Terms and conditions for artists 2010 August 12 - 13 - 14 •
Buskers Bern runs for three days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Performance times are from 6 pm to midnight on each of the three days.
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All groups perform on all three days. No groups will be hired for individual days.
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Buskers Bern generally covers travel expenses to and from the festival. For groups arriving from or travelling to remote locations, Buskers Berne will not be able to cover all costs. Sharing expenses with the organizers of other festivals may be a possibility and should be explored.
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Buskers Bern does not pay any fees. Performing groups are expected to gather contributions by passing the hat.
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Buskers Bern will cover hotel expenses for three nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). Additional nights may be booked through Buskers Berne with artists expected to cover the additional costs (exceptions in consultation with Buskers Bern). Deadline for such extra bookings is one week before the festival begins.
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Buskers Berne covers the hotel expenses for performers only. No managers, friends, or family members are covered. However, Buskers Berne will be glad to assist with locating additional lodgings if needed.
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Buskers Berne will provide a substantial dinner (meat or vegetarian) on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening. On Friday and Saturday a generous brunch will be available between noon and 2 pm. Individual breakfasts are available in the hotels. On Sunday at noon there will be a good-bye lunch for those artists still present. Arrangements can be made through Buskers Berne for people travelling with performing groups to be included in the meals at a special rate.
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Performing groups usually play 2 to 3 sets per evening (at approximately one hour each). If there are shows with other lengths of performance, either under or over an hour, this will be considered in planning the program.
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Groups change location after each set (rotation system) thus it is important for the groups to be mobile. Assistants are available on request to facilitate these moves. Non-mobile groups will need to make special arrangements with the organizers.
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Performance groups are expected to perform acoustically or slightly amplified (with their own amplifiers). Major amplification systems and PA systems are not permitted. Electricity is accessible in all performance locations.
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All performance locations are lighted.
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The performers are permitted to sell their CDs, DVDs and other articles connected to their performance. Buskers Bern will be glad to make recommendations on pricing.
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There is no OFF festival in Berne. Only groups scheduled by Buskers Berne are allowed to perform at the festival.
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Buskers Bern has a good advertising and public relations program. The festival is well attended by a large and varied segment of the population, including families with children and senior citizens. The system of artists collecting their contributions by way of “passing the hat“ is well publicized and successful, as was shown during the last four festival editions.
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After midnight each night until at least 3:30 am, the “Buskers House“, a party location with a stage, will be open for artists, festival staff, and the public to party and, if so inclined, for the musicians to perform. There is space for about 500 people. The entrance fee for the public is reasonable, and people with a festival badge are admitted free.
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Buskers Bern does not offer any prizes, awards, or competitions.
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Travel expenses will be reimbursed in Swiss Francs on the last day (Saturday) of the festival.
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If it should rain, Buskers Bern will not pay any compensation. In 2006, it was discovered that rain did not seriously affect attendance by the public or collection of contributions. Much of the festival area is under covered arcades which makes it possible to have performances even when it rains.
Artistic co-director: Lisette Wyss Artistic co-director: Stef Reber Send documentation, CDs, DVDs or website address by post or e-mail to: Lisette Wyss / Stef Reber, Daxelhoferstrasse 5, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland Telephone (with answering device) +41(0)31 305 29 21, e-mail: artist@buskersbern.ch