When it comes to voice actors booking political spots, there are three main factors to getting the job. Since I started voicing political spots, I’ve been asked by colleagues how I book so many of them. First, I know people at production companies that make them. Second, I’m prepared to do the work at any time day or night, even on weekends and holidays. And third, I’ve chosen a side.
Make sure to pick a side
So before I even put together a demo and started looking for work, I chose a party to represent. Originally, I told myself that I’ll just do both and get double the work. Red money – Blue money, they both spend Green, right? Soon I discovered it doesn’t work like that.
Because the producers are fiercely loyal to their party, the people that make Donkey spots would never make Elephant spots. You’re either a Democrat or a Republican, and don’t say you’re Independent. You’re a Republican! Besides, how many Independent candidates have an advertising budget?
Be ready to work 24/7
Now that you’ve chosen your side, its on to step two—we’re going in reverse order, so don’t get lost. Step two is being prepared to do the work 24/7 for about two to three months. If you’re booked on a Broadway show, are the voice of a network affiliate, work split shift doing traffic reports at the radio station, this may not work for you, because political spots come together so quickly, some in a matter of hours—and the voice talent is the last to know she’s going to be working until the producer calls in a panic. So be ready.
Use all your resources to find work
Step three: Where do i find this work? I was extremely fortunate to meet a Producer and owner of a production facility back in 2006, just before the 2008 Presidential primary was getting underway. She hired me to do Audio Post mixing and somewhere along the way I started reading scratch tracks and she and the client liked what they heard and I was off and running. My agent also helps to bring in auditions, so if you have an agent, make sure they have a good demo for you and remind them that you want to go after this work. Also, I reach out to Political Consultancies on my own.
I hope this helps all voice actors booking political work, or inspires you to start going out for this work. It’s a nice little niche that comes back to you every two years. Now go out there and get some work.