'Pay what you want' at one Fringe venue

Edinburgh’s C Venues are the latest to join the ‘pay-what-you-want’ bandwagon at the Fringe.

The well-established company will be offering audiences the chance to set their own ticket prices when they leave shows at their new venue within the Ibis hotel on Cowgate.

The building was constructed on the site of the old Gilded Balloon – and was previously the site of C Soco, a pop-up venue that made use of derelict land following the 2002 fire that ripped through the historic street.

C Venues’ move into what it calls ‘pay-what-you-think’ follows the explosion in the free festival shows over the past few years, expanded by the likes of Bob Slayer’s Heroes venues. Last year, even the Pleasance offered late-night free shows, accommodating those left homeless following the dispute between rival operators vying for the Cowgatehead venue.

Hartley Kemp, artistic director of C Venues, said: ‘C Venues has helped many Fringe performers and creatives make their big break. The package on offer to companies performing at our venue C Soco at Ibis will allow participants to show off new writing, performing and directing whilst allowing audiences to try out new companies and new work.’

However, unlike the free Fringe model, companies and comedians will have to pay to perform at C Soco, with an upfront admin fee then a percentage of the money collected in the bucket, to cover the cost of setting up and using the space.

A spokesman for C Venues said: ‘The advantage to performers is a low risk environment, without a large upfront rental fee, whilst at the same time receiving the first-rate support that C Venues offers its companies.

‘The “Pay-What-You-Think” venue is not competing with the Free Fringe’s model, which has both pros and cons. We’re a full service venue that offers many benefits over and above that of the Free Fringe.’

The Ibis hotel has previously been a PBH Free Fringe venue, and its upper entrance is right next door to C Venues’ main hub on Chambers Street.

Published: 14 Mar 2016