Bringing a show to the Vault Festival? On this page, we're collecting together some of the questions we're most often asked about our coverage of arts events. If you haven't yet read our Overview, you might like to take a look at that before diving in.
How do we get listed on Fringe Guru?
We don't publish comprehensive listings for the Vault Festival. The only way to be featured on our site is to impress our editors or reviewers, so that we feel able to recommend your show. The first step in the process is to send us a press release - there's more on that in the next question.
How do we invite you to review our show?
The best way is to send us a press release. There's more informaton on that in our Overview.
What if we don't want you to review our show?
Just send us a quick email, and we'll make sure we don't embarrass you by requesting a press ticket.
How do you decide which shows to review?
Although that's an obvious question to ask, we don't have a clear answer to it. We take in a range of factors, including the history of the performing company, whether the show fits into a "theme" we want to cover, and the balance of material across genres and venues. Scheduling is also an important factor which, sadly, comes largely down to luck. The bottom line is that if you're doing the right things to appeal to the public, you're doing the right things to appeal to us too.
Our show's going on to Edinburgh. Should we ask for reviews at the Vault Festival?
This is a difficult question. Edinburgh reviews are generally seen as more valuable, and if we review your show now, it's unlikely we'll do it again in August. On the other hand, it's considerably easier to get reviewed at a smaller festival because there's less competition for our reviewers' time. It really depends on what you're trying to achieve and what fits best into your show's development cycle. If you're eligible for a Scotsman Fringe First award, remember that being reviewed by us would disqualify you.
Would you like to interview us?
No, our focus is on reviews and editorial recommendations, so we don't carry out interviews for publication. We'll get in touch if we'd like to ask any questions for our own background knowledge.
Can we interview you for on our podcast / vlog / etc.?
Sure! We're occasionally asked to do this, and we'll help out if we can. Similarly, if you want us to take part in a post-show discussion, drop us a line and we can talk about the options.
How do we know if you're sending a reviewer?
Your venue ought to be able to tell you whether we've booked a ticket. We generally only schedule a few days in advance.
How long do reviews take to come out?
At the Vault Festival, we try hard to get them out within two days. We might need to stretch that timescale every now and then, especially if your next performance isn't until some time later.
Something went wrong (and it wasn't our fault), so could you see the show again?
We're very sorry, but it's extremely unlikely we'll be able to do that. Our reviewers are in high demand, and seeing your show twice would mean some other show didn't get a review at all. But do email us to let us know what happened; we may be able to take it into account in our review.
Why do you use star ratings? Aren't they reductive / unfair / discredited?
There's no right answer to this question, but you can read some thoughts on the matter.
Who decides on the star ratings?
The reviewer decides. Our editors sometimes query the star rating, just like they might comment on anything in a review, but they'll never overrule it without discussion.
Is it true you don't publish reviews with less than three stars?
Nope, that's FringeReview, a completely separate website. We at Fringe Guru publish all reviews, good and bad, unless the circumstances are genuinely exceptional.