C Venues is the latest Fringe promoter to announce a "pay what you want" venue at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.
Audiences will be able to "pay what they think" for shows taking place from 10am until late at C Soco at Ibis. The venue returns for a second year in the courtyard of the Ibis Southbridge hotel. It was located for several years in the same spot, in the gap site of the former, fire-demolished Gilded Balloon.
Last month, the Gilded Balloon revealed it will be expanding into the Counting House, and adjoining Blind Poet and Pear Tree pubs. The Counting House was formerly a flagship free venue run by Laughing Horse.
Responding to criticisms of "venue-poaching" Gilded Balloon founder Karen Koren said it will be offering "pay what you want" tickets at the Counting House for seats that remain unsold.
Under the hybrid model, tickets will be sold in advance for £5 to £10 and if there is spare capacity at show time, Fringe-goers can see the show for free and put money in a bucket at the end.
The by-donation model has long been used by "free" Fringe pioneers such as Forest Fringe, Peter Buckley Hall, and Laughing Horse.