My fellow voice actors have felt the effect that COVID-19 has had on advertising, and so have I. It’s amounted to a big drop off in the amount of work available. That’s the obvious part, but what sectors have done OK and which have been totally decimated?
Since its an election year and I’m on a short list of voice over actors used for political spots, I’m fortunate have strong numbers in that sector. But so far, its the only bright spot for me. So which sectors are hurting and which are doing better? Lets take a look:
According to VisualCapitalist.com the numbers are pretty staggering. TV and radio ad buys across all sectors are down 14% and 16%, respectively. The ONLY bright spot showing some growth is telecom and utilities.
The only other healthy sector is political advertising. So, if you are on a political campaign and doing national TV and radio for a cable company, you’re doing well. And you’re a unicorn.
I started the year with possibilities of doing spots for golf tournaments, casinos, and other businesses that require people to travel and gather in large numbers indoors. If you do voiceover for car dealerships, anything in travel, or restaurants, you’ve noticed the drop-off. Even spending on Pharma and healthcare advertising is down.
Political voice over work is good for now but its not sustainable after about the middle of October. What’s next for voice actors?
This brings me to two bright spots I haven’t mentioned. One is distance learning. This covers eLearning, explainer videos, and any form of online education. Also, audiobook work is growing exponentially.
Until a vaccine or treatment is available, COVID-19 will continue to have an effect on advertising. Until then, I’m focusing my energies for new business on distance learning and audiobooks.