What’s Next for Raygun? A Very Lucrative Career Ahead

A few weeks ago, Raygun, also known as B-girl RayGun, Rachael Gunn, or Dr. Gunn, was relatively unknown. Dr. Gunn lectures on dance and gender politics at Macquarie University, and she has certainly gained fresh material for her classes.

I didn’t even know that breaking was an Olympic event. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be, because any sport requiring a judge’s decision shouldn’t be in the Olympics. But let’s focus on the fact that Raygun qualified by winning the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championship and represented Australia in the 2021 and 2022 world championships. That arguably makes her Australia’s best female breakdancer. What that says about other competitors is up for debate among experts.

While I’m no breakdance expert, I do know a thing or two about branding. The speed at which Raygun transformed from a cultural underdog into an icon was incredible and bodes well for her future.

We love an underdog story. Remember the Sydney Olympics when Eric the Eel set the slowest swimming time in Olympic history but had 17,500 fans cheering him on? He’s now training Olympic hopefuls in Equatorial Guinea. Not bad for a guy who responded to a radio ad for Olympic swimmers despite limited practice in a 12-meter pool. In 2006, Eric posted a time of 52.18 seconds for the 100m, which would have earned him gold at the 1968 Olympics.

Or take Stephen Bradbury, whose unlikely gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics became a part of the Australian lexicon as “Doing a Bradbury.” Not only did he get his own stamp, but he also appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, and several TV ads. His motivational speaking gigs now earn him between $10,000 and $30,000 per appearance.

Then there’s Eddie the Eagle, the British ski jumper who was so bad that the IOC later instituted the “Eddie the Eagle Rule” to ensure Olympic hopefuls must rank in international events to qualify. Despite his lack of talent, Eddie appeared on multiple reality TV shows, released a book, and even had a movie made about his life. He recorded a song in Finnish, which reached No. 2 on the charts, without actually speaking the language.

So, what does the future hold for Raygun? She is primed for a lucrative career in speaking engagements and potentially reality TV. Dancing with the Stars seems like a fitting stage, and brands will likely line up to feature her in ads.

A commercial for bananas, leveraging her breakdancing skills, or perhaps a beer ad with a catchy jingle, seems plausible:

You can get it shaking
You can get it breaking
You can get it any old how
Matter of fact, I got it now

Or maybe something more uniquely Australian:

Aussies don’t give a fourex for what the world thinks of them

There’s also potential for a light-hearted ad for McCain’s Juicy Corn, featuring Raygun breakdancing on a farmhouse roof to the astonishment of the farmer.

I’ll leave the ad scripts to the professionals, but one thing’s for sure – Raygun’s rise to fame is just beginning.

Source: Guardian