Having just completed a weekend of compering fringe events at Beverley Festival I have a few personal reflections on what a fringe contributes to a festival:

I had three friends from a different part of the country staying with me for the festival. They came principally to play with me in fringe events but all of them paid entrance into mainstream festival events on an individual basis.

All four of us visited the craft fair and gave our custom to more than one stall. In addition we bought coffees and sandwiches from the food stall at various times over the weekend. My friends also toured Beverley town and bought items from bookshops and market stalls. Whilst taking part in fringe events we all bought drinks and snacks in pubs.

I haven't yet mentioned actually doing any performing but we played, sang and recited for around fifteen hours in various sessions thereby contributing to the overall atmosphere of the festival and the town.

Whilst I am a great fan and supporter of festivals, they can seem specialised and cliquey to the general public and the fringe events are often the only part of the festival that the people of the town get to see and hear (dance teams too of course) – so we are often the public face of the festival. I know for a fact that several of my neighbours and work colleagues (who are not folkies) visited fringe venues and were impressed with the atmosphere and the standard of performers.

If you multiply my personal experience by those of other fringe performers you can see that we:
·        Boost the income of festival events
·        Support the ancillary services such as food concessions and craft stalls
·        Increase the revenue for businesses in the town
·        Contribute to the overall festival ambience and
·        Act as goodwill ambassadors to the town residents

So, I think that the festival proper and the fringe are mutually supportive and together make up what is regarded as a great, friendly festival that is an asset to the town.

Roger