VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[BBeen]

I am currently working on a script for my commercial demo. What I am wondering is if it is okay to use actual product names in the demo? Is it misrepresentation since I have not actually done these demos? Should I change the name to something close but similar or leave out the names altogether? The ads have all been transcribed from magazines or newspapers. Thanks in advance.

[Mike]

[BBeen]

I meant to say I got my copy from magazines and television, not newspapers..classic case of my brain thinking too fast again. Thanks for the tip... I figured I better change the names...to protect the innocent..mainly me.





Bud

[billelder]

When I first got into voiceovers I wrote my own copy for commercials, produced them (Music Bakery $59 buyout music) and loaded them as samples. In about a month I had done enough work to substitute the ones I had written with the real thing. I was lucky enough to have done work for a local Cable production company that was doing regional commercials for several cities outside of my market.



You might consider asking a copywriter at a local radio station or broadcast student at a university, etc. You could actually do it yourself! You don't need a whole script. Just something to draw attention to your different delivery styles. Best to you in this. You'll do great.

[Deirdre]

I always use "real" copy whether I've done the spot for real or not. You certainly won't get into legal trouble using stuff like this for a demo. It's not for broadcast, and you're not publishing it. You can even use copyrighted music FOR A DEMO.



If it's not broadcast, anything goes. I got that word from Todd Rundgren's publisher.



addendum: This is why we can't keep a copy database online. Putting scripts on the net is technically "publishing" and all this commercial stuff is copyrighted.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

[mcm]

If you put the demo on your website, I suppose that would be "publication" or broadcasting, wouldn't it? I never thought of changing the names, and wouldn't do it, myself. I would think that would "broadcast" the fact that none of the spots is real and would say "beginner" in a loud voice. Not the message I want to start with.



I would think the little bit of free extra advertising wouldn't upset anybody...



Mary

[Deirdre]

Putting a recorded demo on the web is different from posting printed material. The copyright on the printed material covers its appearance IN PRINT, and that includes on the web.



With demos: I recorded it-- it's my recording, I'm not selling it.

I'm not using the music to make money, I'm not selling anything specific with it. It's an example.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

[schaer]

It seems that "faked" spots are rather common and as Deirdre said, as long as they are not actually broadcast there is no problem according to several instructors I have worked with. If you feel the demos on this site could be a problem if left there for an unlimited time, maybe you could password-protect them, Deidre?



Best,

Bernard

[Deirdre]

I don't think that the demos here or on our own website are a problem, Bernard.



And I am fairly obsessive about removing demos-for-critique from the vo-bb server.



Thanks, though!
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

[Mike]

[mcm]

I imagine that as a musician, I would not be happy about people using my music on a VO demo without permission/credit. And this discussion is a very interesting and useful one. But back to the original subject of this thread, namely the use of a product name in a VO demo, if somebody named my product in a demo I'd be thrilled, and I think using product names is preferable to leaving them out (except in one case, where I discovered after I made my demo that I had misread the company name and thus mispronounced it. I had the sound engineer remove the company name asap! :oops: )

[Deirdre]

Mike, my dear.



I contacted Todd Rundgren specifically about using his music in a demo for a radio program pilot. His publisher said, "As long as it's not broadcast, anything goes."



I don't use popular music as background for my commercial demo stuff for the same reason I don't use bogus copy. It's going to sound contrived.



I use material from auditions and real spots all the time.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com

[BBeen]

Boy did I open a can of worms with this one or what? I have decided to use the real product names in my demo. My script is actually a compilation of snippets from different things that I believe suit my style. As far as music goes... I got lucky my producer has acting, directing , production experience, and is an accomplished musician. We are in the process of developing a friendship as well as business relationship which allows a lot of good communication from a talent-producer point of view. Nope no copyright music here..all original stuff. By the way DB I love this board, you guys are the best. Freindly, informative, non-judgemental, and honest. Everybody on this board ROCKS!!! How can I put my picture by my name???



Bud

[Mike]

[Gp]

I think it varies from company to company. Monster Cable Co., for instance, is rumored to be going after everyone using the word monster in any promotional or marketing sense. Including a sponsered childrens event. So here is another way to get around it if you really want to be legal.

Write the company, ask for permission to use their name on a demo. Have them send the permission back to you all nice and legal on company letter head.

I used to run a news letter and we would often have to do this to make references or reprint articles. I'm not absolutely positive this would work....but I'd imagine express, written permission would probably make it ok.

But frankly, most companies are not going to even know much less care about a demo on a website.....now if that website were getting a million hits a week that might be a different story.

Like most of this stuff, common sense plays a big part. A good rule of thumb...if you feel uncomfortable about using....don't!

Gp