Today begins the eight year of the Rogue Festival -- one of the jewels of Fresno's arts and entertainment scene. As much as we love Rogue, we know it's still a mystery to many Fresnans. Even to some of you plugged-in reading this very blog.

So if you're wondering "What the heck is this Rogue Festival I keep hearing about?" -- we have answers. Below you'll find a Rogue FAQ. It's something Donald Munro and I put together for last year's festival and it still works for answering many of the basic questions about Rogue and helping Rogue rookies get acquainted with the festival.

Everything gets going tonight with RogueHop and continues on with a packed weekend of shows. Check out tomorrow's issue of 7 for some of our festival picks.

QUICK PLUG: Before we go further, I want to make sure everybody knows that The Beehive's Rogue page is at fresnobeehive.com/rogue. You can also click that Rogue logo to the right and it'll take you there. On the page, you can even see some of the reviews and features from last year's festival. Soon that page will be flooded with reviews and news from this year's Rogue. If you see a show, head over to the Rogue page and give us your review.

Now that we have that out of the way, here's our Rogue FAQ:

What the heck is a fringe festival?
It's exactly what it sounds like -- a festival that's on the fringe of the mainstream. In the case of the Rogue, it's made up of an assortment of alternative arts -- theater, music, dance, film, etc. -- none of which are of the highly commercial variety. The festival is nonjuried, which means there's nobody saying which shows get admitted and which don't. It's like a real-life "Choose Your Own Adventure."

Who are the performers?
Rogue performers range from the touring types, who make a living on the fringe festival circuit, to the local person who was just looking for a place to perform. While most performers are from the Fresno/Clovis area, this year's Rogue is bringing to town people from around the country and even internationally. Some are national names, such as Grammy-winning drummer Steve Mitchell, who has played with Van Morrison and is back in Fresno this year playing with the Benjamin Boone Jazz Quartet.

I get confused with all the different venues that are talked about on the Rogue's Web site. How do I keep them straight?
For the performance-based shows, there are basically three kinds of venues. Main-stage shows, which are the larger shows at the Rogue, are held at three venues: Dianna's North, Dianna's South and the Starline. Rogue Cafe shows, which are more intimate, are held at Ashtree Studios, Spectrum Gallery and the patio of Veni Vidi Vici. There's also a category called BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue), which basically means that performers provide their own place to perform. BYOV performances can range from a show specially performed for the Rogue (Severance theater, for example) to ones that you can think of as being performed more in conjunction with the Rogue (the Fresno Philharmonic's date with the Vienna Boys Choir at the Saroyan Theatre, say). There are also a couple of other Rogue venues for other types of art: You can find visual art at Veni Vidi Vici and Ashtree Studio; you can watch the film component of the festival at Mike Briggs Properties.

How do ticket prices work?
The Rogue folks put a ceiling on the top ticket price that depends on the venue. It's $7 for a main-stage show and $4 for a Rogue Cafe show. The artists can choose to charge less than that, however, and many do. (Think of it as a marketplace competition thing. Who says performers don't know anything about economics?) At BYOV venues, there's no restriction on prices. An important note: Performers at the official Rogue venues get 100% of proceeds at the door. The festival itself derives its income from entry fees, donations and advertising.

Do I have to buy tickets in advance?
You can't. Tickets go on sale half an hour before performances. But you might have to get there earlier than that to get in line if it's a popular show. Better safe than sorry.

How do I plan?
One of the trickiest parts of the Rogue is the planning, especially if there are a lot of shows you want to see. The most important thing is to get your hands on a Rogue Map, which you can grab at any Rogue venue. Don't let the word "map" fool you. The Rogue Map is so much more -- it's like the Rogue bible. It has descriptions and times of all the shows that are playing, as well as addresses for venues and ticket prices. Once you have that, it's a matter of picking and choosing, figuring which time is best to see which show. One piece of Rogue wisdom: Being on time is a big deal. Shows start on time, and some don't allow latecomers. Some only let people in within the first 15 minutes.

How do I know if a show is any good?
You don't. And that's half the fun. The Rogue is all about experimentation. You grab a program, read the title and a short description of a show, toss down a few bucks if it sounds interesting, and hope for the best. Sometimes you'll be thrilled, sometimes underwhelmed. It happens. If you want to do some research beforehand, you can start with our picks sprinkled across these pages. Not guarantees, but good guesses on our part. If you want to wait out the first wave of shows, you can read reviews at roguefestival.com and at our blog, fresnobeehive.com.

Where do you park?
There's a nice big lot behind Sequoia Brewing Co. next to the Tower Theatre. But if that's full, you might have to -- brace yourself -- park on the street. For those accustomed to strip-mall parking abundance, don't worry: You can do it. A good street to pick is Linden Avenue, which runs right by Sequoia. You might have to walk a ways, but you'll usually find a good space.

How did the festival start?
Believe it or not, in a backyard. Rogue founder Marcel Nunis says the genesis of the Rogue was something called "Weed-Whacker Theatre," which happened in his backyard. The first Rogue was in 2002, at Sanctuary theater in downtown Fresno. Since, it's gotten bigger every year, growing in venues, performers and attendees. Now in its seventh year, the Rogue is one of the biggest fringe festivals in the West.

Is it kid-friendly?
Somewhat. We're not going to lie; many of the shows are aimed at a more mature demographic. There are some G-rated shows and some R-rated ones. The best thing to do is flip through the Rogue guide and look at the ratings.

What do I do between shows?
Sometimes you might find yourself with an extra hour or two to kill between shows you want to see. Probably the most daring thing to do would be to take a risk on a show that you wouldn't normally find yourself going to. Sometimes you find the best stuff at the Rogue by stumbling on it. If you're looking for some R&R, however, stop by one of the places you can find Rogue types hanging out, such as Livingstones, the Starline Grill and Veni Vidi Vici. (These are the best places to pick up word of mouth on what shows are promising.) Or for some decompression time, try a hot beverage at Teazer or the Revue.

Once I see a show at the Rogue, how can I let others know what I think?
Time for a shameless plug: Mosey on over to the Beehive's special Rogue page at fresnobeehive.com/rogue/ to post your own reviews. You can also read news, gossip and reviews from Bee staffers. Word of mouth is crucial in a fringe festival, so take a few minutes and give your opinion. You'll also find Rogue reviews and chatter at roguefestival.com.