FAQs: Showcasing at Pacific Contact

There will be approximately 27 multi-disciplinary showcases, all fifteen minutes in length, at Pacific Contact 2025.

Mainstage Showcases

There will be approximately 27 Mainstage Showcases, including 6 Family Showcases. Showcase performances are 15 minutes long and feature a variety of genres, including music, dance, and theatre.

Family Showcases

There will be 6 Family Showcases aimed at families and young audiences and can be in any genre: theatre, dance, music and variety.

Applications are open to multi-disciplinary performers from music (contemporary, classical, jazz, blues, global, urban, etc.), to dance, theatre, and variety acts. Applying to showcase requires an availability to tour in BC in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.

Applications can be submitted via the I Want to Showcase website from January 7, 2025, and the deadline is February 28, 2025.

Applicants must provide appropriate high-quality support materials as part of their application. These materials include live performance video links, photos, bios, technical requirements and stage plots. Applicants must also list their availability and fees for touring.

A $55 non-refundable showcase application fee is due at time of your showcase application. Your fee includes membership with BC Live until October 31, 2025. For benefits, visit our website. Selected artists are also required to register for the Contact Room booth or have representation at a Contact Room booth for the duration of the conference.

Applications will be available in January 7, 2025 and the deadline to apply is Friday, February 28, 2025.

Showcase applicants for Pacific Contact 2025 will be notified of the results of their application by April 30, 2025.

No formal feedback will be provided however, informal inquiries, if you are not selected to showcase, are permitted.

Showcase artists are selected by a committee of presenters, festival reps, agents/managers and artists.  The committee chooses a varied selection of approximately 27 acts to showcase based on:

• Artistic merit and professionalism
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• Feasibility and tour ability
• Marketability and engagement

The final selections will be reviewed and adjusted based on genre diversity, regional representation, and gender equity. See Showcase Selection Criteria for complete information.

Sound: A full FOH and monitor sound system will be provided for showcasing artists. This will include FOH and monitor consoles with operators, monitor wedges, microphones, and cabling.

Lighting: A general static wash will be available. This will be preset and cannot be modified for showcases. If you have any special lighting needs, such as black lights, blackouts, etc., please indicate these in your application.

Backline: A standard main stage backline package will be provided, including an acoustic drum kit, guitar amplifier, and a bass amplifier. This equipment is provided as a convenience to the artists and to assist in keeping showcases running smoothly and on time.

Video: Equipment for projected video or slideshow will be available. Showcasing artists must provide the media source.

Tech Time: Performers must be available on October 2-4, 2025, for a 30-minute tech/sound-check and review final needs with the technical staff, sound engineer, and stage manager. All showcasing artists will be notified in advance of their load-in/sound check schedule.

The BC Live Production Manager will work closely with showcase artists to best meet their needs, but certain modifications may be necessary due to time constraints and production flow. Only technical staff provided by BC Live and the showcase venues may operate equipment during showcases unless otherwise agreed upon in advance.

Other than professional sound, lighting, standard stage equipment, and concert grand piano, BC Live will not be financially responsible for, or supply any special equipment or instruments required by the showcase artist.

Artists are not permitted to showcase the same act in two concurrent years; however, they can apply to perform new content in a different artist group or format. Some artists stagger the years they apply to showcase and purchase only a booth in the Contact Room during non-showcasing years.

Pacific Contact is part of the Regional Presenting Network in Canada. There are several other showcase events across the country that take place at various times throughout the year. These are listed on the I Want to Showcase website.

BC Live does not offer financial support for showcasing artists; however, there are external grants available to support artists to showcase at Pacific Contact. See Showcase Financial Assistance for a list of funders who provide this support.

BC Live is happy to provide supporting letters for showcasing artists to help secure funding.

There will be approximately ten Pitch & Perform performances held on stage. All artists will receive a 5-minute tech run-through on the stage in the hour before their scheduled performance. Our Pitch & Perform hosts will keep time and notify you at the one-minute remaining mark. As our schedule is tight, hosts will stop you if you go over 5 minutes.

Approximately 10 artists will be selected to showcase in Pitch & Perform.

Pitch & Perform performances will be held in a dance and theatre friendly space on stage with access to projection and basic audio/visual equipment.

Applications can be submitted via the I Want to Showcase website from January 7, 2025.

Artists and agents applying to showcase at Pacific Contact through the I Want to Showcase website can check a box to express an interest in a Pitch & Perform session.

Pitch & Perform artists are selected by the same jury that selects the mainstage showcases, and the same selection criteria and process applies. See Showcase Selection Criteria for complete information.

Pitch & Perform applicants will find out by April 30, 2025, if they have been chosen.

Limited production support is provided for The Pitch & Perform artists. BC Live provide a stage, a couple of mics, a mixing board, and a projector, screen and speakers in a space that is theatre and dance friendly.

BC Live does not offer financial support for showcasing artists, however there are external grants available to support artists to showcase at Pacific Contact. See Showcase Financial Assistance for a list of funders who provide this support.

BC Live is happy to provide supporting letters for showcasing artists to help secure funding.