How to Build A Performing Arts Portfolio - Scrapbooking Your Experiences
A performing arts portfolio has many valuable uses. The first of which is simply to provide an attractive personal memory book of your achievements, but it also helps you to plan your future in the "biz". I have found that during the process of creating my portfolio, I learned a great deal about myself; what gaps exist, what my strengths appear to be, and what I would like to do in future. When you attend auditions, you may often be asked to tell the audition panel about yourself, and creating a portfolio will help you think about what you will tell them. You can learn a lot about yourself, and help others to know about you.
- Storage
- Go out and get a big tupperware bin, and ziploc freezerbags with labels.
- For each show you are in, label a freezerbag with the production company, show name & name of your character
- Save Everything
- Save everything! This includes thank you cards, congratulations cards, tickets, programs, newspaper clippings (advertisements & reviews), photographs, membership cards, certificates, posters, etc.
- Take a disposible camera with you to ALL performance-related activities.
- Put all memorabilia in the corresponding freezerbag and keep it in the tupperware container.
- Take special care with materials such as newspaper clippings: they yellow quickly if left out in the air & light, so make copies right away for safe-keeping. Consider using archive spray to preserve them.
- Assemble Your Materials
- You need to use materials that will allow you to make changes easily. I suggest a plain binder with page protectors.
- Essentials are: Paper Trimmer, Glue Pen, Acid Free Pens, Corner Rounder, Muted Colours Paper Pack, Text Paper Stack, Printed Paper Stack, Cardstock Stack & Scrapbooking For Dummies
- You can get quite fancy here, using specialty scissors, stickers, etc. Remember though that you want your experiences and your photographs to take center stage, so avoid using too many embellishments.
- If you plan on using your portfolio in a professional setting, a plain black & white color scheme throughout will convey professionalism and class.
- Step Four: Prepare Your Insertions
- Please Note: Do not glue any valuable memorabilia directly to the paper! You may be sorry you did later! Use copies or place them in clear pockets.
- Make top-quality photocopies or scans of newspaper clippings if possible, or glue the originals to white paper if you have more than one copy. Newspaper clippings are not acid-free and can damage your photos if they touch them. You can also buy achival spray which will remove the acidity.
- Remember that you don't have to use everything: whatever isn't going in the binder, keep in your ziploc bags.
- Step Five: Put It All Together
- Here's where the fun begins. You can have the most fun with this if you have saved multiple copies of most items, because it means you can cut and paste without having to worry about ruining your originals. If there is even the slightest chance you are going to want to change anything later, use repositionable adhesive instead of glue. Start by making your first page your resume in chronological order, and follow the order of the resume throughout your portfolio. Starting with the oldest credit, create a one or two page representation by cutting the title and credits from your program, and add photographs, tickets, etc. Put all your newspaper clippings on the next page or two, followed by cards of thanks and congrats. Don't clutter it up: choose only the best clippings, and don't cram too many things on a page. Carefully cut your cards down the spine so that you can display the front and the inside together. There is no right or wrong way to do this: just take your time and let the portfolio reflect your personality. It helps, though, to use a consistant colour scheme throughout the folder to make it look unified, and not just a bunch of stuff thrown together.
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