Using event footage in performer portfolios

Before a performer reuses clips from a live show, confirm who owns the footage, who else appears in it and what the music and creative work allow. Then put the agreement in writing, with the clips, the uses and the time period named.

Why reuse needs a plan

A show recording involves many people: the organiser, the performers, the venue, the music owners and sometimes sponsors. A clip that looks harmless can include another performer’s face, a copyrighted song or a design owned by someone else. Agreeing reuse early is easier than removing a clip later.

What to confirm

1. Who commissioned the recording and what the agreement with the videographer says about use.
2. The organiser’s terms: do they allow performers to take clips, and for what?
3. Music: who owns the song, and does the show’s licence cover a portfolio?
4. Creative work: choreography, scripts, costumes and set design may have separate owners.
5. Other people on screen: other performers, crew, audience, and any minors.
6. Platform rules: some platforms remove videos with unresolved music or rights issues.

Our filming and publication responsibilities checklist lists questions to record.

A simple agreement outline

Write down:

• Which clips, with start and end times or a file name.
• Who the performer is and which parts of the clip show others.
• What the clips may be used for, such as a personal website, an audition application or social media.
• How long the permission lasts.
• Whether the organiser or school wants a credit or a mention.
• Who to contact if someone later asks for removal.

Making a portfolio clip

A show recording is rarely the best portfolio clip as it is. A portfolio clip needs a clear view of the performer, usable sound and a sensible length. Often an edit is needed: trimming, framing, adding a title, or removing music that cannot be reused.

If you already have the footage, we can look at what is possible. See our event video editing service for how we assess supplied footage. Quality depends on the original shots, so a clip filmed from far away may not suit a portfolio.

For example, a dancer who wants a one-minute clip from a school showcase might need agreement from the school, the choreographer and the guardians of the other dancers on screen. If the music is a popular song, the clip may need a different soundtrack. Asking these questions first saves a rework later.

Decide the finished files

Think about the formats a performer needs. A short reel, a single full performance, and a few social clips are different jobs. The Find out which event videos you need tool helps shortlist the outputs, and our deliverables guide explains the options.

For next time: plan reuse before the show

The easiest time to agree on reuse is before the show. Ask performers and the organiser what they expect to do with the recording, and write it into the brief. Our guides to planning live concert videography and backstage filming show how to include this at the planning stage.

What we confirm for your event

• Who holds the footage, and under what terms, before we start editing.
• Whether a portfolio clip can be edited from the existing footage.
• Whether music can be removed or replaced if reuse is not allowed.
• How the finished files are named and delivered.
• What we need from you to begin: the footage, the list of clips and the written permissions.

For a legal question about your event, ask a qualified adviser.