A Different Kind of Voter Outreach: “Get Ya Booty to the Poll”
Countless ads encouraging people to vote are flooding television and the internet. Some are uplifting, some somber, some are downright scary. All invoke patriotism.
But a group of Atlanta-area exotic dancers has taken a different tack and is the hands-down winner this election season with a 90-second spot they call #GetYaBootyToThePoll.
According to the group’s website “In the middle of the pandemic, while many of us were out of work- we decided that we wanted to help influence the election! Angela, our fearless director, thought it would be a great idea to have exotic dancers from some of Atlanta’s finest gentlemen’s clubs to tell their patrons and fans to ‘Get their booties to the poll!’”
The video and website, which don’t advocate for any particular candidate or political party, clearly explain and provide links about how to register, research issues and candidates and then actually cast your ballot. And it’s not just about the presidential election. The video suggest lots of local, down-ballot issues that warrant voters’ attention.
Set to an ear-worm rap track, the dancers point out:
“A district attorney decides who to prosecute, including whether or not to go after dirty cops. Do you know who elects the DA? We do!”
“Want trade and coding taught in our schools? Then vote for school boards that will prepare us for the job market.”
Director Angela Gomes and producer Paul Fox started a GoFundMe called “Angela and Paul want black people to vote” and filmed their message in one day at the end of July. The entire crew was made up of volunteers who said they were “dedicated to the message and idea of increasing the voter turn-out amongst the black male demographic.”
The spot has received mixed reviews.
Strippers asking people to go vote under the tag line “Get Your Booty to the Polls” is the best marketing campaign of the 21st century. https://t.co/7MlURHwlq3
— Geoff Gates (@GeoffGates) September 24, 2020
Being completely serious… this is one of the MOST effective ads I have seen yet. It targets a demographic that doesn't consistently vote and catches your attention, clearly #Getyourbootytothepoll https://t.co/wnXLuQ9wZv
— Ethan Sternberg (@esternberg24) September 24, 2020
is this suppose to garner the black male vote? the disrespect is too real. And yes, a BW directed this video. the sistahood loses yet again https://t.co/wWZ47CUpoy
— DConner89 (@TaureanReign) September 22, 2020