Whether it is to apply for a grant or to promote yourself on your website, on YouTube and other social media, and by email, a decent clip is the best calling card for a performing artist.  

We recently organized an Artist Exchange featuring the Touring Officer of Ontario Arts Council and she could not stress enough the importance of putting together a 10-min clip. She even noted that those not-so-slick archive footage the companies inevitably submit with their application could easily be “cleaned up” into a more interesting 10-min, for a better chance to capture the attention of the jury who normally watches only see 4 minutes of it!

We know a guy…

Last May, we asked slam poetry artist Andre Prefontaine to write an ARTS advocacy piece for us for our Children’s Festival (watch our cool clip!). It was so good that we had to capture it on video. Following Andre’s recommendation, the clip was filmed and edited by Nicholas Porteous, a young director/videographer who does promo clips and videography.

We were thrilled by the result… and by his fees! (Click on this link or on the photos to see some of his work.) 

Nicholas does archivals, promo material including trailers, interviews, funding videos and general behind-the-scenes videography. He also shoots stills.

You will need to consult him for an exact price because it’s always a different job depending on the needs of the show but to give you an idea of his going rate:
• Archivals = $100
• Trailers and promos = usually $100-$150
• Package = $200-$300
• Stills = $50-$100 

You can reach Nicholas Porteous at [email protected].

Things to consider
• Grant applications usually require a 10-min clip. Make sure you write the name of the company and title of performance but don’t add interviews or words, they are distracting to the jury.
• YouTube clips need to be under 3 minute long. People most likely won’t watch your clip to the end. Make sure the clip shows some action from the first seconds. If you don’t get quick to the point, you will loose your viewers.
• Create at least one 10-second teaser for your YouTube clip (fun to upload directly on Facebook)
• Always add your website at the end of a clip, make sure it stays on the screen long enough for people to read.