San Francisco Fringe Festival
WHAT EVERY GOOD FRINGER SHOULD KNOW !
Know this by rote and be popular for a lifetime!
1. It is nifty to smile at your Production Mgr. and, to a slightly lesser extent, EVERYONE else.
2. It's never too early to GET ON Fringe Time. See #3 & #4 for
more detail.
3. You are guaranteed 15 minutes for load in, 15 for load out. You
cannot NEED more. If you are fortunate enough to get more - even once -
well then… hoorah.
4. Your show must run 60 minutes or less. If your show runs over
59 minutes and 60 seconds, your Festival provided technician and House Manager
are given the responsibility to cut the stage lights &/or open the house.
5. You MUST provide your own stage manager (different from the Fringe
provided technician outlined in #6 below) so that tragedies such as those
hinted at in #3 and #4 are leapt over.
6. The Fringe provides you with ONE technician. This person is responsible
for operating your lights unless you make prior arrangements with me. That
is where their job description ends [any other operators (i.e. SOUND) are
supplied by YOU]. You will most often find that (while I don't advocate
that you EXPECT this) the technician will be more than willing to pitch
in wherever needed. Appreciate this.
7. You will be loading in/out EN VISTA. This means, when your show
ends, your audience goes out and the next comes in. There is no "holding
of the house." Please don't ask. Many of you will likely be seeing
the load-in path (and its limitations) for the first time at your tech.
Realize this (& #3) when thinking about "set" elements.
8. Look at your Venue Info packet thoroughly, consider all technical
elements, and ask me every question you have… Seriously… PARTICULARLY
if you have any doubt that the venue can support your plan in its current
state. If you show up with a surprise… well, just please don't. Say,
for example that you show up with …
9. …a small elephant that you'd like to store. We can promise
NO STORAGE at ANY of the venues. If you NEED it, you must contact me. If
you don't, it will certainly be too late to do anything once you're here.
10. Speaking of getting here, your tech rehearsal is just 2.5 hours.
Plan accordingly, eh? You'll be practicing your load in/out, learning the
space and building/running ALL light/sound/etc. cues. It's a lot to do,
but it can be done - regularly, in fact - when planned. Sometimes that isn't
the case. Perhaps you've seen shows like that?
11. And to HELP you in this endeavor, You are LIMITED to 30 Light
Cues and 30 Sound Cues. If you try and test this, someone is sure to wind
up in a sobbing puddle on the floor. Yuck.
12. Due to all the variables, Tech Schedules will be determined and
communicated in early August. Note that the application you have signed
commits you to being available at ANY TIME from September 3rd to September
6th. The "Hey, WHEN's UP?" form provides the opportunity to express
your preferences within that time-frame. Please realize that out-of-towners
will usually get the "as-late-as-possible" deferential treatment,
but that I'll also work my heinie off in making other accommodations where
possible. HOWEVER, Labor Day B-B-Qs and baby sitter issues and sundries
of that ilk, can't be considered if sanity is to be maintained. Apologies,
but you know what happens when you work your heinie off... don't you?
13. You will be expected to bring 2 extra copies of your script (preferably
marked) to the tech rehearsal. One is specifically for your technician,
one is a back-up. If you can only bring ONE, MAKE SURE you do. If you do
not, who knows what you'll get when it comes time to perform.
14. Your light plot will be basic but adequate for a decent # of
looks. The Venue Information pack breaks it down. This should give you an
ample hip to shoot from for the moment. Let me know if you expect/desire
to do any "squiggling." Special focuses, gels, or ability to bring
in "extras" are generally not available, but are absolutely IMPOSSIBLE
if you don't contact me early.
15. That all notwithstanding, you are the coolest person I know.
That's it for now. If I'm forgetting something, I know where to find
you.
And you, me.
Please Note: When writing me e-mails, please put PRODUCTION MANAGER, AMANDA, or TECH PRINCESS in the subject line. Please make sure that your company name and show title are somewhere in the body of the email. It is important that tech/production questions be in a separate email from p.r., program and/or general questions.
Amanda Ortmayer -- Production Manager
mail@sffringe.org
phone - 415-440-8825
fax- 415-931-2699
156 Eddy Street
San Franciscio CA, 94102