Fringe festival theatre production

Festival and theatre audiences buying tickets, plus arts councils, local sponsors and crowdfunding backers who help cover costs.

Ticket sales (you usually keep a share, and the split varies by festival), sponsorship, grants and extra performances at other venues.

• Organizing people and schedules
• Writing or directing
• Marketing and promotion
• Budgeting

• Rights to any existing script or music, which may need permission or fees (check with the rights holder, SOCAN or similar)
• Commercial general liability insurance, which venues or festivals may require
• Union rules if you hire Canadian Actors' Equity Association members, so check before casting
• GST/HST registration if your revenue passes the small supplier threshold
• Festival fees and travel can exceed ticket income, so keep your budget cautious

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your cast size, script or rights, venue and marketing. Festival fees and travel can exceed ticket income, so keep your budget cautious.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on ticket sales, the festivals you play and any sponsorship or crowdfunding. This is revenue, not profit. Plan for at least about 10 hours a week.

Check rights to any existing script or music, which may need permission or fees. Also check insurance requirements from venues, union rules if you hire Canadian Actors' Equity Association members, and GST/HST registration once revenue passes the threshold.