Some publicity basics for SF Fringe performers

1. Send postcards to personal mailing lists (give cards with postage to cast and interested parties or ask for addressed cards and post yourself)
2. Distribute postcards in your neighborhood
3. Send email to your personal email list
Provide email text (and PDF artwork or brief publicity copy) to cast and ask them to forward to their email lists
4. Hand out flyers at other shows, other fringe shows and at fringe BYOV shows.

5. For a more comprehensive media resource we recommend "Sources of Publicity" which is published by Theatre Bay Area, the local theater service organization (www.theatrebayarea.org).

2005 MEDIA CONTACTS

ALWAYS put SF Fringe in the Subject Line and
use the Press Release sample and template provided on the Performer's Services Page. Most media now accepts email submissions and you can also send media kits (press release, bios, picture etc.) to reviewers and feature writers you have contact history with. The San Francisco Fringe Festival has and will continue to send media updates on the festival, pitch stories and get the word out. The following is a small list of media contacts for your use.

San Francisco Chronicle (Bay Area/National, daily)
901 Mission St., San Francisco, Ca. 94103
Theatre Critic Rob Hurwitt, rhurwitt@sfchronicle.com
Executive Datebook Editor David Wiegand, dwiegand@sfchronicle.com
Sunday Datebook Editor Joe Brown, jbrown@sfchroncile.com
Digital photo: Send to editor in jpeg format smaller than 1.4MB. Include name, address, telephone number. images@sfchronicle.com

San Francisco Examiner (Bay Area, daily)
988 Market St., San Francisco, Ca 94102
Arts & Culture, features@examiner.com

San Jose Mercury News (Bay Area, daily)
750 Ridder Park Dr., San Jose, Ca 95190-0001
Theatre critic Karen D'Souza kdsouza@mercurynews.com
Features editor Jeff Thomas, features@mercurynews.com

San Francisco Independent (Monthly, listings 1 month prior to publication)
988 Market St., San Francisco, Ca. 94102
letters@sfindependent.com

San Francisco Bay Times (San Francisco gay/lesbian community)
3410 19th St., San Francisco, Ca 94110
sfbaytimes@aol.com
Digital photo: Accepts via e-mail

Sun Reporter/Metro Reporter/California Voice (African American)
1791 Bancroft Ave., San Francisco, Ca 94111
sundoc97@aol.com
Digital photo: 300 dpi jpeg

San Francisco Bay Guardian (Bay Area alternative weekly, published Wednesdays)
135 Mississippi St., San Francisco, Ca 94107
listings@sfbg.com
Theatre Critic: Rob Avila roav2001@yahoo.com (theatre)
Arts Editor J.H.Tompkins

San Francisco Weekly (San Francisco, weekly)
185 Berry St., Lobby 4, Suite 3800, San Francisco, Ca 94107
Theater Critic Chloe Veltman

For CALENDAR LISTINGS

Calendar Editor SF Chronicle
theater@sfchronicle.com

Submissions need to be received three weeks before date of publication (by August 12th). For all e-mails, in subject line, write San Francisco Fringe Festival September 7-18
Do not send Word attachments; send the release in the body of the email
All listings should be brief: one paragraph of description (at most). Plus, clearly and on separate lines:
When: Time(s) and dates(s)
What: Kind of event and title
Who: Performers' names/company name
Where: Venue and FULL address
Public info: 415-673-3847 www.sffringe.org
Contact: Submitter's name and phone number or e-mail

Calendar Editor SF Weekly
joyceslaton@sfweekly.com

Calendar Editor SF Bay Guardian
Sarah_han@sfbg.com

Calendar Editor Oakland Tribune
preview@angnewspapers.com