How Underground Works
What we provide:
- A choice of two fully furnished and equipped spaces to perform your show: the Pauper’s Pit and the Barrel Room.
Usually you will have roughly a hour to perform your show (this is flexible) with 20 minutes to get-in and 10 minutes to get-out. - A 150 minute technical rehearsal in the space. This is usually the day or day before your first performance.
- A technician on hand during your rehearsal to either learn your show or teach you how to use the equipment.
- Technical support during your run and during get-in times – should you need it or should anything go wrong. (A technician can also operate your show for you at a cost of £10 per performance)
- Advance booking facilities allowing people to reserve tickets for your show from the beginning of June.
- A dedicated website, running from the beginning of May, offering audiences and press information and advertising our entire programme – as well as our venue.
- A personal web-page dedicated to your show, as part of our popular Underground website. This can feature any text, images and videos of your choice.
- A full-time Box Office and Information Desk, running from July 8th and selling advance tickets for your show.
- A Press Officer to inform and interest both local and national press in the year’s programme as well as individual events.
- Advertising throughout our venue, on boards on the street outside as well as at other locations throughout the town. Underground not only hand your flyers out to audiences but rotate your posters to get them maximum coverage and stick up quotes from reviews to catch the public’s eye.
- A base during the Fringe to store publicity, ask advice on your show or other touring issues, use our free WiFi, print items (at cost price) or just generally hang out!
- A dedicated team on hand during the Fringe to help with anything you might need.
- A limited amount of storage which can be used for props and small amounts of set, by arrangement only.
- Inclusion as part of an established, well-known and recognised venue with a reputation for a varied and high-standard programme of entertainment.
- Help and advice from the point of application, in all areas from design to accommodation, sourcing props to press-release writing – from a team of professionals with many years experience of Buxton and other Fringes.
- Entry into the Fringe for you, dealing with them directly to help cut down on the inevitable mistakes and save you time and hassle.
“Underground was a huge success and your hard work was exceptional. Long may it continue!”
Sorrell Thomas, Producer, Fragile Theatre, Buxton
What you provide
- A fully-rehearsed show / act which can fit into the space and be got in and out in time
- A venue fee (see below).
- A full application form including details of your technical requirements and the set you plan to use
- Marketing materials - Text and images relating to your show to allow us to sell it efficiently.
- Full information on what you need from us and any changes to you original plans, in advance of the Fringe.
- Posters and flyers for us to use in selling your show.
How much does it cost?
- The Barrel Room (Music and stand-up comics only): 50% of the gross box-office, no up-front costs.
- The Pauper's Pit (Theatre and other acts): 40% of the gross box-office, with a fixed guarantee per performance. This usually begins at £40/show for one performance, and scales down the more slots you take.1
- Other deals and participation in other events may be possible for certain stand-up comics and musicians.2
1 A guarantee is the minimum fee ‘guaranteed’ to Underground. Normally we collect this as a deposit to seal your contract. See our FAQs for a detailed explanation.
2 We have some seperate events which stand-up comedians and jazz / classical musicians may be interested in. This can be a way to get around the Fringe entry-fee and publicity costs. There may also be possibilities for some performers to receive a flat fee instead of a box-office split. Contact us for details.
