Every year our companies all ask a few similar questions, below we have tried to collect them together and provide answers:
- Why Zoo Venues rather than one of the other 250 venues?
- What sort of shows do you programme?
- Which of your five spaces would be best for our show?
- What slots do you offer?
- How much does it cost to perform with zoo venues?
- What is included in the price?
- What is not included in the price?
- Do you charge commission?
- What is a 60-40 split with guarantee and how does it work?
- I want to come to Zoo Venues, how do I apply?
- Should I send a script or video with my application?
- Where can I get help?
- Where can I find technicians for my show?
- How do I sell tickets for my show?
- Where can I live during the festival fringe?
- Should I have insurance?
- Will I make money?
- How do I work for Zoo Venues?
Why Zoo Venues rather
than one of the other 250 venues?
Because we believe that we offer an excellent choice of spaces
in good locations, a virtually unrivalled level of technical support, and
a straightforward pricing policy with no hidden costs. Our staff are friendly,
experienced and always accessible, and our management works tirelessly
to make the venue as good as it can be. We receive consistently excellent
feedback from our companies and believe that we have firmly established
The Zoo and Zoo Southside as two of the very best venues on the Fringe.
We passionately care about our venues and our companies.
What sort of shows do
you programme?
We are happy to receive applications from all Fringe mediums –theatre,
dance, comedy or music. Some of our spaces are more suited to certain types
of performance (see below).
Which
of your five spaces would be best for our show?
Our three studios - the Aviary, the Monkey House and Zoo Southside
Studio - are ideally suited to most forms of traditional theatre. All
three spaces provide intimate environments and sufficient technical facilities
to cope with most demands. The Zoo Southside Main House is reserved exclusively
for dance and physical theatre. Music and comedy acts can be accommodated
in the Zoo Southside Cabaret Bar.
What slots do you offer?
We do not offer specific slots as such. Our spaces are available
from 10.30am to 1.30am every day, so we invite companies to tell us how
much time they require for their performance and
the approximate time of day when they wish to perform, and then we do our
best to accommodate your requirements within our schedule.
How much does it
cost to perform at Zoo Venues?
This depends on your choice of space, the time of your performance,
and the length of your run. Our prices range from £50 to £300
per hour, per day. This figure is a guarantee that we require in advance,
and any box office income above this level is split
60-40 in the performing company’s favour. If your show runs
for the whole 25 days of the Festival then we will discount the price
to the equivalent of a 21-day run. This sum is payable in installments–the
first 10% is required with your signed contract, and a payment schedule
for the remainder will be negotiated at the time of booking. There are
no hidden additional charges at Zoo Venues –all venue expenses
are included in the guarantee.
What is
included in the price?
Everything that you will receive from Zoo Venues. The price includes
the hire of the venue, comprehensive box office, press/marketing and technical
support (including a technician for each of your performances), use of
the green room with wireless broadband internet, space in the venue brochure
and on the website.
What is
not included in the price?
In normal circumstances you should not need to pay anything
other than your guarantee. However, sometimes unforeseen events mean
that companies need additional technicians or additional technical rehearsal
time beyond that offered as part of our standard deal. In these instances,
there will be additional charges. There is also a separate charge if
you wish to hire our street publicity team.
Do
you charge commission ?
Zoo Venues do not. However, the Fringe office takes 6% plus VAT
of all tickets sold at the Fringe box office as commission, and the Performing
Rights Society takes 3% to cover royalties should you use music that is
under copyright.
What is a 60-40
split with guarantee and how does it work?
We charge an up front guarantee of between £50 and £300
per hour to cover the cost of setting up and running our venues. At the
end of your run we will total your Fringe and Zoo Venues Box Office Receipts
and calculate the split. As an example, if your guarantee is £2000
and 40% of your actual gross box office sales amounts to £2100, then
we will keep £100 on top of the £2000 guarantee we already
have and return the rest of the net box office receipts to you. If 40%
comes to less than your guarantee we take nothing from your box office. (Please note the charge made by ZOO Venues be that the guarnatee or the guarantee plus a box office share is subject to VAT)
I want to come
to Zoo Venues, how do I apply?
Please go to the application page and
fill out the application form, then either email it back to us or post
a printed copy. We try to send a receipt email within two days of receiving
your application. It is vitally important that you include full contact
details for TWO members of your company on your application form, and that
these contact details are applicable throughout the year, including after
the Festival. Please bear this in mind if, for example, you supply a university
address but will not be resident there outside term time.
Should I send a script or video
with my application?
Any and all supporting materials are welcome. Try to include
anything that will give us a flavour of your company as well as the piece.
Please note that we cannot return any materials sent to us.
Where can I get
help?
info@zoovenues.co.uk is
a good place to start. For more specialised advice we pass contact information
for our department heads (Venue Manager, General Manager, Production Manager,
Box Office Manager, Technical Manager, Press and Marketing Manager) on
to you once you have booked with us. In mid-April the Press and Marketing
and Technical departments will contact you to discuss your show. We send
several bulletins to you between May and July containing useful information,
and then have an introductory meeting with your principal representatives
on the day of your technical rehearsal.
Where can I find technicians for
my show?
We provide one technician for every show, although we cannot guarantee
that you will get the same technician every day. Other technicians can
often be found on the bulletin boards provided by the Fringe.
How do I
sell tickets for my show?
The primary method of promoting your show is to spend as much
time as possible publicising it on the High Street. We recommend that
you hand out a minimum of 500 flyers for every day of your run, or if
you have more than five people in your company, give each of them 100
flyers to distribute every day. Posters, reviews, ticket deals, word
of mouth and your programme entry also play an important part.
Where can I live during the festival
fringe?
There are many options for private rents during August. We suggest
you start by looking at Festival
Flats, Festival
Partnership or look on edfringe.com
Should I have insurance?
This is advisable. We do not recommend a specific policy, but
suggest you should contact the Fringe Society for advice.
Will I make money?
The Fringe is an expensive event and there is massive competition
for audiences, so relatively few people make a profit from it. Instead,
most are content just to be part of this incredible Festival, and to
enjoy the thrill of the experience. Many companies also benefit by increasing
their profile at the Fringe, and attracting interest from promoters,
which can lead to extensive future bookings. It remains an unrivalled
'shop window' for your company.
How do I work for Zoo Venues?
We employ a number of people during the festival. Positions are
available in the; Technical, Box Office, Press and Marketing and Front
of House departments. Please follow this link to
visit our jobs
page.