In 2021, I recorded a live video where I walked through the exact process I used to make an Instagram Reel in under 10 minutes. No fancy gear. No big budget. Just me, my phone, and a playful idea about loving the holidays a little too much.
That video-which still holds up today-isn’t just a tutorial. It’s a timestamp of something I believe is still true in 2025:
You don’t need to be perfect. You need to show up.
The tools may have evolved since then-Instagram has rolled out updates, new editing features, monetization bonuses, and endless audio trends-but the idea behind that video remains just as powerful:
Visibility is a performance.
And Reels? They’re your digital stage.
🎬 Lights Up on You
As a trained actor and theatre professional, I’ve spent most of my life performing in front of live audiences. But over the past few years, I’ve found myself performing in front of a different kind of audience: one made up of usernames, views, likes, and comments.
Instagram Reels, TikToks, YouTube Shorts-these are not just marketing tools. They are mini-performances. Opportunities to tell a story in 30 seconds. To express something authentic. To connect.
And much like the theatre, there’s a certain kind of magic that happens when you commit to showing up, even if the lighting’s not perfect or your costume is just your favorite hoodie.
✨ From Stage to Scroll
In that original 2021 video (still available on YouTube!), I shared a step-by-step walkthrough of how I made a simple holiday-themed reel using trending audio and quick edits. Nothing revolutionary. But the outcome? Over 1.6 million views. More than 2,000 new followers in a week. A direct line to creator bonuses that helped monetize my visibility.
What made that reel work wasn’t production value. It wasn’t even originality, really. It was this:
🔹 I leaned into what I love (the holidays!)
🔹 I used a trend in a way that felt authentic
🔹 I made the process playful
🔹 And most importantly, I hit publish
We often think of visibility as something static—something you either have or don’t have. But I see it differently.
Visibility is something you perform into being.
It requires movement. Repetition. Risk. Rhythm.
It’s not about “going viral.” It’s about going visible-over and over again.
🎤 Reels as Everyday Theatre
Let me speak to the theatre kids, the creatives, and the performers at heart:
Think of Reels as your scene work.
The trending audio? It’s your monologue.
Your camera framing? That’s your blocking.
The caption? Your subtext.
And the first 3 seconds? That’s your cold open-your chance to make them stay in their seats.
When you approach content creation through a performative lens-not to “fake” anything, but to craft something—you begin to shift from overwhelm to opportunity.
And suddenly, Reels aren’t scary. They’re actually kind of fun.
🧠 But What If I'm Not a Performer?
This is a question I get inside The ShowUp Club all the time:
“Bret, I’m not an actor. I’m not even that comfortable on camera. Can I still do this?”
YES. A thousand times, yes.
When I say Reels are a performance, I don’t mean you have to become someone you’re not.
I mean that showing up intentionally is a form of storytelling. And storytelling is something we all do.
When you share a behind-the-scenes of your workspace-that’s a scene.
When you lip-sync to a funny audio about burnout-that’s comic relief.
When you look into the camera and say what’s on your heart-that’s a soliloquy.
Performance is not about pretending. It’s about presence.
🛠 The Tools Have Changed—The Truth Hasn't
It’s 2025. And yes, the tools are more sophisticated now.
You can now remix reels, schedule posts natively, collaborate with brands directly from the app, and monetize your content in more ways than ever.
But the core principle I shared in that 2021 video remains unchanged:
You don’t have to be the best. You just have to start.
In the creator economy, practice outperforms perfection.
And consistency is a form of confidence.
So when you’re staring at your phone, overthinking the lighting or the caption or whether your voice sounds weird-pause and remember this:
Your audience doesn’t need you to be perfect.
They need you to be present.
🌈 The Queer Lens: Visibility as Vital
Now, let’s get honest for a moment-especially for my LGBTQ+ creatives reading this.
Visibility for us isn’t just about reach.
It’s about representation.
It’s about being seen in a world that’s tried to make us invisible.
That’s why I believe platforms like Instagram, and tools like Reels, can be powerful vehicles for identity, storytelling, and change.
When you post that reel about your chosen family…
When you share that vulnerable moment of coming out or thriving after it…
When you celebrate your joy out loud…
You’re not just building a brand.
You’re building belonging.
💬 So, How Do You “Show Up”?
You don’t have to go viral.
You don’t have to post twice a day.
You just have to show up in a way that feels like you.
In my weekly coaching community, The ShowUp Club, that’s exactly what we work on.
It’s not just about learning how to edit reels or beat the algorithm (though we do that too).
It’s about building the inner confidence and outer strategy to:
✔️ Create content with ease
✔️ Show up online without burnout
✔️ Build a brand rooted in joy, not just performance
✔️ And connect with a community that gets you
If you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered, or invisible in your online presence—this is your invitation to shift that.
🎟️ Join The ShowUp Club here and learn how to take center stage in your life and your brand-without selling out your soul.
🔁 Your Turn
Before you scroll away, here’s a little creative prompt:
🎬 Open Instagram.
🎧 Find a trending sound.
📹 Record one 15-second reel using whatever you have nearby.
📝 Add a simple caption.
📲 Hit publish.
Not because it’s perfect.
Not because it’s viral-ready.
But because you’re ready-to be seen.
Remember: you don’t have to go big to be brave.
You just have to go live.
With purpose and pride,
Bret
P.S. Got questions about getting started with Reels? Want a step-by-step breakdown like I shared in that 2021 tutorial? Drop a comment or hit reply-I'd love to hear from you.
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