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Keeping It Currant: The DNC 2024 Creator Guide
Social Currant
August 15, 2024
Welcome to the August issue of Keeping It Currant, a newsletter by Social Currant & Girl and the Gov® focused on sharing insights on how to navigate the intersection of the creator economy and the political and social impact space. This issue includes:
Must-attend DNC Week events
Every DNC-perfect audio under the sun
Event prep as a creator – what you need to know
A new creator survey
An agency red flag and q’s guide
…and much more. Dive into it all below – and check out the Social Currant creator-dedicated Slack channel, here.
ADD TO THE CAL – DNC EDITION
Chicago creator events to add to your cal
COCO LOCO DNC TROPICAL TAKEOFF
About: Join us for the ultimate DNC Kickoff Party for Creators! This is your chance to meet other content creators attending conventions, enjoy the finest tropical cocktails and kick-off the week in style. Hosted by Social Currant, come join THE creator event of the week!
When: Sunday, August 18, 2024; 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Chicago [address provided upon RSVP]
VOTE SAVE AMERICA VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION
About: Join Vote Save America and some ~special guests~ for a celebration at Bunker in the West Loop on Monday, August 19th from 4:30p - 7:30p! It’s our way of saying we appreciate everyones' hard work, now enjoy some tacos on us <3. Because that’s our love language. Plus, the first 50 sign ups will get a free VSA canvassing kit! So you can knock doors in style.
When: Monday, August 19, 2024; 4:30 - 7:30pm
Where: Bunker (thru the patio, 1515 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60607)
TRENDING UP CHICAGO
About: Trending Up In Chicago is a creators event focusing on how to navigate critical issues related to our democracy -- issues that impact you and your audience. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with organizational leaders and meet fellow creators who care about leveraging their platform for social good!
When: Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 12:00 PM to 2:00PM
Where: Chicago [address provided upon RSVP]
CAP ACTION HAPPY HOUR
About: DNC week is all about the networking, and so is this happy hour with the team at CAP Action and Global Progress Action. Stop by and say hi at The Tap.
When: Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 4:00-6:00pm
Where: Chicago; The Tap
REPRO AT REGGIE’S: FREE & JUST RIDE TO DECIDE ICE CREAM SOCIAL
About: Grab an ice cream sundae as part of the Ride to Decide bus tour for reproductive freedom at Reggie’s Rock Club. Come for the ice cream, stay for the 411 on how you can take action to stop abortion bans.
When: Wednesday, August 21, 2024; 3:00pm
Where: Chicago [address provided upon RSVP]
WE OBJECT!: THE IMPACT OF THE MAGA SUPREME COURT AND THE FIGHT FOR REFORM
About: A combination of networking and panels, this afternoon event will bring creators and politicos under one roof. The first panel, a 501(c)(3) discussion sponsored by Accountable.US will feature a conversation specific to MAGA’s influence on the Court, and the second panel, sponsored by United for Democracy, a 501(c)(4), will be focused on the reform path ahead. The keynote speakers for the event include Senator Whitehouse & Representative Nadler.
When: DNC week – Wednesday, August 21st, 12:00pm-3:00pm
Where: Downtown Chicago [address provided upon RSVP]
PEOPLE, POWER, PROGRESS: A TOAST TO THE ECONOMY
About: Join leaders working toward building the economy of the future to celebrate progress made so far and to grow momentum toward an equitable tax system that works for people instead of corporations. Please note that creators RSVPing will need to register as “press.”
When: Thursday, August 22, 4:00-7:00pm
Where: VU Rooftop Bar - 133 East Cermak Road Chicago, IL 60616
HOTTIES FOR HARRIS
About: Join hosts Deja Foxx, @Feminist, and Liz Plank for a creator party, mixing content creation, with limited edition merch [free, btw], a guest performance, and more.
When: Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 8:00-11pm
Where: Chicago [address provided upon RSVP]
INTO ACT!ON 2024
About: Take a spin by the non-partisan pop-up and festival of arts, culture, and voting power while you’re doing all-things DNC. The free fest will highlight organizing to protect democracy thus far and beyond.
When: Saturday, August 17- August 20, 2024
Where: Downtown Chicago
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN GOVERNORS PANEL X JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS
About: The Democratic Governors Association will feature the country’s Democratic women governors during a daytime panel discussion moderated by award winning actress, producer and activist Julia Louis-Dreyfus during the Democratic National Convention. For those interested in attending, please RSVP by Friday, August 16, 2024.
When: Wednesday, August 21, 2024; 3:00pm
Where: Chicago [address provided upon RSVP]
RESOURCE ROUND-UP
Something to save, something to use
Blinq Digital Business Cards → Ditch the paper and the eventual clutter of business cards at the bottom of your bag by going digital with Bling digital business cards. It’s like a QR code menu but in a more appropriate setting. Get Blinq here.
Grammarly → It’s not the newest on the block, but it’s a great tool for whether you’re putting together longform writing pieces or need to make sure your caption is on its P’s and Q’s. Try the classic grammar checker here.
Podia → For when you need to build out a website or your e-mail marketing list, Podia is a comprehensive option to consider. Get the deats and try it out here.
DNC Chicago Guides → In town for the DNC? Tap these guides for any down time you have exploring ‘round the Windy City.
EVENT PREP
Tips n’ tricks for being event ready
If you’ve been to a political event of any kind before – be it a rally, a conference, a meet n’ greet, and so on – you know that the schedule is always in high gear. So, how do you make sure you get the content that you want and need from the event? Let’s run through a quick tip n’ trick that really is a list-makers paradise.
→ Ahead of the event, block a time period off in your calendar to brainstorm what type of content you want to deliver to your audience from the event.
→ For those that are required by an organization or brand that they’re working with to create specific assets, create a two-part check-list. The first check-list will be for content you’re required to make. The second check-list will be for content you want to make on your own accord. The first check-list is pretty simple. It’s what’s required. Regardless, break this out by platform. For each platform, list out the content concepts and cluster them with any needed audios or templates.
→ For the second check-list – or first, for anyone that’s not contractually required to make specific content – also organize this by platform. Under each platform, outline content concepts by whether they need to be done as an individual (just you), as a duo (with someone else there and if it’s specific, note that), or as a group. Similar to the other check-list, all concepts should be clustered with any needed description of how to execute, audios, and templates.
If there’s any content that you foresee being time-sensitive and needing to be posted right away – make note of it in your to-dos.
For keeping this organized, three go-to platforms for on-the-go:
Notes App (a classic requiring no WiFi to use)
GoogleDocs app
AGENCY RED FLAGS
Red flags aren’t just for dating
Not all agencies are as good as gold. Figuring out who is the best fit isn’t the easiest, but this list of questions will help you make sure you give the rose to the right one:
What brands or organizations do you currently work with?
Can you share 3-4 examples of successfully completed opportunities between a client and a brand that you worked on?
What is your process for evaluating contracts or possible deals?
How long does your typical client stay on as a client? What's the turnover rate?
What is the percentage per deal that the agency takes? Is there a cap?
What is your goal as a manager? What does that look like to you specifically?
What does success look for a relationship between client and talent manager?
And, if you’re already linked with an agency but you’re getting that “I kind of want to look through their phone because something’s off” itch, test it against these classic red flags:
Super Sus: If your manager signs all contracts on your behalf without you having the opportunity to review the contracts and/or doesn’t share any of the contracts – signed or unsigned – with you.
Def Sus: If your manager or the agency at-large pressures you into brand deals that don’t feel aligned with your brand or what you want your brand to evolve into.
Hard-ick Sus: If your manager or the agency at-large pressures you into OnlyFans or other related platforms that have nothing to do with your platform’s focus.
Shady Sus: If your manager is basically a ghost unless there’s a brand deal they’re pushing for the table, they just aren’t the one.
CURRANT SOUND LIBRARY
Audios to use for election szn & the DNC
ALL-THINGS COCONUT & BRAT
ALL-THINGS TROLLING JD VANCE
ALL-THINGS KAMALA
ALL-THINGS WALZ X KAMALA
PLATFORM UPDATES
New capabilities loading…
Instagram → Out with the old, in with the new set of metrics Instagram is pushing creators to look at – that set of metrics is VERY TikTok-esque, it’s all about the views. The platform, according to The Verge, is making views the primary metric for all formats from Stories to Reels, and beyond. That means that follower count or likes, while debatably important from an ego POV, aren’t going to be the main indicator of account success from the view of IG. The thing to note here is that it may take a minute or two for brands and partner orgs to catch up on this. When they’re asking for metrics, share your view metrics and this article detailing why that’s the piece of the puzzle they need to pay attention to.
Instagram → Carousel posts will be now rollin’ in the deep according to Adele Social Media Today, enabling users to post carousels with up to 20 frames. The upgrade – which BTW, update your app – provides more room for creators to share their POVs, experiences, and BTS moments.
LinkedIn → For those that have dabbled in using the platform’s newsletter feature to express their thought leadership, LinkedIn’s new update will be a welcome win. The platform will now allow for brands to sponsor user-generated newsletters, which naturally puts creators front and center. If there’s a brand you’d like to work with, this is a new funnel to approach them about – sponsoring your LinkedIn newsletter.
HEADLINES
News at a glance from ‘round the creator sphere
Social Media Today: Instagram Looks to Add Screenshot Blocking for Temporary DMs
Axios: Thought leaders flock to social media as opinion sections shutter
TubeFilter: YouTube wants you to fact check its videos
404: Where Facebook’s AI Slop Comes From
Vox: An influencer is running for Senate. Is she just the first of many?
DigiDay: As influencer marketing grows, so do micro-influencer rates: ‘there have been 10-20% fee jumps year-over-year’
GIVE YOUR OPINION…
…to the experts at Harvard Chan Center for Health Communication
Social Currant is working with Harvard’s Chan Center for Health Communication to research what format of content best equips creators to create research or fact based content. One of the main ways we’re carrying this research out is through a survey form and we’d really appreciate it if you took out some of your time [no more than 10 mins] to fill out the survey form.
stop by and say hello!
Social Currant | Girl and the Gov® |