Why Community is Essential for Fringe Festival Success

S2 E4 of What the Fringe?!

Fringe festivals thrive on bold creativity, but behind every sold-out show and glowing review is something less visible yet equally vital: community. For solo performer and producer Joanna Rannelli, the sense of belonging and mutual support found at fringe festivals has been the difference between simply putting on a show and building a sustainable artistic career.

Joanna Rannelli in Bangs, Bobs, and Banter: Confessions of a Hairstylist

“I wouldn’t be where I am without the community behind me. Everyone’s there saying, we got you, you can do this.”

From Fringe Beginnings to Solo Success with a Collaborative Spirit

Joanna’s introduction to the fringe world came early in her career, when she was cast in a production of The Crackwalker by Judith Thompson. The experience was chaotic, fast-paced, and exhilarating, but what stayed with her was the built-in network of artists, volunteers, and audiences who made the event possible. That initial taste of connection stayed with her through later collaborations, solo tours, and her award-winning shows, Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep and Bangs, Bobs, and Banter: Confessions of a Hairstylist.

Touring solo can be rewarding, but it can also be isolating. Joanna stresses that no successful solo performance is ever truly “solo.” Behind the scenes are dramaturgs, choreographers, mentors, and trusted friends who offer feedback, challenge ideas, and help shape the work. In her case, dramaturg and director Carrie Ipema has been an essential sounding board, pushing Joanna to explore deeper truths in her storytelling and helping her shape personal experiences into narratives that resonate with audiences.

Building Community Connections: The Key to Successful Fringe Marketing

Community also plays a direct role in audience-building. Joanna is clear that marketing at fringe is more than flyers and social media posts, it is about authentic, human connection. Meeting potential audience members face-to-face, sharing genuine enthusiasm for the work, and even promoting other artists’ shows builds goodwill and a stronger overall festival environment. That willingness to cross-promote is not just altruistic. A thriving festival brings in bigger audiences for everyone.

Partnerships beyond the festival grounds can also be powerful. For Bangs, Bobs, and Banter, Joanna reached out to local hair salons, offering cross-promotions that benefited both her show and their businesses. These relationships deepened the authenticity of the production and expanded its reach into the community.

Building a Thriving Artistic Community: Generosity, Self-Care, and Connection

For new artists, Joanna offers a simple first step in building community: be generous with your knowledge and time. Share tips about local resources, help with technical questions, and be willing to point audiences toward other shows. At fringe, collaboration is not a zero-sum game. The more artists lift each other up, the more vibrant and sustainable the scene becomes.

Of course, sustaining a festival run also requires self-care. Community is not only about giving, it is also about knowing when to step back, rest, and recharge so that each performance is delivered with energy and focus. Joanna acknowledges that this balance can be hard to find, but it is essential for long-term success.

The heart of fringe is not just the performances; it is the network of relationships that grows around them. Whether that is a fellow artist lending advice, a local business offering support, or an audience member returning year after year, these connections turn a festival from an event into a living, breathing ecosystem. And for artists like Joanna Rannelli, that community is not just a nice-to-have; it is the foundation on which fringe success is built.

This blog post was inspired by S2 E4 of the What the Fringe?! podcast, and was written utilizing AI technology, in conjunction with human oversight and editing.