I debated doing this blog post because we really try to focus on the entertainments, and my last blog post was rather plug-like. But I would feel really bad if someone could have used this opportunity to make MORE funny happen, and somehow hadn’t heard about it. And there are a lot of funny people that ready this blog.

Also, half of my brain is still focused on a domestic violence workshop I took over the weekend for a stage combat intensive. There is nothing funny about a bunch of rough and tough fighters hurt and crying about horrible situations they can’t do anything about.

Well, maybe if I phrased it differently…

In January of 2009, Bill and I had been together for about 3-4 months. It was 5 days before applications for the MN Fringe Festival were due. I woke up one morning with an idea for a show that would only really work in a Fringe setting. I had no money. I’d never produced a Fringe show before, and had no idea what was involved. But I really wanted to do this show.

I was frustrated, and had a talk with Bill, who had produced a Fringe show prior. I still can’t figure out why Bill married me, but there are certain phrases he said through our dating experience that really clinched the deal for me. He mentioned the deferment program for Fringe, and told me he thought I had enough good references to be able to land one. And then he said “If you think you have a good show, I believe it’s a great one and you should go for it. I’ll help and support you as much as you want, but really, you got this.”

It’s number 3 on the list of most attractive things anyone has ever said to me. Number two was again Bill, saying “I think it’s incredibly hot how you always put Jared first.” Number one was a friend of mine who I had grown up with, who was flirting with me. He took my hand, gazed into my eyes, and said “Jena, you have the most beautiful … blue.. green.. HOLY SHIT YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT COLORED EYES!!!”

Anyway, with Bill’s encouragement, I asked a couple of people for letters of recommendation, got them, filled out the deferment form and application form, and got them in 10 minutes before everything was due.

For those who don’t know “Fringe is an annual performing arts festival in the Twin Cities. For 11 days, over a thousand artists present works in every discipline and genre. No one selects the participating shows. Instead, a lottery determines which of over 400 applicants win production slots in the festival.”

So, I got all that in, did all that work, and 1) didn’t know if I’d get picked, 2) didn’t know if I’d get the deferment to pay for it. It was the most nerve-wracking couple of weeks of my life. And then, when my number got drawn in the lottery and I knew I had a spot (which hasn’t happened since), I *still* didn’t know if I’d get the deferment.

I *did* get that deferment. Robin Gillette, the grand cheese of Fringe who had a hand in picking the deferment, later told me that she looked at my references and said there was no way she could turn it down. One of my references was the director for the largest grossing show at MN Fringe the previous year (which I was in). The other was Mr. Tim Wick, director for Vilification Tennis, of which I am on cast, which had caused quite a stir the year before that.

It was a near thing for me. I had to be lucky enough to have my number drawn, and I had to have luck and a bit of connection to get that deferment. I was lucky to have talked to a guy who knew how it all worked and supported me the entire process. If none of those things had happened, if I had not done the Fringe Festival that year, I would not be where I am now. I would not have the acting resume I have now. I would have missed out on several growth opportunities. I would not know the people I now know. I would not be the marketing director for Fearless Comedy Productions. In fact, if it weren’t for the MN Fringe Festival, there would be no Fearless Comedy Productions.

So we want to give something back.

Yesterday, Fearless announced their Fearless Fringe Sponsorship Program. “Fearless will be looking for applicants looking to produce comedy that fits with Fearless goals of “pushing boundaries and pushing buttons.” Applications for the Fearless Fringe Sponsorship Program will be made available December 1st on their website www.fearlesscomedyproductions.com.”

Here’s the deal- if selected, Fearless will co-produce a show with you. If the show gets in, we will pay the production fee. We will assist with promotions. We will mentor and support as requested. You would still be responsible for applying for Fringe, including the $25 application fee. And the show would still be your show. You can have Fearless involved with production as much or as little as you want.

In return, you would list the show as a co-production with Fearless. You would pay Fearless back the production fee out of the ticket sales. You would also pay us 15% of the profits after production fee payout (we hope to use that money to be able to sponsor more than one person in the future).

The application will be available December 1st, and be due by December 31st. We will announce the winner at our launch party January 12th. Applications for the Fringe are due January 31st, so you don’t have to apply to Fringe until you know if you’ll be co-producing a show with Fearless. All of that anxiety and not knowing if you’ll be able to pay for it? Gone. Not knowing how to apply or where to go? Gone. You’ve got Fearless taking all the risk so that you don’t have to.

It’s kind of what we do.

So, if you or someone you know has been thinking of producing a Fringe show, check out the Fearless website on the 1st and apply for the Fearless Fringe Sponsorship.

Do it. Be Fearless.