A showreel is a musician’s portfolio of their work—put simply, it is a high-quality video showing samples of one to five songs, which allows a client to hear and understand your act.
Here are some things to consider when booking yours!
COST
As a musician, your showreel is an investment that will generate work for you. Therefore, you have to be prepared to spend on it.
It can cost between £250-£400+ depending on which company you decide to use and how many are in the band.
But remember, spending a little more can lead to bigger and better shows, which will pay more. In business terms, this is called a return on investment (ROI).
WHAT TO BRING
Showreels can be shot either in a studio or on location. These location shoots can be somewhere relevant for your marketing, such as a wedding venue.
You should bring all of your equipment pre-mixer; the engineers will usually provide mics and stands, but you should bring along your own instrumentation and any specialised microphones (if you own them).
They will likely have cables for certain setups, but it’s always helpful to bring your own—it’s better to have everything and not need it than to not have everything and need it!
WHAT TO WEAR
Showreels can include a number of different songs, which you may want to post separately for marketing purposes (e.g., socials—see below). It’s therefore a good idea to bring a change of clothing to keep videos different.
Dress appropriately, in something that suits your brand and the environment (e.g., wedding attire).
WHERE TO UPLOAD
Generally speaking, you want to spread your showreels to as many platforms as possible. These include the following:
- Your Website
- Social Channels
- YouTube
- Agency Websites
These are high-quality videos and can be quite large file sizes. It’s best to embed content where possible to avoid page load latency.
SOCIAL MEDIA
When it comes to using social media, showreels have their place in specific parts of the landscape. For example, studies have shown that high-quality content has less engagement on TikTok because users prefer more “authentic” videos, i.e., where people talk or perform directly to their camera.
Instagram and Facebook have a more premium look; effectively an online portfolio. You can post content in a 9:16 aspect ratio (1080×1920), which makes them ideal for social media. As reels, they will have higher reach to non-followers and are also very ad-friendly if you decide to sponsor your content to reach potential clients.
LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHERS
There are some great options to choose from in different locations around Berkshire:
- Reading: Turntable Media
- Wokingham: InFocus Recording
- Maidenhead: Generation Studios
- Windsor: MinusTone
Hit them up to see who works best for you!
In summary, a showreel can be a high up-front cost, but many of these suppliers are happy to work with you on payment, and remember, it is an investment that will lead to more work.
Look out for more info on marketing in our future newsletters!