Thread: No permission for public video?????

Okay so myself and two other local dancers (not a troupe) collaborated and did a stage show for a cd release party. Apparently the whole thing was taped and we found ourselves (well clips of the two-not three-of us) on you tube in what looks almost like a music video or montage of the band. I actually like the finished outcome (of our dancing from what you can see of it) but nobody approached any of us to get permission. What are the legalities? If you put yourself out there...does that mean its just to be expected? I'm including the link...but please don't judge too much. It was my first performance post-partum. Also, we did do fusion...but this is the band''s music...not ours! Advice please...should I make a "comment" giving us credit, approach the band???? Let it go??? Thanks!

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=zfkZYTyrgZk]YouTube - Stands With Fists " Nailed down in the river "[/ame]

hey... I agree... Im starting to stop people from filming my gigs but some times its impossible!! such as a wedding they look at me like to say are you for real of course we are going to film you... I dont want to end up on you tube either, without my permission...

i think you can ask them to remove it from youtube.

I would email them and at the very least ask for credit and express my feelings about my performance being used for their promotional purposes. That would be like me using one of their band's songs without having the rights to it/giving them credit.

On another note, they named their band after the chick in Dances With Wolves? Weird.

Add a clause to your contract that includes a high fee to have any video footage without your written approval - $500 seems steep enough to cause them to proceed cautiously. Of course the clause would state the person booking the gig is responsible for paying the fee since they are responsible for the event. I would also include all that info in all negotiating emails so there is a paper trail, no-one can say 'I did not receive that info'.

That video...it's the modern equivalent of the bad hesher band photos of the 80s and 90s. That long pompous intro with the smoky flames...that leads into...snapshots of the band messing around!

I would just leave it alone or at least have them add "Belly dancing by...." and then name you and your dance partner.

Sorry this happened to you!
You should have credit somewhere!

....something kinda like this happened to me once.
I performed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in 2004.
Then the next year, I went to their website to look around.
I saw an add for their new commercial & watched it...
Man was I surprised when I saw myself in it!!!!
4 years later they still are using this same commercial.
Bristol Renaissance Faire - Illinois/Wisconsin Border

It was in the contract that they could use footage,
but nobody ever told me they were going too,
I just stumbled on it by myself.

Good Luck!

Maybe they could give you credit. The dancing was good; the video, not so much. I think they had to use you to make it interesting.

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

Maybe they could give you credit. The dancing was good; the video, not so much. I think they had to use you to make it interesting.

Yes, I agree. I should gave specified. I like our dancing clips they chose (though short and funktified) but yeah, video...weird. And the title-LOL!!!

Didn't realize they named their band after dances with wolves??? I really did not know anything bout the band when we agreed to do this gig. Meh...It is Tucson...

I cover this in my contract with the following:

"Photography and Video: Photographing and videotaping Galatea’s performance(s) is allowed solely for personal/family use. However, no photographs or video are to be sold or distributed commercially without the performer’s prior permission and written consent. It is the responsibility of the client to enforce this clause."

I'm not exactly sure how easy it would be for me to enforce this, but at least the client is told upfront what my expectations are.

I dont think it was right for them to use it without your permission...someone recorded part of my performance once and posted to youtube..then emailed me to say "hey I posted your clip there"..LOL...it wasn't too bad, so I left it there, but I was still shocked someone videotaped it and posted w/o asking

I would email the band's contact person using the approach of 'being artists I am certain the band understands the need to protect one's image and talents .... '. They violated a policy that would infuriate them if anyone did the same thing to them. At least request a blurb with a link to your websites. Possibly some type payment for the priviledge of making their inferior clip quite interesting via your images would be worth considering.