(Again, all this decreases Fringe Authenticity Points, but a rational economic agent would only get the minimum number of points to secure the “Fringe” brand.)

Edmonton has solved the funding problem. It might be “unFringe” but alas our economy runs on dollars, not Fringe Authenticity Points. Victoria should do that, but better: Convert the dollars to FAPs by bonusing whatever excess Intrepid can’t use* out to the artists, or the audience in the form of ticket discounts.

Look, artists hate money — that’s a law of power: despise what you can’t have — but there comes a point where, when you can make money and save the festival, but turn it down anyway because making money isn’t cool, you drift into the realm of dangerous insanity.

Like, if the government just taxed all Fringe tickets $2 and then gave Intrepid a grant each year in that amount, less administrative expenses, I now suspect this problem would be permanently solved. Why does the festival need the government to take a fee and bless the money? Why don’t they just collect it themselves?

I know a senior tax policy analyst, I might run that idea by him — they’ve recently freed up a bunch of PST-related staff and are looking for things to transition them into. 25,000 attendees times, say, 3 shows each times $2 is $150,000. They could give Intrepid its $35,000 grant and have enough left over for two full-timers. That’s job creation!

Oh wait, what I meant to say is: I have a money blessing service Intrepid might be interested in. What I do is charge $2 to all Fringe customers and then give that money to Intrepid, less a nominal blessing fee (nondenominational).

Who do I talk to about this Karen? I’ll make you a bishop*.

* LOL — gravy train.

The 35,000 is cut from intrepid’s budget for rest of the year. 40% more cuts in 2010.

The fringe helps support intrepid for the rest of the year. 7 venues have paid techs and front of house managers. You could never get a volunteer to do a tech job. It has ridiculous hours and doesn’t pay well anyways. They could get rid of the front of house and make board members do it again, but they mess everything up. Volunteers run the box office and do other smaller jobs around the festival. 10% of each house is reserved for comps so that the volunteers are able to see shows for free. Fringe is one of the better things to volunteer for because of that. Each venue needs stages, lighting, sound, risers, chairs which is all very expensive. They used to not have risers and smaller venues and people complained and complained. They must be doing something right that they should hit over 25,000 people attending this year. I know there is a bunch of city permit things they have to get and other things i can’t think of right now.

I know it is cheaper for fringes to use already built theatre spaces like they do in edmonton and vancouver but victoria does not have enough spaces. Intrepid only just opened metro space 5 years ago and just 2 years for their theatre club.

Also a lack of cheap venues and rehersal space in town. Maybe you should get into that business?

oh and the 9$ shows with no student and senior price do not do as well as the student/senior shows, unless is it someone really good that has sold out shows everyone wants to see. Remember most of these people like to go to at least 5 shows or more and that adds up.

* Or maybe there is — Anyone else know of any other insane rules?

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