Why A Showreel Is Your Passport To Getting The Job

Getting your foot in the door of the producer or TV executive is a hard task for most people, but don't assume just because you have a showreel, that they will want to meet you.

In fact making them take notice is a craft in itself. Here's some of my thoughts on making sure your showreel hits the mark and opens the door to the right people.

What should you include in your showreel?
You need to make sure that your reel contains relevant content; that is – relevant to the producers needs, their shows and the type of presenting job in question. So consider carefully what you give them.

Try and keep content original
A showreel that is the same as everyone else's is unlikely to impress, originality is the key. What makes you different to others? It's very important to stand out from the crowd, and having something the producer has seen before does nothing to enhance your chances.

Consider the order of sequences
Get straight into the action. If they watch for more than 30 seconds then consider yourself lucky. Place the strongest sequence first and don't make the clips short, as producers need to know what you can do and what you are capable of.

Try to avoid
Having a music intro mixed with clips of what's coming up, and try not to include material that will 'date' the reel (i.e.) choice of music or questions you might ask during vox pops. If you have to include out-takes (although I wouldn't) put them at the end.

Finally
Keep a copy of your showreel on your phone or tablet, as you never know who you might bump into!

© This article was written by Colin Cobb of Presenter Promotions who have over 25 years of experience of advising both newcomers and established talent alike. We are a prominent casting organisation supplying jobs and vacancies to presenters and voice-over artists within the UK and around the world.

www.presenterpromotions.co.uk

(JP/LM)