Asked NOT to use video of students...what would you do?

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K

knardini

DJ
Dec 3, 2006
1,618
6
51
Kansas City
Check this out. Last night Jtnichol and I FINALLY got together, put our gear together and threw a huge dual DJ homecoming for a very large 6A school. We had 30 some DMX lighting hanging on trussing, two 10 foot rear projection screens...it was CRAZY! Anyway, we took some overview video of the crowd from the rear with our gear in the background and some from the front view during high points. The video was "big picture" stuff...no close ups, no faces...mostly our rig.

After the show, the administrator came up and said they wouldn't allow us to use any video for promotional use, on the webiste or any other function.

I was polite but wanted to tell him that we didn't spend 8 hours setting up this monster rig to not get any useable footage from.

Anyone know the video taping laws when it comes to large crowds?

we'll post pics AND video soon!
 
I think you are OK if you only show the video of your set up. They can't stop you from using that.
You may have issues without getting written consent from the school, the students and the parents. Especially if the administration is having issues with it already.
 
Private school event, not open to the public and minors. Not a real good combination in my opinion.

I think Madness hit it right on the head. Edit the footage to show only your set-up and go one step further and do yourself a favor and show it to the administration before you use it or post it anywhere.

I am assuming that the school officials knew nothing about your taping beforehand?

Just some random thoughts.
 
Greets, Kris. Congrats on the successful show. :)

Yup, I agree with these guys. It's a liability thing. Parents don't sign releases when they send their pups to a school dance.

People love to sue... and it's very easy to sue a municipality. For every student at that dance there is a potential lawsuit. Get enough of 'em organized and it's a class action. Should it come to that, you may wager that your company will be countersued. Any business can be sued.

Keep the original video for review and posterity. Edit to create a new video that would be in compliance with the school admin's policy. If the policy is absolutely no footage, no exceptions, comply with it. Don't put yourself at risk. It ain't worth it, my friend.
 
Taking pictures or video of anyone in a situation such as that without a consent form signed, is leaving yourself wide open for legal issues. There are now federal laws in place that are part of the same law that created the AMBER ALERT, I believe, that also regulate publishing images of minors without parental consent.

You might want to consult a lawyer before some psycho over protective parent causes trouble.
 
Same thing happened to us two weekends ago when we did a large homecoming for a local school. The administrator however came up to us and yelled and took the tape from the camera. We were really polite but she was just over the top. The principal and the other teacher who always hired us just shrugged it off. I'm meeting with a lawyer sometime soon to see what exactly the rules are regarding all of this because I want to get some good video for advertising.
 
djxpress said:
Show us the pics; we won't tell...:sqbiggrin:
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I will post pics AND video. In fact, I'm going to make the video and post it here first to see what you all think. I'm debating sending it to administration once completed...may just do what I typically do and roll the dice. I really appreciate all the words of wisdom.

Video in question in a couple days.
 
Personally, I'd err on the side of caution only because it involves minors and as Fred pointed out people love to sue these days.

If it were adults, I'd just post the video and no worry much about it. You're a teacher I'm sure you know how protective and nasty parents can be.
 
I agree with Dan on this, being in the field of broadcasting for over 30years, don't screw with this IF you have already met with some resistance. DO NOT POST OR PUBLISH ANYTHING until you consult a lawyer. As we all know, once something goes out on the net, and it falls into the wrong hands there is absolutely NO WAY to stop it or recall it.

Once the damage is done you will have to live with the consequences.
 
"A very large 6A School"

"A dual DJ show"

"
Sounds like a "Very Large Paycheck" and i wouldn't mess that up.
I'd keep the footage for private use, and enjoy said "Large Paychecks"
when the school has you & Jt back again.

Just my 2cents
 
marlfox213 said:
Same thing happened to us two weekends ago when we did a large homecoming for a local school. The administrator however came up to us and yelled and took the tape from the camera. We were really polite but she was just over the top. The principal and the other teacher who always hired us just shrugged it off. I'm meeting with a lawyer sometime soon to see what exactly the rules are regarding all of this because I want to get some good video for advertising.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid they would have had a hard time getting that tape out of that camera, with an attitude like that! :sqconfused: If the principal hired me and his name was on the contract, he's the only one that would get the tape.
 
Depending on how complex your video is...have it professionally edited so that all crowd shots (and anything that may identify the location, like a banner or sign) are blurred. Your lighting and system can remain clear, but you should not be able to recognize any single person. Then very politely approach the school, explain what you did and submit it for their review. If nothing else, ask if you could use it privately for promotional use (allowing you to show it to a client in a one on one meeting rather then posting the video in a public forum, like on the web). Any client you show the blurred video to will certainly understand why the video is like that, and it may even make you appear more caring about your clients, and hence more professional.

In the future, use a rider to your contract that allows for promotional only use of video recorded at your events. In an event with minors, the rider would have to stipulate that all minor's faces will be blurred.
 
Precisionpower said:
"A very large 6A School"

"A dual DJ show"

"
Sounds like a "Very Large Paycheck" and i wouldn't mess that up.
I'd keep the footage for private use, and enjoy said "Large Paychecks"
when the school has you & Jt back again.

Just my 2cents
Click to expand...

Funny you would bring up the paycheck...get this, we put int 13 hours...ten million miles of cable, and more bass than is legal in 23 states for a very large paycheck of............

.........$350! Now before you fall out of your chair, here is how it went down.

They were used to paying $250 for DJ's. I see a large school with a new StuCo sponsor and tell him this. "I will play your homecoming for only $350, but I'm going to bring a show the kids have never seen before...in return I'd like to bring in a film crew to produce a professional promotional video and secure at least your prom this year ($1500 - $2000 for dual DJ show).

He agrees.

A week goes by and he emails me with a list of demands.

1) No songs with any bleeped out words can be played
2) No video crew (we were going to have kids sign waivers at the door)
3) Light on in back of gym to discourage fun...I mean "dirty dancing"

His quote was "you'll get paid either way"

I told them I wouldn't work the gig with a restricted play list. I told them JT (and no not Justin Timberlake...Jerimiah is way hotter) and I are both teachers by day and could use professional judgement on what to play (like always). They agreed to let us do what we do.

They kept a row of lights on in the far end of the gym...washed out our screens a bit, effected out lightshow...kids didn't dance until later

"you'll get paid either way"

We TORE THE ROOF OFF THE PLACE with our sound and lightshow...great interactive show, so I got some big picture video (like I do at every gig that goes over well).

The reason we did this show was to see how our equipment would sound/look together. See if we could spin off eachother and how that would work. See how much money it would take to make it worthwhile. And actually act as a night out for both of us because we eat and breath anything DJ...we were like kids in a candy store when we finally got around to the sound check.
And most of all we wanted pics and video of the big rig to sell to other schools.

I'm going to produce a quick 20-30 second video...with only large crowd scenes and send it to the school. If they say NO...I will bite my tongue and probably not post the video. If they say okay, I'll be surprised.

"you'll get paid either way"

Actually no we wont. They said they think he check is in the mail but will look into it Monday, despite the invoice sent to them 5 weeks ago.

All in all it was still worth it huh J?
 
Let me see if I've got this sorted...

Two DJs workin' this show, all kindsa lighting and video, big, honkin' FOH rig, 13 hours of your time, a promise of grocery money... and you haven't yet been paid? And these people have the balls to hassle you about music and video??
:wtf:
I don't know how the economy is in your area but around here, $350.00 won't cover our grocery bill at Sams for the month. And there's only the two of us eatin'.

Gosh, I was getting $375.00 for a three-hour Sunday afternoon picnic at the Moose lodge. No lighting, no video... just music. And they gave me all the leftover grub to take home. That was in 1998. Good God, man! The cost of living has more than doubled since then.

My friend, you guys got screwed but ya didn't get kissed. :mad:

BTW, you can't have the pups sign waivers at the door. They're minors and can't sign legal documents. To be honest, no one but their parents can do that.
"you'll get paid either way."
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Oh sure. And I'm gonna be an astronaut one day. I wouldn't lay any heavy wagers on that happening. Those people saw you guys coming up the road. :rolleyes:

You may have had fun but ya got screwed.

Royally screwed.
 
If they specified no video before the event (in an email no less, so it's documented) then tread lightly and very politely. In fact do not approach them with any video until after you are paid as they can claim breach of contract. I would try to eliminate as much crowd as possible and focus on the set-up. I would even be proactive and forget about posting on the web and simply try for private viewing permission.
 
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