Historical Perspective

PerformInk started a bi-weekly trade paper for the theatre and film industries as a quarterly newsletter in 1987 in the back of Act I Bookstore. Sometime in 1989, the owner of the bookstore started printing on a bi-weekly basis and on newsprint. Carrie Kaufman was hired in June of 1990 as a typist for 10 hours a week. By the end of 1990, the owner of the bookstore presented Carrie with the ultimatum of either making the paper profitable by the end of 1991 or closing the presses on it. It didn’t make a profit that year, but it did almost triple its revenues and by the end of 1991, Carrie was negotiating a purchase. In February 1992, PerformInk, Inc. was born.

PerformInk provides a wide range of news and information for professionals in the Chicago theatre industry. Theatre news, theatre business and Chicago industry personalities are just a few of the areas covered and discussed in each issue. Subjects affecting the careers of not only Chicago performers, but also directors, producers, designers, filmmakers and dancers are always PerformInk’s focus. We also include regular columns discussing specific facets of business for the professional individual. These columns include "Money and Taxes", which looks at tax and financial matters unique to the business of performing, by Greg Mermel, CPA; "Comedy Bites," which looks at the improv industry in Chicago; and "Out Takes," a behind the scenes look at independent film in Chicago. Additionally, PerformInk is one of the primary sources for actors to get information regarding auditions. We have a readership of over 12,000, about half of which are subscribers.

PerformInk also prints The Book: An Actor’s Guide to Chicago. The Book contains information about the business of living as an actor in Chicago, in addition to acting as a directory of services and products such professionals utilize.