Titles

This is your first chance to catch attention. The best show titles are short and snappy. We recommend no more than 5 words.

Fringe Brochure Entry

You have a very tight 40 word limit that must include your name and show title. Write as concisely as possible. Use short sentences in an active voice and avoid all jargon and abbreviations.

Fringe Website Entry

Here you have a bit more space (100 words) that must include your show title, name and affiliation (e.g. the University of Edinburgh). This text should also be concise, active and jargon free. Remember that this description may be the only information someone has to decide if they want to buy a ticket for your show. It has to make sense on its own with no other context. Ask a friend or colleague to read it over. If they need anything explained, it’s not clear enough yet!

Photograph

Every show listing in the Fringe brochure comes with a (very small) image. We recommend you use a head and shoulders shot against a plain background. Other details will be lost when the photo is scaled down.

Marketing

There are up to 48 unique CODI shows every year, competing for audiences with thousands of other Fringe shows. The team will do their best to support you but do not have the capacity to successfully market them all.

• Everyone finds it hard to promote their own show. Work with other performers in your theme to promote each other.
• Embrace Social media
• Make a Video Trailer
• Work with the intern
• Harness your networks, tell your collaborators
• Add a ticket link to your out of office or email signatures

Developing the show

You will need about 20 minutes of prepared material for your show. CODI shows are marketed as “debate and discussion” so at least half the time should be dedicated to interacting with the audience. CODI audiences are an engaged lot and usually come with more questions than you could possibly answer in an hour. And if the audience is feeling shy, Susan and Jojo have never been caught lost for words and will get the discussion rolling.

Props and costumes are strongly encouraged. There’s a wonderful juxtaposition between a clever academic and a cheap or home-made prop that audiences find endearing. If you are planning on wearing (or asking Susan/Jojo to wear) a costume please remember that the stage can get very hot and select accordingly.

Finally, remember these key points

• A CODI show is not a public lecture (or a TED talk)
• Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Technology will fail, batteries go flat and there is absolutely no phone or Wi-Fi reception. You will not have access to computers or projectors. If you bring them there will be no space to set them up and nowhere to plug them in!
• The stage is small and you need to set up and clear out fast. Keep any props limited to what you can easily carry on and off the stage in one go.
• Have fun!

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