Contractual Party podcast Episode 16

This episode is solely about contracts, i have read a bit about contracts before and it's spoken about a lot in lectures; but it's such a potencial mine field i don't think you can ever learn too much. ALWAYS use contracts, otherwise you might "get burned". Most bigger companies will have their own contracts, but don't for one minute think that benefits you. Some contracts are designed to trip you up and weedle out as much as they can for as little as they can. If they can find a loophole which means they don't have to pay you, they'll use it. Before you even start working put time aside to read through the contract and if you don't understand anything ASK. Make contact via email so you have everything written down should it be needed. If a company doesn't supply you with a contract you need to use yourown template, which may need adjusting depending on the client. Contracts just make sure "everyone's on the same page from the very beginning." It was interesting to learn that magazines are just paying to borrow your artwork for a set time, after the run is over you can use it elsewhere including in your portfolio. But that MUST be in the contract to begin with, otherwise you could get in trouble for stealing yourown work.