First Annual Fringey Online Video Contest Invites Public to Sneak Preview and Vote on Minnesota Fringe Festival Performance Videos at http://www.fringeyawards.com

VISI Sponsors Fringey Video Contest to Add Social Media/Viral Component to 2009 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Visit http://www.fringeyawards.com to find out more.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) July 7, 2009

For the first time in the Minnesota Fringe Festival's 16-year history, an online video contest called the "Fringey Awards" gives the public a sneak preview of various artists' performances and enables those who visit http://www.fringeyawards.com to vote for their favorite three videos until July 28. The contest, sponsored by VISI, Minnesota's largest data center and managed hosting provider, invites all performers from the Fringe's 162 shows to submit 60-second videos that best capture the essence of their different productions and that encourage attendance to the July 30 - August 9 performances.

The "Fringey Awards" video submissions can be excerpts from actual Fringe Festival performances or simply teasers. The trailers will be funny, dramatic, shocking and whimsical. They'll be scripted, improvised or even stream-of-conscious. Many will feature live actors, original animation and music, and maybe even puppets.

"VISI is proud to launch the first annual 'Fringey Awards' to offer Fringe artists a new, viral way to promote their performances through online video," said Gary Elfert, director of products and marketing for VISI. "All Fringey video submissions will live on http://www.fringeyawards.com and YouTube, so contestants can send video links to their networks by email, Facebook, Twitter and other digital channels. VISI is bringing the power of technology and social media networking to the Minnesota Fringe Festival. "

The top three Fringey videos will be tallied by a combination of online votes from the general public and votes from a panel of three local judges, who include Scott Mayer, founder of the Twin Cities Theater "Ivey Awards" and organizer of the recent "One Man Minneapolis" contest; Ben McGovern, associate director of studio programming for the Guthrie Theater and Edie French, a 20-year media producer who is the president and CEO of LOCATION IMAGES/iDream.tv. Scott, Ben and Edie will cast their votes based on each video's originality, creativity and how effective a trailer promotes a contestant's unique Fringe production.

Three semi-finalists will be notified by phone or email by July 29 of their winnings and they'll receive one year's worth of free Web site hosting ($240 retail value) from VISI. The grand prizewinner will be announced at the Minnesota Fringe Festival's closing night party, which is taking place at Sea Change at the Guthrie Theater, 818 Second St. S., Minneapolis, on August 9. The contestant honored for the best Fringey video submission will receive $500 in cash along with a year of Web hosting service ($240 retail value) from VISI.

More information about the "Fringey Awards" can be found at http://www.fringeyawards.com, on Facebook on the Fringey Awards group and at http://www.twitter.com/fringeyawards.

About Minnesota Fringe Festival
Minnesota Fringe Festival is an annual eleven-day performing arts festival held in Minneapolis-St. Paul. This year, more than 160 productions will present more than 800 performances at 22 venues. Between the festival's opening on July 30 and its close on August 9, well over 40,000 tickets will be issued. Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors 65 years or older, students and MPR members; and $5 for children. To learn more about Minnesota Fringe go to http://www.fringefestival.org.

About VISI:
Founded in 1994, VISI is Minnesota's largest locally owned data center services and managed hosting provider, offering connectivity, colocation and managed cloud hosting services. VISI serves more than 11,000 business and residential customers throughout Minnesota with products and services including a world-class SAS 70 Type II data center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The company provides a full range of robust Web and application hosting services, first-rate Internet services and support, and personal, expert advice. To learn more about VISI, call 612-395-9000 or visit http://www.visi.com.

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