Performer Opportunities
Submissions Are Now Open!
Submissions for the 2019 season are now open. The submission deadline is February 1, 2019.
Please review important information below outlining performance opportunities, the online application process, and selection criteria for the various stages and programs.
The 36th season of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival runs from June 14 – July 7, 2019.
Series Details
MAINSTAGE SERIES (INDOOR, TICKETED PERFORMANCES)
Artists considered for our ticketed indoor season must be solicited by our programming staff or be represented by a national agent. If interested, the staff will contact that artist’s representatives directly.
Venues include: Hill Auditorium (3,400 cap), Power Center (1,300 cap), Michigan Theater (1,700 cap), and Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre (625 cap)
TOP OF THE PARK (OUTDOOR, ADMISSION-FREE PERFORMANCES):
RACKHAM STAGE, THE O&W ACOUSTIC STAGE, STREET PERFORMERS
Top of the Park’s outdoor programming is broadly accessible to the general public, and highlights a wide range of local, regional, national and international talent.
Each year, the festival selects both new and returning artists for the event, which averages an attendance of 2,000 per night.
The festival evaluates submissions based on type of performance, content, quality, diversity, and audience appeal. Multi-year submissions are not criteria for inclusion.
All genres accepted. Performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated).
The festival does not accept any physical (mailed or delivered) press kits, CDs, DVDs, photos, or letters.
The festival will reach out to artists for booking questions by late winter.
Selected artists will be contacted by or before May 1st.
Top of the Park Stage Details
RACKHAM STAGE
(FULL AMPLIFIED ENSEMBLES OF 3–26 PERFORMERS)
We provide full sound, stage, lights, stage manager, audio engineer (typically a line check on analog board shared with other bands), and merchandise sellers. Sets range from 45–90 minutes. Artists are paid a modest flat fee. Performers are expected to self-promote their own shows.
THE O&W ACOUSTIC STAGE
(SOLO/DUO/SMALL ENSEMBLES)
We provide sound, stage, stage manager, audio engineer (typically a line check on analog board shared with other bands), and merchandise sellers. Sets last between 45–60 minutes in the beverage garden. This 21+ area is a more intimate space for 200+ in a shaded, sociable setting. Artists are paid a modest honorarium. Performers are expected to self-promote their own shows.
ROAMING STREET AND LAWN PERFORMERS
The festival accepts submissions from strolling performers and troupes such as: stilt walkers, jugglers, acrobats, sidewalk chalk artists, unicyclists, clowns, go-go dancers, hula hoopers, costumed strolling characters, contortionists, tumblers, magicians and more. Some restrictions apply, including: no fire or pyrotechnics, no “busking” within one block of event footprint, and all performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated). Select performers are paid a modest honorarium for their participation and are expected to be self-sufficient and self-promote their own shows.