Sam Bain

Need some advice?

Hello, I’m Sam.

I'm a producer and programmer with 20+ years across venues, festivals and touring. I’ve worked in theatre, comedy, dance, opera and live podcasts. I've produced and programmed at every scale, and spent four years running Fringe Central, the Edinburgh Fringe’s artists and industry hub.

On Friday 14 August I'll be parked up in an Edinburgh café near Pleasance Courtyard for a big chunk of the day (I'm moving accommodation), and would love to make some time for anyone that would benefit from a conversation.

What I can actually help with:

• Ask me what you need to know about programming. I can help with stuff like how to pitch your work, and what programmers are actually looking for.
• Future strategy for your show. Want a sounding board for where to take your show after Edinburgh? Let’s chat about onward strategy, touring routes, next steps, who to talk to.
• You as an artist - where you're at and where you're going. A wider conversation about you, figuring out what you might need to get you where you want to be. This one tends to suit mid-career artists best (though not exclusively), since it leans on longer-term strategic thinking.
• Is the Fringe totally overwhelming? If the festival is already way too much and you can't see the wood for the trees, let’s find some perspective and face in the right direction.

What this isn't:

• A pitch slot for Norwich Theatre. There will be loads of chances to talk Norwich on other days, and if you need 15 mins to pitch me your show you’re doing it wrong.
• General Fringe troubleshooting. If you have specific problems with logistics, marketing, box office stuff, Fringe Central's your first stop, and it's free.

Two ways to book time:

🟢 Free 15-min chat. A quick question, or you just want to say hello.
🟣 Paid session (45 min, £40). Proper time to dig into one of the above.

If you’re not sure, you’re welcome to book a free chat. If there’s a slot free on the day we can extend into that (though you may need to wait for a gap). If not, we'll sort something for another time. I can't guarantee when unless it's booked in advance.

Let me know what you'd like to cover and how long you think you need. I'll confirm (or suggest a different length depending on what you want to talk about). I’ll also be honest if what you want to talk about isn’t my expertise. For paid slots, I'll send an invoice, then I'll ask for a bit of background so I actually come prepared.

PS, I've never tried this before. It's a total experiment. Come and chat!