- Edinburgh Fringe performers can expect to shell out more than £3,600 to live in the city during Festival season, according to new analysis by Indeed Flex[1][2]
- Four weeks of budget accommodation in the Scottish capital during August costs between £2,000 and £3,000, with a daily meal out adding an extra £620[1][2]
- But Indeed Flex is offering cash-strapped actors the chance to earn more than just applause
- With temporary bar work paying an average of £12.62 per hour in Festival season, performers who pull pints for just four four-hour shifts a week can earn £807 towards their month of living costs[3]
London, May, 2024 — Performers at this year’s Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival will spend at least £2,620 on food and accommodation as costs soar during the Scottish capital’s busiest season, according to new analysis by the online marketplace for flexible and temporary work, Indeed Flex[1].
The Fringe Festival is open to everyone and has served as a launch pad for many actors, producers and directors, but staying in Edinburgh during the four-week Festival season comes with a hefty price tag.
It is an investment that can pay off. In 2013, producer Francesca Moody and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge brought their one-woman comedy play, Fleabag, to the Fringe on a “shoestring budget”. Fleabag later skyrocketed to become an award-winning TV show, achieving worldwide recognition and securing a place in the Fringe hall of fame.
But high inflation means landing that big break may break the bank for this year’s crop of would-be stars. Indeed Flex’s analysis shows that four weeks of budget accommodation in Edinburgh this August is likely to cost between £2,000 and £3,000 as prices for many hotels, rentals or Airbnbs soar during Festival season[1].
Meanwhile, the typical price of a pint of beer in Edinburgh is £5 and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in the city costs £15 on average. A performer enjoying just one meal out and one pint a day would therefore rack up a further £620 during August — and that is excluding all the costs of putting on their show[2].
While all performers aim to pull in crowds for their show, many may earn more by pulling pints in Edinburgh’s thriving pub scene.
Temporary bar jobs in the city listed on Indeed Flex, which is an official sponsor of the 2024 Fringe, pay an average of £12.62 an hour. This means that Fringe performers who work just four four-hour shifts per week could earn £807.68 in August, helping them offset their living expenses throughout the month[3].
Novo Constare, CEO and Co-founder of Indeed Flex, said: “For writers, performers and producers, the Fringe offers a unique, once-a-year opportunity to hone their craft – not to mention the chance to enjoy weeks of boundary-pushing comedy and drama.
“While taking a show to the Fringe has long been a rite of passage for aspiring stars, few make a profit. With the Fringe Festival Society warning participants that their expenses are likely to exceed their revenue, the soaring cost of accommodation in Edinburgh during August means a shot at the big time comes with a big price tag to match.
“However the influx of visitors to the Scottish capital this August, when the Fringe will be just one of two major festivals happening simultaneously, means countless local businesses will be crying out for temporary staff to help them through their busiest time of year.
“Indeed Flex is proud to be sponsoring the 2024 Fringe, and our online marketplace will feature hundreds of temporary jobs across Edinburgh this August, including front of house and bar work that are essential to both festivals.
“Temping while you’re in Edinburgh is the perfect way for both performers and Fringe fans to earn while you enjoy, with the flexibility to fit work seamlessly around your personal and performance commitments.”
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Notes to Editors
- Edinburgh Fringe: Budgeting and Finance (average cost of accommodation)
- Numbeo: Cost of living in Edinburgh
- Indeed Flex data: Average hourly pay bartenders in Edinburgh, 2024
For more information, please contact Emily Thomson at [email protected] or on 07470 880295.
About Indeed Flex:
Indeed Flex is the digital staffing platform that gives jobseekers the fastest and easiest way to find temporary work that fits their lifestyle. Indeed Flex allows people to find temporary work with just a tap of an app. It offers the work you want, when and where you want.
The UK-based platform, which is a member of the Indeed family, is already being used by more than 100,000 job seekers worldwide.
For more information, visit www.indeedflex.co.uk