Reels, Shorts, or TikTok: Who’s Winning the Short-Form Video Race in 2025?

In the NYC event world, you’re not just competing with other planners. You’re competing with thumbs. Endless, scrolling thumbs… 

And in 2025, short-form video is the fastest way to make someone stop mid-scroll.

The question is, where should you focus? TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts? They all promise views, buzz, and reach, but each one plays by different rules. 

If you want those views to turn into dream-client bookings, you need to know which one fits your style and audience.

Everyone tells you to “use video,” yet no one talks about the part that actually matters: which platform earns your time. 

The answer isn’t as simple as picking the one with the most users. You’ve got TikTok with its chaotic, addictive charm. Instagram Reels, polished to within an inch of its life. And YouTube Shorts, quietly carving out a space for planners who want more than a fleeting view.

If you’ve been treating them like interchangeable tools, that’s where the cracks start to show.

The Short-Form Heavyweights

TikTok: Where Speed Wins (Until It Doesn’t)

Still the king of “I didn’t know I needed this, but now I’m hooked.” The algorithm is scary-good at knowing what people want. Perfect for quick, high-energy clips that grab attention instantly.

TikTok is still the one to beat for raw, almost overnight reach. The algorithm works like an overly caffeinated matchmaker, tossing your content in front of people you’d never dream were looking for it. 

And sometimes they weren’t. They just didn’t know they wanted it until you popped up on their For You page.

For planners, this means you can grab attention with a quick transformation; the kind where the before and after barely feel related. It can be chaotic, imperfect, even messy, and still land. 

The trade-off? Blink and the trend’s gone. That brilliant clip idea you had on Monday might already feel stale by Wednesday.

So TikTok rewards those who keep their camera close and their editing light. Think “That’s happening right now, let’s film it” energy. If your style leans more toward careful curation, you might feel like you’re running a sprint in heels.

Reels: The Instagram Glasshouse

Polished and pretty. Ideal for luxe, on-brand content. Think of it as where your clients scroll between a power lunch in Midtown and a gallery opening in Chelsea.

If TikTok is the street performer drawing a crowd in Times Square, Reels is the gallery opening in Chelsea. Everything’s composed, intentional, and beautifully lit. 

That’s exactly why it works for event planners who sell an experience that feels expensive.

Here’s where you showcase the linen textures. The champagne poured in slow motion. The head table candles flickering in perfect symmetry. 

Your potential clients here are more likely to pause for elegance than for chaos, and they’re also the type to look through the rest of your feed before they hit “follow.”

The subtle power of Reels? Its built-in shoppability. For ticketed galas, branded merch, or cross-promotions with luxury vendors, it’s a clean bridge from inspiration to purchase. 

But that polish comes with a price: your content here has to look as good as the events you produce.

Shorts: The Long Con (In the Best Way)

The bridge between short bursts and longer storytelling. Hook them with a quick clip, then lead them to your full gala tour or behind-the-scenes setup.

Shorts might not feel as buzzy as TikTok or as curated as Reels, but here’s the thing: it’s backed by YouTube’s ecosystem. 

You can pull someone in with a 20-second behind-the-scenes clip and, without any extra clicks, have them watching your 12-minute “how we flipped this space in 8 hours” video.

It’s the closest you’ll get to building a real relationship with someone who’s never met you. They watch, they learn, and they start to feel like they know you. 

That’s gold for corporate planners, especially when you’re asking them to trust you with six figures and their reputation.

Shorts are slower to explode than TikTok, but it’s steadier. One well-done video can keep delivering for months. If you like your marketing to be more marathon than sprint, it’s worth planting your flag here.

Who’s Watching in 2025

TikTok: Ages 16–34. Loves trends, bold personalities, and fast entertainment.

Reels: Ages 25–45. Style-conscious, loves luxury, and follows brands they trust.

Shorts: Ages 18–44. Likes quick hits, but will stick around for deep dives.

Where the Engagement Is

TikTok: Over 1B monthly users. 68% retention. People binge for hours.

Reels: Over 800M monthly users. 55% retention. Shoppable posts keep them coming back.

Shorts: Over 1.2B monthly users. 60% retention. One short can turn into a 45-minute watch session.

The Viral Factor

TikTok: Fastest way to blow up. The algorithm pushes your content to strangers fast.

Reels: Wins when you mix influencer power with sleek visuals.

Shorts: Slower burn, but perfect for breaking one event into multiple pieces of content.

Where the Money Flows

TikTok: Creator Fund, brand deals, in-feed ads. Great engagement means fast payouts.

Reels: Ad revenue, affiliate sales, shoppable videos. Ideal for fashion, lifestyle, and luxury tie-ins.

Shorts: Shorts Fund plus YouTube’s long-form ad sharing. Use both for steady income.

Brand Deal Energy

TikTok: Quick, trend-focused campaigns.

Reels: Luxe, long-term partnerships with lifestyle brands.

Shorts: Tech, education, and brands that love deeper storytelling.

Features You’ll Find Useful

TikTok: AI-powered recommendations + AR effects that help your videos stand out.

Reels: Built-in shopping that turns “woah” into “add to cart.”

Shorts: Quick multi-clip editing + live analytics so you can tweak easily.

Where It’s Headed

TikTok still wears the crown but might face more regulations. Reels is doubling down on social commerce. Shorts is slowly building power by owning both short and long-form video.

Pick the one that matches your audience, your style, and your revenue goals. Not just what’s trending this week.

NYC Event Insider’s Take

Want to ride the viral wave? TikTok.

Want curated, luxury-focused content that turns followers into clients? Reels.

Want content that works now and builds your brand for years? Shorts.

In this city, visibility is gold, but strategy is what lands the contract.

Choosing Your Lane

Could you post the same video everywhere? Sure. Should you? No. 

Each platform’s audience shows up for different reasons. Matching your content to their expectations is the difference between background noise and a saved post that leads to a booking.

Ask yourself:

• • Do I want quick attention or long-term interest?
  • Am I selling visual impact or process expertise?
  • Will my clients book from a single “wow” moment or after a deeper look?

Once you answer that, the “where” becomes a lot clearer.

How Event Planners Can Use Them Without Burning Out

You don’t have to post five times a day. But you do need a plan that matches the platform’s rhythm.

• • TikTok: Batch film high-energy, trend-friendly clips you can drop in quickly.
  • Reels: Schedule shoots for your most photogenic moments like the big reveals, the styled details.
  • Shorts: Break your long-form content into standalone highlights, each telling a piece of the bigger story.

The trick is to make sure you’re not feeding the beast for the sake of it. Every clip should serve a purpose: attract, impress, or build trust.

The Pain Points These Platforms Solve

• • Struggling to get new eyes on your work? TikTok’s discovery algorithm can do the heavy lifting.
  • Fighting to look as high-end online as you do in person? Reels is your showroom.
  • Tired of explaining your process to every new lead? Shorts lets you show, not tell, over and over again.

Your Next Power Move

If you want to be face-to-face with NYC’s most successful event planners, VIP vendors, and brands that can sign six-figure deals, there’s one place you need to be this year: The Event Planner Expo 2025.

Lock in your booth now. It’s three days of high-energy networking with exactly the people who can change your business. 

Wait too long, and you’ll be watching your competitors close the deals you wanted.