Contracts: What To Do When The Voice Over Audition Arrives With A Not-To-Ignore NDA, by Dave Courvoisier
Voice Actor
What??!!! Our clients don’t trust us with their corporate secrets?
Alas,
for our end-clients to launch their latest work of greatness, their
public presentations will have to be voiced by freelance voice
artists. But can pedestrian rabble such as that be counted on to keep
copywriting brilliance to themselves during the time from production to
launch?
for our end-clients to launch their latest work of greatness, their
public presentations will have to be voiced by freelance voice
artists. But can pedestrian rabble such as that be counted on to keep
copywriting brilliance to themselves during the time from production to
launch?
The insurance policy to answer that question is the dreaded Non-Disclosure Agreement, or NDA.
NDA’s
have typically been the purview of hi-powered corporate
intrigue, demanded by CEO’s and company presidents to protect the latest
research or developments from expensive projects.
have typically been the purview of hi-powered corporate
intrigue, demanded by CEO’s and company presidents to protect the latest
research or developments from expensive projects.
Even VP’s and
mid-level managers were made to sign NDA’s under the threat of job loss. In
fact, so handy were these documents, that attorneys have convinced the
best and brightest that virtually EVERYONE down-the-line needs to sign
one to protect company secrets.
mid-level managers were made to sign NDA’s under the threat of job loss. In
fact, so handy were these documents, that attorneys have convinced the
best and brightest that virtually EVERYONE down-the-line needs to sign
one to protect company secrets.
So be it.
SEEING MORE VO NDA’S
But now when a juicy and lucrative audition comes across your desk from
your agent or other casting entity, it is increasingly accompanied by an
NDA.
your agent or other casting entity, it is increasingly accompanied by an
NDA.
Sometimes you won’t even see the copy until the NDA is signed in
advance – or you might get both the assignment and the NDA at the same
time. But rest assured, you will NOT be considered for the job until the
NDA is signed.
advance – or you might get both the assignment and the NDA at the same
time. But rest assured, you will NOT be considered for the job until the
NDA is signed.
The
performer in you really just wants to get to the the mic and send
your best stuff. So the NDA becomes another roadblock to success. Let’s get this thing done, and get on to the that big payday.
performer in you really just wants to get to the the mic and send
your best stuff. So the NDA becomes another roadblock to success. Let’s get this thing done, and get on to the that big payday.
WAYS TO SIGN NDA’S
By now, you may already have your favorite software solution to this challenge.
DocuSign was one of the early entries in this arena, and it’s a solid answer.
Hey,
if you’re lucky, the NDA comes with a ready-made link that will send you
to the doc, prompt to to “sign here”& and “sign here”& and when you click
“done.” it sends the finished document back to the sender and (dusts
hands off), all good.
if you’re lucky, the NDA comes with a ready-made link that will send you
to the doc, prompt to to “sign here”& and “sign here”& and when you click
“done.” it sends the finished document back to the sender and (dusts
hands off), all good.
But
your client may not be that advanced yet, which means you’ll need a software program that’s easy and quick to downloads the doc, add your
signature, save, and send it back as a .pdf.
your client may not be that advanced yet, which means you’ll need a software program that’s easy and quick to downloads the doc, add your
signature, save, and send it back as a .pdf.
Here’s a tip: It’s best to find the program that’s available on both computer and smartphone.
More and more often, you’ll want to be able to react on your feet and
get that signed doc back right away.
get that signed doc back right away.
Love ’em or hate ’em, smartphones
are taking over the world of business and immediacy.
are taking over the world of business and immediacy.
GET A DIGITAL SIGNATURE
Oh,
and one more thing? Find a way to get a digital version of your
signature. Preferably as a .jpg or .png, and preferably with a
transparent background. You’ll likely need it to upload into the
program, and some of these will let you do that internally.
and one more thing? Find a way to get a digital version of your
signature. Preferably as a .jpg or .png, and preferably with a
transparent background. You’ll likely need it to upload into the
program, and some of these will let you do that internally.
E-Signing
software (as it’s called) is booming right now because of this business
environment.
software (as it’s called) is booming right now because of this business
environment.
Bottom line: There are plenty of e-signing software solutions for you, and all of them are pretty useful. For instance, I use Docusign, Signeasy, and Adobe Fill&Sign.
More recommendations are at:
From now on, just think of NDA as an acronym for Never Dodge Auditions!
——————–
ABOUT DAVE
Dave
Courvoisier is a full-time voice actor and audiobook narrator based in
Las Vegas, where he was formerly an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster,
producer and the main weeknight news anchor on KLAS-TV, Channel 8,
the CBS affiliate. A former president and a founding member of the World-Voices Organization (WoVO), he also writes Voice-Acting in Vegas, a daily blog of voice over adventures, observations and technology, and is author and publisher of the book, More Than Just A Voice: The Real Secret To VoiceOver Success, now in its second edition.
ABOUT DAVE
Dave
Courvoisier is a full-time voice actor and audiobook narrator based in
Las Vegas, where he was formerly an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster,
producer and the main weeknight news anchor on KLAS-TV, Channel 8,
the CBS affiliate. A former president and a founding member of the World-Voices Organization (WoVO), he also writes Voice-Acting in Vegas, a daily blog of voice over adventures, observations and technology, and is author and publisher of the book, More Than Just A Voice: The Real Secret To VoiceOver Success, now in its second edition.
Email: CourVO@CourVO.com
Web: http://www.courvo.com
Blog: https://courvo.com/blog
More Than Just A Voice – 2nd Edition