Fringe World performers say they are missing out on the benefits of Perth’s biggest annual festival, with some losing thousands of dollars after paying registration and venue hire fees on top of their costs.

The festival’s phenomenal growth has only added to the pressures, with some suggesting this year’s record 750 shows may simply be too big for Perth.

But organisers argue the not-for-profit festival is a place for artists to develop their work and they can make an informed decision about whether to participate.

Performers pay a $325 registration fee — $175 for free events — and venues charge either a flat fee or a portion of ticket sales, which can vary from 30 to 60 per cent.

Camera Icon Fringe World's Pleasure Garden at night Credit: Sebastian Mrugalski

Five-time Fringe performer Susie Conte said with the cost of advertising and fees she believed most artists beyond the major acts and those at the best-supported venues, would be losing money or breaking even. One year she left owing $900, despite a successful run and award nomination.

“This year has felt different. Performers are not happy,” she said.

“There have been a lot of complaints about management and logistics and audience numbers. I have started to get jaded about the benefits of Fringe to artists.

“We don’t do Fringe for the money, but it is getting harder as the Fringe grows exponentially to get an audience and make your money back. The city makes so much money from parking, restaurants, vendors and bars and we get nothing from that even though we are the acts that bring in the audience.”

Camera Icon Fringe World

Fringe sold more than 360,000 tickets this year and had box office sales of nearly $10 million.

Comedy performer Aden Date has seen shows lose $2000-$3000. He said an artist could pocket just $5 of a $20 ticket price once fees were factored in, out of which they had to cover costs.

He said he would like to see better reporting on artists’ financial outcomes, which would better educate artists about whether they could afford to take part.

“When I talk to artists they often don’t put a cost on their labour, so when they say they lost $1000 it’s often assuming their labour is worth nothing,” he said.

Tiffany Barton has been advocating for a better deal for Fringe artists for years.

She said she would like to see the City of Perth, the Department of Local Government and businesses that profit from the Fringe do more to subsidise or financially reward artists.

Registration fees could also be staggered so artists in smaller venues paid less.

A Fringe spokeswoman said in the past five years payments to artists had grown to $8 million a year.

“Some artists do incredibly well financially from their Fringe participation whilst others do not,” she said.

She said Fringe took a 32 per cent cut at its venues, which was the lowest rate for the festival to be viable.

About half of Fringe events are held at independent venues, which are responsible for much of the recent growth in the number of performances because the main Fringe event numbers had been capped.

“Fringe World annually reviews its fees and charges to ensure that we are providing a good service and appropriate fees and can continue to operate the Fringe sustainably into the future,” she said.