or a freelancer working with one, chances are ‘promotion’ is pretty high on your agenda right now.
But what should you have wrapped up and sorted before you move into August and the feet-slapping groundwork begins?
We’ve created a handy list to help get you started.
1. Create some quirky social media chatter around your show
July is a great time for some publicity stunts, guerilla marketing, and the like. The Fringe is close enough for people to have it in mind, and this is when the media starts to really ramp up their coverage. So why not create some quirky social media chatter around your show?
No, we’re not saying send out the time-old “Make sure you get your tickets to @myshow in time for the Fringe”
We’re thinking:
- Jump on trending hashtags with something hilarious (just make sure it’s not a hashtag for something deadly serious where a joke will go down like a lead balloon)
- Tweet some big names to see if you can get a response
- Start a funny (but related) competition
- Start a Twitter treasure hunt
- Preview some jokes (or some jokes that didn’t make the cut in order to save the spoilers) in a conversation between you and your other cast members tagging random followers
Temple Newsam House in Leeds, UK brings its characters to life in a staged Twitter show
2. Get your printed ducks in order
Flyers are vital for the Fringe, as well as the lovely friends/boyfriends/girlfriends/distant third cousins once removed who will be helping to hand them out. Make sure you have the following ticked off your list as sorted this month:
- Flyers (A5 normally, or DL size)
- Posters (A3 is more common, but some A2 might be good as well.)
Think about how long your show run is and how many people will be touting for you when you’re considering quantity. If you run out, you can always order more, so make sure you use a local printer (and check the price of reprints).
3. Make sure you have all your press shortcuts sorted
When your show takes off as “the next big thing” people are going to want to know who you are, what you’re doing and why it’s so awesome.
So here’s what you need to prepare in advance:
- A short bio of your troupe (& individual cast members if it’s a trio or smaller group)
- A short press release that’s catchy, with high-quality images to run alongside it
- A blurb of your show that’s short and tailored for the general public. Basically: why your show is unique, why people should care about it and where they can go see it.
If you have this all prepped in advance it means you can respond quickly and in a timely fashion when people need it, which is a BIG priority for journalists.
For your full guide, hit up the Edinburgh Fringe promo pack here.
Penguin in the Room @prartsmarketing is a group of creatives with an arts marketing dream: penguin stepping our way into the arts industry and helping other creatives flourish! Specialising in online marketing, social media, branding, copy writing, media coaching and web design for actors, artists, casting directors, agents, production companies, theatre companies and creative individuals.
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