BLOG: How To Make The Best Host & Talent Reel

Your reel is one of the most important tools that you can have as a broadcaster, host or talent.

A reel can help you break into the industry, assist you with securing sponsorships or it even serves as a way for people to get to know you as a professional.

Not too long ago, I spoke with 25-year Casting Director Vet Barbara Barna Abel about how to make the best reel. Here are some notes from our conversation:

Notes from Clubhouse Session
What’s Your Reel Used For: Your reel is a visual resume, it’s how you show up and it’s a way to present yourself.

What are needed in a reel to make it presentable?

The first thing you need is a point of view and a clear sense of mission and what you are using the reel for.
Think: Who is this reel for and for what?

Make a list of all the baseline requirements for your industry and also make a list of the things you do that stand out. Once you determine these things you put it all together in a reel (recipe) that is for you. When you understand where and how you standout in the marketplace, it helps with developing your reel.

What’s the sweet spot for reels?

Reels are getting shorter and shorter because people’s attention spans are getting shorter. A 45 second
”WOW” reel is better than 1-minute of “meh".” It’s important that you put her best material in the beginning and grab the attention of the watcher in the first 10 seconds.

Additional Notes for Reels:

You can show your range in your reel and create multiple reels for different purposes. But, when you do get rid of fluff and make sure you don’t user fillers, make the most out of that short time and always look to update your reel as you go.

You can have a reel as an influencer and a reel as talent - each reel can serve a different purpose. But, more importantly, are you holding attention? Do you connect with the camera? Are you showing your expertise? Range? Adaptability? A lot of things to think of.

And it’s okay to add graphics or animation to help tell the story, maybe even add news platforms you’ve been on and more. Understand what you are trying to convey in your reel.

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