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FAQs: Showcasing at Pacific Contact

Questions About Showcasing at Pacific Contact?

Each year performing artists and their representatives apply to showcase at Pacific Contact, BC’s annual showcase conference for the performing arts.

This 4-day conference attracts approximately 250 performing arts professionals. Approximately 100 of these are presenter, venue, festival and school delegates from BC, across Canada and the US. Some of these presenters book their entire seasons from Pacific Contact showcases.

Pacific Contact also features Pitch & Perform, shorter (5-minute) showcasing and pitch opportunities. Pitch & Perform opportunities are selected by the same selection committee as the mainstage showcases. Presenters are aware of the time constraint and are always pleased to see how incredibly creative artists can be in just 5 minutes.

Timeline for Showcasing

  • January 7, 2025: Showcase Applications Open, deadline Feb 28
  • April 30, 2025: All Showcase Applicants notified
  • May 2025: Showcase agreements signed, review/submit promo materials & technical information
  • June 2025: Register for the conference, purchase booth
  • October 2-4, 2025: Showcase at Pacific Contact 2025

Showcasing FAQs

There will be approximately 22 multi-disciplinary showcases, all fifteen minutes in length, at Pacific Contact 2025.

Mainstage Showcases

There will be approximately 16 Mainstage Showcases. Showcase performances are 15 minutes and feature a variety of genres including music, dance, and theatre.

Family Showcases

There will be approximately 6 Family Showcases. These are performances 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 2025-26 and 2026-27 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 videos, 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. 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 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, agents/managers and artists. Each applicant submits work and information in the form of video files, promotional and technical materials. The committee chooses a varied selection of approximately 22 acts to showcase based on:

  • Artistic merit and professionalism
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Feasibility and tourability
  • 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 the juried 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 booth registration 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.

Pitch & Perform FAQs

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.