Performer FAQs

“ABSfest was a fantastick networking event!…I had no idea how much work would be generated by the event. A huge boost for our act.” ~Kimberly Cruse, Sidetracked Productions.

What is ABSfest

ABSfest is a three-day festival Burlesque & Sideshow festival, now in its sixth year, held in bohemian Asheville, NC, historically known as the ‘Paris of the South’. The event offers three days of performance and networking, shopping at the Bizarre Bazaar, and two days of workshops and mentoring to both the public and the professional performer. ABSfest hires national and international Headliners to lead the festival each year, and selects several dozen other acts from the pool of Performer Applications. Selection is based on skill, professionalism, raw creativity, what makes the best flow for the shows, and community spirit, among other things. ABSfest attempts to integrate all the Vaudeville Revival Arts under one marquee, to insure the best possible shows and the most inspiring collaborations in the broader Burlesque and Sideshow communities. ABSfest has also appeared in three separate films documenting aspects of the Neo-Vaudeville Revival!

The event is spread through venues downtown, allowing the visitor to get a taste for the city. We strive to keep everything within walking distance, and in close proximity to quality coffeeshops, great international food, groceries, chic galleries, DIY boutiques and all things local and wonderful. Our venues are conveniently localised downtown, and the Saturday Cabaret Spectacular show is held at the Orange Peel Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a gorgeous club-style venue with top-of-the-line lighting and sound and a capacity of 1200. We fill the place with the Bizarre Bazaar, a full evening of top-quality performance, and a hell of a party.

ABSfest also traditionally honors one regional artist per year with a Recognition Award for valiant work in keeping the Vaudeville Arts alive and vibrant.

ABSfest believes in the power of education, both for the public and the artists empowering each other to excel in the craft. Both Saturday and Sunday feature workshops in the ABSfest Seminary with our headliners, and other festival artists. The sessions are open to all, and are priced for accessibility. Teaching artists get 70% of class profits, and all performers are encouraged to attend a class: support the artists, learn something new, help create a culture of professionalism, constructive critique and valued information-sharing.

With most of the work done, Sunday brings the Brunch. Shake off the cobwebs of the night before with breakfast and Mimosas, more casual performance, and a great opportunity to network with press and performers before the event winds to a close.

How does the application process work?

Visit the festival website, fill out the Performer Application and pay the application fee. We weigh all the applications with a mind to creating the most balanced programming possible. The deadline for these Applications is March 1, 2012. Confirmation that your Application was received should arrive within 2 weeks. All applicants will be informed by March 15 as to whether your act was accepted. If so, be prepared to submit your music, hi-res press photos, tech specs, and bios for use on stage and in the program in a prompt manner. Last year saw the greatest number of ABSfest applicants ever, with artists traveling from Chicago, Scotland, Japan and more. It’s always a thrill for our panel to see what comes in!

Who teaches

ABSfest draws brilliant artists, leaders in their fields, and willing to spread the knowledge through teaching. Is this you? Submit ideas for consideration with the Performer Application. A dozen or so teachers are selected to be part of the ABSfest staff, bringing a wide variety of topics, such as Business for Artists, Stage Make-up, Hooping, Trapeze, Juggling, Fire Arts, Intro to Boa Technique, etc, etc etc. ABSfest teachers keep 70% of class profits. We provide space, press, and registration staff. The more a teacher promotes their own classes, the better. It’s a little way that we can give something back to the artists who make the event fantastic.
Classes are selected as part of the Performer adjudication.

Where do the artists stay in Asheville? What are the airport options?

We have a variety of suggestions for lodging.

This year we want to recommend rooms in the Asheville Hostel. It’s downtown, affordable, and homey. Find them on Facebook for a discount. All of downtown is walk-able. Quiet at night. Free parking. Free waffles, coffee & tea. (Make your own.) Free WiFi! Bring your laptop. Free online computer for your use. Bring your bicycles. AC separate per bedroom. Heat is global, and set at 68 F. Space provided for your food. Kitchen for your use. Linens & towels provided.

A NO-FRILLS hotel option close to everything is the Downtown Inn. It’s within a few blocks of several of our venues.

Asheville has a modest airport 30 minutes out, AVL, and for $30 and advance notice we can arrange for you to be picked up and returned. Paypal futureoftradition@gmail.com and send an email to arrange the details.

Who gets paid?

The ABSfest Headliners get paid. All of our other artists participate for the opportunity to meet people, book gigs, learn, and collaborate in upmarket venues. Those professional venues and technicians make every artist look and sound fabulous, and they don’t come cheap. If Freddy Mercury were alive today, he would want to perform at the Orange Peel. Don’t you? And to optimize the utility of that performance, ABSfest is engaging professional videography and photography to capture the weekend.
Artists teaching through the ABSfest Seminary offset the costs of travel by keeping 70% of workshop revenues. Historically, the festival works with the local arts commission to create more paid street work for our artists as well during the week. It’s worth it, we pinkie-swear!