How to Create a Strong Speaker Showreel

A speaker showreel is often the first real impression a potential client has of you. In many cases, it is watched quickly, without sound, and alongside several other speakers.

That means it needs to do a lot of work in a short amount of time.

A strong speaker showreel is not about showing everything you do. It is about showing the right things clearly, confidently and with impact.

Here is what we recommend including.

A strong speaker showreel should:

Open with impact in the first 5 to 10 seconds
Start with you at your best, on stage, mid moment. Avoid logos, slow introductions or music only openings. People make decisions quickly, so lead with your strongest moment.

Show real footage of you speaking to an audience
Live event footage is essential. This reassures clients that you can engage a room and hold an audience’s attention.

Include short, punchy clips
Think 5 to 10 second soundbites that show your key messages, personality and impact. The showreel is a highlight, not the full talk.

Show audience reaction
Laughter, applause and visible engagement provide powerful social proof. These moments help viewers feel the energy in the room.

Give clear context
Simple on screen text such as keynote speaker, corporate event, leadership conference or school assembly helps clients immediately understand where you fit. Without context, even great clips can be misinterpreted.

Include light proof points
Short references such as Olympian, former CEO or trusted by well known organisations work well. Avoid long CV style lists.

Keep testimonials brief if included
One strong line of text on screen is usually enough. Longer testimonials can distract from the speaker.

Finish clearly
End with a strong speaking moment, followed by your name and what you speak about. The goal is that people remember you and want to find out more.

Length matters

We strongly recommend keeping showreels to less than 3 minutes. Anything longer is rarely watched in full, no matter how good it is. – Plus you want to be able to showcase the video on socials, and they all have there own time restrictions!

Common pitfalls to avoid

Poor audio quality
Talking to camera only content
Overpowering music
Trying to include too much

A great showreel makes it easy for the right clients to say yes. When the structure is clear and the footage is focused, it becomes one of the most powerful tools a speaker can have.

There are some fantastic showreel creators and videographers out there (I am happy to provide names if needed!)
I have put below a very small selection of showreels that tick all the boxes…