VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

I'm in the process of compiling material for updating my demos and came upon a situation that I think is worth mentioning here.

In the course of gathering material, I've been contacting clients to get copies of some of the stuff I've done. One added benefit of this is that it gives me an easy way to remind them I still exist and would appreciate it if they kept me in mind for anything coming up. Anyway, I'm really glad I contacted one particular client because he mentioned (very apologetically) that because of the proprietary nature of the work we did, no one is permitted to use the material for promotional purposes. This was marketing material for a pharmaceutical company. Even my client could not use it for their promotional purposes.

I have another client who specifically has their talent sign an agreement that (s)he will not use the work in any way, for self promotion, demos, or otherwise. Now, I knew going in that that was the case with this client. (However I did manage to get them to write up and sign an agreement allowing me to use a portion of the spot which doesn't mention the client name.)

The point is, it may be worth looking closely at material you're using in your demos and if there's anything questionable, get some kind of permission (in writing) that it's okay to use it in a demo. As I said, aside from covering your butt, it's a way to touch base with your clients.

[/cheap advice and worth every penny]

imaginator · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject:

you are absolutely right.

on the brighter side, maybe you'll encounter a producer friend like one i have. the client had so much fun with a project we did last year that she authorized my friend to do a "safe edit" of the material i could use for demo purposes. needless to say (but i'll say it anyway), i expressed much gratitude to both and was glad i had asked.
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louzucaro · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

Pharma stuff in particular is sketchy...there are SO many regs about everything they do...I never even bother asking for copies of that stuff Frown

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Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:35 am Post subject:

bobbinbeamo · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject:

Yup. Any pharma scripts I've done arrive in my hands only after legal is done with them.
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imaginator · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

that was the wonderful thing about my story. the client was a pharma company.
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rowell gormon
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"Mr. Warm & Friendly Voice...with Character!"
Rowell Gormon's Clogged Blog - http://voices2go.com/blog

Yoda117 · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:12 am Post subject:

*is shocked*
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Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

My client suggested the same thing, Rowell. He's going to come up with a demo version that has no proprietary info and then we can all use as a portfolio piece. .