Reply to: Recording KT Sessions

[xchaotic]

Normally when people make a movie (dodgy 'tash or otherwise) they expect to get paid royalties every time it's shown. If they want you to do it once and they record it then they are saving money because you can do the training in 1 session rather than (say) 6 sessions.

This. I charge a higher rate for training as it requires more preparation, more equipment, even a nice suit.
If a client wanted my training material, I would license it to them at an additional extra (but the IP would still be mine).
So even if you raise your rate slightly, they still pay much less than for a pro trainer.

On a lighter note, get a green 100mw laser pointer off ebay and point it to the camera or if you're really evil at the attendees... (and don't look yourself with the remaining eye)

[PrinceNamor]

Client has now agreed that KT sessions will not recorded. Bizarrely the bod I'm doing the kt too, will make notes and then record their own kt session which they would like me to review.

[northernladuk]

perhaps, but let me give you an example. My client recently moved to a single vendor for all its contractors, so all contractors who wished to be retained had to sign a new contract with the vendor. Two clauses in the new contracted stated that if we left we
a. Couldn't work on the client site for the next 3 months through another agency.
b. After 3 months and for up to 1 year the contractor would pay 30% of fees earned through new agency to the vendor.

Clause a seems reasonable to me but I couldn't sign up to b, yet I know many contractors who did. I had it removed.

Ahhhh that is different to the situation we are discussing. Yes you are totally right in that situation. That seems very unreasonable and worth fighting.

[PrinceNamor]

Saying that so many roll over and give in when often there is no need for a push or a fight is a bit of a blanket statement IMHO.

perhaps, but let me give you an example. My client recently moved to a single vendor for all its contractors, so all contractors who wished to be retained had to sign a new contract with the vendor. Two clauses in the new contracted stated that if we left we
a. Couldn't work on the client site for the next 3 months through another agency.
b. After 3 months and for up to 1 year the contractor would pay 30% of fees earned through new agency to the vendor.

Clause a seems reasonable to me but I couldn't sign up to b, yet I know many contractors who did. I had it removed.

[northernladuk]

I have told the transition team that I cannot agree to the filming of KT sessions. I'll let you know what the reply is. I'm constantly amazed at the number of contractors here that just roll over and do/sign anything without question.

It is not about rolling over and doing it. Sometimes it just isn't worth the hassle arguing with a client and making yourself unpopular for the things that will be difficult to argue. You could argue the video is just another communication media, anything created is property of the client, it is part of the job spec (but difficult to argue as jobs specs don't often go in to that detail), it is a reasonable request from the client and so on....

Each situation is different so need weigh up the pro's and con's. Saying that so many roll over and give in when often there is no need for a push or a fight is a bit of a blanket statement IMHO.

[rd409]

I have told the transition team that I cannot agree to the filming of KT sessions. I'll let you know what the reply is. I'm constantly amazed at the number of contractors here that just roll over and do/sign anything without question.

Do you have a provision to host the video? Offer the client to host the video, and free "x" views. After that the client would have to purchase licence to view the videos.

[PrinceNamor]

I have told the transition team that I cannot agree to the filming of KT sessions. I'll let you know what the reply is. I'm constantly amazed at the number of contractors here that just roll over and do/sign anything without question.

[jmo21]

just talk really quietly

[Wanderer]

Some advice needed - I have been asked to run some kowledge transfer sessions to an offshore team. The client has outsourced all of its support activites and I am being asked to do a handover of my area of expertise to the offshore team. We have been told that the kt sessions will be recorded which I am not comfortable with. I'm planning to just refuse to have these recorded. Would you allow these to be recorded?

Normally when people make a movie (dodgy 'tash or otherwise) they expect to get paid royalties every time it's shown. If they want you to do it once and they record it then they are saving money because you can do the training in 1 session rather than (say) 6 sessions.

I'd be inclined to say no, but then again I don't like offshore teams either after dealing with one in a previous life. If these people are too stupid to listen to what I said the first time then they can pay me to say it all again (and again) and again when I come back and sort out their tulip when they make a mess of it.

[lightng]

Hi Everyone,
been a while!
Some advice needed - I have been asked to run some kowledge transfer sessions to an offshore team. The client has outsourced all of its support activites and I am being asked to do a handover of my area of expertise to the offshore team. We have been told that the kt sessions will be recorded which I am not comfortable with. I'm planning to just refuse to have these recorded. Would you allow these to be recorded?

I'm assuming you are a contractor, if so, you are quite right to be worried about recordings. Is your contract directly with the client or through an intermediary agent? Could the offshore company hold your company liable for any f*** ups that may occur as part of the KT you perform? How long will you have to maintain your contractor insurance after you have performed said KT sessions?

Above all, be careful that you do not sign anything presented by the offshore company or their agents. Unless you you can afford to get independent legal advice about the consequences, refuse to sign ANYTHING that they present to you. This includes a KT 'attendance' register.

Speak to your client about your concerns.

I'm not a lawyer but I would advise you to tread very carefully. Don't have nightmares though.

[MonzaMike]

Don't have a problem with being filmed but it's the prinicple. The client has just assumed that the contractors will all just do everything they request without question.Haven't been asked if they can record the sessions just been told that they will be recorded. I'm also being asked to produce exercises and tests to assess the competency of the knowledge recipient. Not really within the scope of my contract so I'll probably ask for a rate hike to cover it.

Make the tests bloody difficult and use to demonstrate to client that offshore resource is not up to your standard so suggest they extend you further to cover gap

[nomadd]

We have been told that the kt sessions will be recorded which I am not comfortable with. I'm planning to just refuse to have these recorded. Would you allow these to be recorded?

Nope. But then I have a personal beef about assisting UK jobs transfers overseas...

[northernladuk]

I'm also being asked to produce exercises and tests to assess the competency of the knowledge recipient. Not really within the scope of my contract so I'll probably ask for a rate hike to cover it.

Hmmm, obviously this is situational but taking the time I did this the knowledge I was transferring was part of the deployment and on the critical path. I would have expected my client would have argued this is in the scope and can't see how I could have pushed back without going in to the nitty gritty of the role bullet points, which are always woolly anyway. A fight I really couldn't be bothered with. If I had gone in for a rate hike they would have fallen over laughing and pointed at the door.

Are you really sure about this and willing to piss the client of to the level of arguing with him about it? If you really had an axe to grind and didn't care about the outcome then go for it. Producing KT and exercises was the easiest part of the role and breath of fresh air. Not something I would have jeopardized my reputation and gig on. But as I say your situation could be completely different.

I guess I am still new enough to contracting to take a few days of extra work on the chin for the moment for the greater good than pushing everything as far as I can go as well so maybe a soft touch in situations like this,.

[PrinceNamor]

WCS!

Trying to watch/listen to 24 hours of recorded KT material is use to man nor beast. Unless you have some personal issue with being filmed then just let them do it and have done.

If you do not want to be recognised on film you could of course get a tan and grow a moustache

Don't have a problem with being filmed but it's the prinicple. The client has just assumed that the contractors will all just do everything they request without question.Haven't been asked if they can record the sessions just been told that they will be recorded. I'm also being asked to produce exercises and tests to assess the competency of the knowledge recipient. Not really within the scope of my contract so I'll probably ask for a rate hike to cover it.

[northernladuk]

WCS!

Trying to watch/listen to 24 hours of recorded KT material is use to man nor beast. Unless you have some personal issue with being filmed then just let them do it and have done.

If you do not want to be recognised on film you could of course get a tan and grow a moustache