Each year we, the Portfolio Center, face a battle that is at once new and familiar: getting you to show off. One of our cornerstone beliefs is that advanced students in the arts and media should spend a good deal of time showing work to professionals in their field and collecting feedback on how it can be improved. One program in particular, Show Off, is our go-to when it comes to getting senior, graduate and recent grads' work in front of experts in their field. Following is a brief explanation of what Show Off is, and how you can use it to your benefit.
First, Show Off is ongoing. It runs throughout the year, hitting a crescendo in the middle of the Spring semester. It could happen on a Monday afternoon as easily as a Thursday evening, October through May. We book visits based on the availability of our guests, many of whom travel to Chicago and take time out of otherwise hectic schedules to be here.
It is not a recruiting program, although a number of students find work, internships and exhibition opportunities through it every year. Most of the guests who come are indeed looking to scout talent, but at the same time, the focus of each advising session is on helping you understand how to move your portfolio presentation along to the next level. Some guests are tough, some supportive, but they're all coming to help.
So, how does it work? Simply. Once you register you'll get email updates whenever we book guests in your field. When we book someone you want to meet with, call us at 312.344.7280 and we'll get you scheduled for a specific time. Then its you, the guest and twenty minutes to show off what you can do. These are tightly scheduled meetings, so showing up late (or not showing up) is not cool.
We have about 120 Show Off sessions each year, but when you break it down, each area gets somewhere between 3-10 chances (we get more guests from specific fields like advertising, design and photography) to have their work reviewed. About 250 students participate and most take part in multiple reviews.
Don't wait until the late Spring to get started. It's not uncommon for Spring schedules to fill up quickly.
Your pal,
The Portfolio Center
