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Gp
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 Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 10:53 am Post subject: Contracts |
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After reading about these latest non pay fiasco's I started to wonder.
Do you have your clients sign a written agreement or contract for every project that you do?
If all or at least most of your work comes via an agent, does the agent have such an agreement with the clients or is it still up to you to do it?
If you do or don't what is your reasoning behind it?
I think we all may find this interesting. |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11074
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:22 am Post subject: |
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All the big stuff I do is subject to a contract generated by either my agent or the client. More often than not if it is left to me I do not bother with a contract other than specific use terms set out on my invoice. Basic contract law (UK and US) affords both parties sufficient protection without the need to put anything in writing. Any written contract has to meet minimum standards and there would only be a point in one being issued if it offered better terms and conditions than exist.
Every time I have looked at a contract issued by a VO it serves no purpose other than to make the artist feel better and it has only ever been a feeling. |
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Bruce
Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7977
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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In the 30 plus years I've been doing this I can count the number of times I haven't been paid (so far) on three fingers, and those were all big ad agencies here in the city that went belly up, not small operators. Either I've been blessed, or there really aren't that many bad apples in this business if you pick your clients and your payment terms carefully. Outside of the occasional union job, I work on a contract maybe once a year. Everything else is a virtual handshake and a smile.
B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
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| Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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Unless a client pays upfront, I now have a written contract for almost all new clients. This is useful in audio books to spell out when things are due, how many comp copies of the product I get etc. I usually soften the presentation with a friendly "aw shucks, I hate to ask you to sign this, but...."
While this may be legally unnecessary, I imagine people will think twice before screwing you over if their signature is on a piece of paper as opposed to just an email trail.
Most of my non-payments have been over confusion as to whether something was an audition or a gig. A contract puts that in black and white.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com |
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Neil K. Hess
Contributore Level V
Joined: 13 Dec 2012
Posts: 184
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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Not to jack this ages old thread, but what is considered acceptable as a signature when things are done via e-mail? Is a simple "I accept the contract terms" in an email enough?
Thanks!
Neil tha Noob
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http://neilkhessvo.com |
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Jeffrey Kafer
Assistant Zookeeper
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4931
Location: Location, Location!
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