Since President Biden shook things up in an unprecedented way last month, the floodgates are open. Democrats are energized to promote the fresh Kamala-Walz ticket, and Republicans are motivated to push updated, effective messaging. This means there is an influx of new funding on both sides of the aisle — which offers more opportunities for voice talent to book work. Get out there and take it! 

Last week, our Head of Casting, Aya Maruyama, spoke with the Global Voice Acting Academy (GVAA) as a featured political expert. She shared all about how to position yourself for success in this chaotic election season and into the evergreen and off-cycle work, too. 

 

You don’t want to miss out on the webinar replay to hear all of Aya’s valuable insights, but in the meantime, here are some of her key takeaways. 

 

How has the political voiceover landscape shifted since the last election cycle?

• The pie is expanding for everyone in the field — you have to decide if you are willing to invest and work for a piece! There is more opportunity than ever before and more money on the table — a projected over $16 billion will be spent on political ad buy this year.

• There has been a major shift from quick-turn auditions to demo pulls. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that your political demo is up to date.

• Political work is not as cyclical as it used to be. Due to run off races and issue advocacy, there is political work even during non-midterm or presidential election years. 

 

How can you level up and set yourself apart? 

• You need to ask yourself a few key questions: 

1. Are you prepared for the commitment? In the 100 days leading up to an election, you need to be ready to work weird hours, weekends, and holidays.
   
   Being available and responsive is half the battle in the fast-paced political sphere. To be a key player, you need a broadcast quality travel rig. That way, if you happen to be on the go but an under the wire booking comes thorough, you can always deliver.
   
   Also, it’s crucial to keep track of conflicts and stay organized — especially if you don’t have representation doing that for you. If a campaign wants you but you’ve already voiced for a competing candidate in the same district, race, or down the ballot, you need to flag it and make sure your bases are covered.
    
2. Do you have genre specific training? Just like other speciality genres, political voiceover flexes a completely different muscle than commercial work. 85% of political ads are negative, which requires a delivery. It takes practice to capture the nuance.

3. Is your demo relevant? With how rapidly the key players shift in the political world, it’s incredibly important to seem “in-the-know.” The people listening to your demo eat, sleep, and breathe politics. It’s noticed when your demo reflects up-to-date trends and candidates. (And no, you can’t use fake names to try and make your demo more evergreen!)

 

Should I pick one political party to voice for?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: While it is possible to voice for both sides of the aisle, especially for legislative issues that are more bi-partisan in nature, we recommend that talent does pick one side to voice for. This is for a few reasons, namely that just like any other genre, buyers are seeking authenticity. Choosing the side that best fits your values will allow your reads to sound more genuine. The bigger issue at hand is conflicts. A democratic campaign won’t want someone who has voiced for their republican competitor representing them, and vice versa. If you are someone that is working both sides of the aisle, it is integral to keep close track of the candidates and races you’ve worked on. Making sure you’re not two-timing in similar districts or for direct competitors is integral. The last thing you’d want is to be blacklisted altogether.   

 

What is the benefit of joining a political roster? 

Many clients are looking for a one-stop shop. Rather than searching through their crowded inboxes or database for one talent, which most don’t have the time for, if you are a part of a trusted roster that they know is full of great talent, they may be more likely to find you there. 

 

For more information on party specific trends, direct marketing tips, and the most important dos and don’ts in the political world, be sure to watch the full replay here.

 

We at the Political Château are working around the clock to service buyers looking for top-tier voiceover professionals who are in tune with the most current political news and trends. Browse our roster of diverse political voiceover talent here.