The Speaking Club · 2026-05-28 · 56 min
If you're using speaking to grow your business, at some point someone is going to ask for your speaker reel. And yet… most speaker reels completely miss the point. Many speakers think a reel is simply a montage of clips stitched together with dramatic music and audience shots. But event planners aren't just looking at footage. They're asking themselves: "Can I picture this person on my stage?" In this episode, I'm joined by Emmy-winning editor and speaker reel strategist Max Partain to unpack what actually makes a speaker reel work - and why some speakers instantly feel more credible, trustworthy and bookable on camera than others. We explore the psychology behind booking decisions, the subtle cues that shape perception, and the mistakes speakers make that quietly weaken their positioning before they've even stepped onto the stage. If you want to get booked more often, position yourself at a higher level, and stop cringing every time someone asks for your reel… this episode is packed with insight. Enjoy!
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