DNC invitations have been sent to influential figures in Pennsylvania, but they must pay for themselves

Getting invited to the Democratic National Convention as part of the first-ever influencer group is one thing, but actually attending is another thing entirely.

For the first time in its history, the DNC has invited online content creators to participate in the high-profile convention, which is set to begin Monday. But many Pennsylvania influencers said they had to respectfully decline the offer because of the cost, the tight deadline and a lack of clarity about what access they would have.

Many of the guest creators have attended events with Gov. Josh Shapiro or Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign (including when it was President Joe Biden’s campaign), but traveling to Chicago and paying for your own hotel and airfare is a much bigger expense than attending a local rally, especially for “micro-influencers” with smaller, more niche audiences.

Lisa Carroll, who performs under the pseudonym Lisa Nicole tea online and integrated political content with content about her natural hair, said she knew right away that going to the DNC would be too high-priced when she was invited. Carroll, who works as a teacher’s assistant in Coatesville, Chester County, is a single mother of two who also helps care for her mother, who is on dialysis.

“My kids need uniforms, they need school bags; they’re getting ready to go back to school this week,” she said. “It’s not cheap. They need their hair done. They need shoes.”

The creators also did not receive much information, which made their work hard. Lehigh Valley influencer, Kenny Screven participate. Screven, whose username is kscrevenalready scheduled a contractor to come and renovate his yard at the same time. (He (He said he wants to create a unthreatening space during elections in states where the election outcome is decisive.)

“If we knew in May, or, you know, June, it would be a little more doable,” said Screven, who mixes politics with his beauty content. “I think a month in advance is a little bit difficult.”

Screven said he received the invitation on July 9 and knows of creators who were invited later.

Sophie Schiaroli, Philadelphia-based influencer focused on the LGBTQ community whose username is soso_swag, said she initially accepted the invitation and booked a hotel room to cover the DNC, but ultimately canceled because it was too much money to spend without knowing how much access she would have. She said that when she booked through the DNC, the hotel rate was $300 to $500 a night and required a stay from Monday through Friday. Other nearby options were high-priced and there weren’t many available, she added.

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“It definitely surprised me that they didn’t provide any kind of accommodations or any kind of arrangements,” she said. “I think for smaller creators or people who don’t have millions of followers, it’s not the most accessible because obviously we don’t make as much as creators with millions of followers.”

She added that up until two weeks ago there was no information about which events she would be able to attend, so she canceled her reservation before it was too slow to get a refund.

“People didn’t know what ultimately influenced my decision,” she said.

Although they ultimately declined, Carroll, Screven and Schiaroli were grateful for the invitation. The invitations themselves speak to the potential power they wield as trusted messengers in a key swing state, as candidates struggle to reach youthful and hard-to-reach voters.

“I’m a black, queer, female-looking person, so just being invited was an honor,” Screven said. “…People thought I was well-known enough to be in, or they thought I’d be a good asset, so I really wanted to be in and represent my community.”

The DNC declined to provide details. How many influential people from Pennsylvania were invited or are attending the convention?

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Representing Philadelphia

Kory Aversa, a Philadelphia-based content creator who also works as a public relations specialist and uses the pseudonym phillypublicist on TikToksaid spending the money on the trip was worth it for him because it allowed him to take advantage of what he called a “historic opportunity to be one of the first creators in America ever to be certified to cover the DNC.”

Alex Pearlman, an influencer from the suburbs of Philadelphia known as pearlmania500 and Lindy Li (lindy_li), a political strategist from Pennsylvania who identifies as a member of Harris’ national finance committee, also decided to participate as content creators.

Aversa said he’s both excited and nervous because he wants to do a good job for his fans, and there’s more uncertainty involved with a convention than, for example, opening a typical restaurant.

He added that he is “arming” himself with up-to-date tools such as a flash, tripod, lightweight and microphones.

He said that while it’s unclear what he’ll be able to do at the convention, he’s had positive experiences with DNC officials, who have provided resources and information they know and have maintained regular contact, such as hosting office hours for creators. He’s also been invited to a wide range of events.

“I will look around and try to devote as much time as possible to this activity,” he said.

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