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For a show or venue to succeed, a realistic and comprehensive budget is a great first step. There are many financial aspects of participating in Adelaide Fringe and this resource will help you understand the Box Office Projection Calculator, decipher venue and show budgets, and grasp the significance of breakeven points for a successful festival season.

Contents

Download the Budget Template

Click here to make a Google Sheets copy of the budget template.

Click here to download an Excel file of the budget template.

Understanding Your Budget

Successfully participating in Adelaide Fringe involves careful financial planning. Our budget templates for both shows and venues are designed to give you a clear overview of potential income and expenses. These tools, especially the Box Office Projection Calculator, are invaluable for setting realistic goals and managing your finances effectively throughout your Fringe journey.

The Box Office Projection Calculator helps you estimate your potential ticket sales revenue. By inputting details like your ticket price, venue capacity, and number of performances, it provides a projection of your gross income. This projection is crucial for understanding how many tickets you might need to sell to cover your costs and, ideally, make a profit.

Utilising the Venue Budget Template or the Show Budget Template, you can meticulously track all expected costs. These templates encourage you to consider every financial aspect, from initial registration fees to marketing efforts and contingency funds. They are designed to assist you in creating a comprehensive financial roadmap for your Fringe experience.

Key Financial Elements

As you prepare for your Fringe season, venues, presenters, and artists need to consider various financial elements throughout the registration process and leading up to settlements. While this list isn't exhaustive, it covers many common costs you might encounter:

Essentials

These are the foundational expenses you'll almost certainly face. They include your registration fees for participating in Adelaide Fringe, venue hire costs (which can vary significantly depending on your chosen space), and ticketing splits, which refer to how ticket revenue is divided between you, the venue, and Fringe.

Wages

If your production involves a cast, crew, or other contractors like a Publicist or Social Media Consultant, it's vital to budget for their wages. Importantly, remember to account for your own wage in your budget. Your time and effort are valuable, and your budget should reflect that investment. See additional resources for Australian Award rates.

Production

Consider the costs associated with bringing your show to life. Are you developing a new performance that requires new props or costumes? Is it time to upgrade your technical equipment, such as lighting or sound gear? These production expenses are crucial for delivering a high-quality show.

Marketing & Promotion

While having your show listed in our Official Fringe Guide and on the website is a good starting point, effective marketing extends far beyond this. Have you invested in creating high-quality images and videos to promote your show? Is your copywriting compelling enough to attract an audience? Consider allocating funds for paid advertising or traditional methods like flyer distribution. Promoting your show will generally involve some costs, and deciding on the best avenues to reach your audience is key.

Accommodation & Travel

For those travelling to Adelaide, it's essential to factor in how you'll get here. What are your projected costs for airfares, car hire, or public transport? Don't forget about accommodation. Will you need to pay for a hostel or hotel, or can you find low-to-no-cost options with friends or family? Also, consider the distance between your accommodation and your venue(s) and how you'll manage daily commutes.

Insurance

Public liability insurance is frequently a requirement and always a sensible investment. It provides crucial protection to cover any unforeseen incidents that might occur during your performances or at your venue.

Fringe Charges

Adelaide Fringe is dedicated to helping artists have the most successful festival season possible, whether through opportunities via the Honey Pot marketplace or strong box office returns. In recent years, Adelaide Fringe significantly reduced its inside fee charge on each ticket to just 5%. This change was implemented to increase the box office return for artists and venues, ensuring more revenue stays with you. Furthermore, our registration fees have remained consistent for nearly two decades, offering stable entry costs.

Contingency

A smart budgeting practice is to overestimate your expenses and underestimate your revenue. We strongly recommend adding a 10% contingency to your budget. This provides a crucial buffer, giving you room to navigate unexpected costs or unforeseen circumstances without undue financial stress.

Profit & Loss and Breakeven Points

A critical aspect of your financial planning is determining your ticket prices and setting realistic profit expectations. Understanding your breakeven point – the number of tickets you need to sell to cover all your expenses – is fundamental. If you don't reach your breakeven point, it's important to understand what level of loss you are prepared to operate with. Adelaide Fringe recommends setting a breakeven point of between 20-25% of ticket sales.

To assist you, we encourage you to review ticket sales statistics from previous seasons. The overall average ticket price across Adelaide Fringe in 2024 was $32. This figure can help guide your own pricing decisions. It's beneficial to research average ticket prices for similar types of shows to ensure your pricing is appropriate and competitive.

Reaching your breakeven point is highly beneficial as it means your show has covered all its costs, allowing any additional ticket sales to contribute directly to profit. It minimises financial risk and creates a foundation for a more successful and sustainable Fringe experience.

Summary

  • Thoroughly utilise the Box Office Projection Calculator and budget templates to forecast income and expenses.
  • Account for all essential financial elements, including wages (your own!), production, marketing, and travel.
  • Understand your breakeven point and price tickets strategically, considering the average Fringe ticket price.
  • Always include a 10% contingency fund in your budget to manage unforeseen circumstances.

Additional Resources