Tessa Mermaid's website help

[maressa]

Hi all! So I'm awaiting my Finfolk tail in January, at which point I'll open for business in Gainesville, FL! And I'm very excited!

I've been putting on events in Gainesville for almost two years producing Burlesque and variety shows, but I'm looking to open up to more age-friendly events. That said, my mermaid business is entirely separate from my other company.

I have a website skeleton set up (which will be updated with photos when the tail comes in), but I'd love the mer-community's eyes on the site for editing, readability, and suggestions. I've been devouring Raina's loads of helpful information, and other topics on this forum. If you could kindly read over the sections and tell me what you think, I would be very appreciative.

Here is the link to the site: http://tessathemermaid.weebly.com/

The focus of the business will be children's parties, visiting sick children in the hospital to cheer them up, charities, mermaid appearances on the beach, faires, and things like the Make-a-Wish foundation.

[AniaR]

Well I got your message asking about copying my booking agreement and I haven't had a chance to answer- I try to answer my PMs from my computer which I haven't been at for a while, as my phone sometimes wont send the messages or causes problems. I don't mind people using my stuff as sort of a framework, but I was a little surprised at just how much of my stuff you have on there copied and pasted just with names changed.

The stuff we have on our website is reflective of what our personal insurance covers, what we've gone over with a lawyer, and the current market where we live. I'm not offended but I've spent years tailoring what we do, and it is plagiarism to just copy and paste which maybe you didn't realize... I think you may want to consider changing it up a bit to fit you better. For instance, you can charge far more than I do in Florida. The mermaids I know who work in Florida doing kids parties, have a starting rate of 300$ so by using my rates you're actually undercutting them. You may not feel comfortable going that high, but you could certainly go higher than you've got. The disclaimers I have on my site that you're using (about rates etc) are reflective of the laws of my province- I'm not sure if they're the same in Florida and you may be under different obligation in terms of changing your rates and how. So that's worth looking into on your end.

Your personal FAQ is great, but I noticed you're using my photography FAQ. I put a lot of thought into that to reflect the personal experiences we've had with our company. You may want to edit yours/change it up to be more in line with what you do or what you end up experiencing. (e.g. our FAQ is that way because 95% of our gigs are at INDOOR pools which create the difficult environments to work in)

I don't mind you using my stuff as a framework, but my concern with copy word for word a lot of my materials is that it will overlap in how our stuff comes up on google and confuse potential clients. This is an issue I have run into before when 2 other separate mermaid companies used my work (though, without asking me) and searching for me would bring them up or vice versa, and clients would contact me thinking I lived in the states. It's also sort of a copyright issue since I created and wrote all of that myself- and have it copyrighted as you can see with the disclaimer on my site. It be like Microsoft copying and pasting apple's Terms of Service. In the past when I give permission for people to reference my stuff, I ask them to put it into their own words, change up the order of things, and be inventive and avoid plagiarism. If you'd like a good example check our Mermaid Iona's website. She used some of my stuff as a framework but still kept it unique to what she's doing www.mermaidIona.com (http://www.mermaidIona.com)

Thanks very much though for the shoutout on my book, I appreciate it.

[maressa]

Well I got your message asking about copying my booking agreement and I haven't had a chance to answer- I try to answer my PMs from my computer which I haven't been at for a while, as my phone sometimes wont send the messages or causes problems. I don't mind people using my stuff as sort of a framework, but I was a little surprised at just how much of my stuff you have on there copied and pasted just with names changed.

The stuff we have on our website is reflective of what our personal insurance covers, what we've gone over with a lawyer, and the current market where we live. I'm not offended but I've spent years tailoring what we do, and it is plagiarism to just copy and paste which maybe you didn't realize... I think you may want to consider changing it up a bit to fit you better. For instance, you can charge far more than I do in Florida. The mermaids I know who work in Florida doing kids parties, have a starting rate of 300$ so by using my rates you're actually undercutting them. You may not feel comfortable going that high, but you could certainly go higher than you've got. The disclaimers I have on my site that you're using (about rates etc) are reflective of the laws of my province- I'm not sure if they're the same in Florida and you may be under different obligation in terms of changing your rates and how. So that's worth looking into on your end.

Your personal FAQ is great, but I noticed you're using my photography FAQ. I put a lot of thought into that to reflect the personal experiences we've had with our company. You may want to edit yours/change it up to be more in line with what you do or what you end up experiencing. (e.g. our FAQ is that way because 95% of our gigs are at INDOOR pools which create the difficult environments to work in)

I don't mind you using my stuff as a framework, but my concern with copy word for word a lot of my materials is that it will overlap in how our stuff comes up on google and confuse potential clients. This is an issue I have run into before when 2 other separate mermaid companies used my work (though, without asking me) and searching for me would bring them up or vice versa, and clients would contact me thinking I lived in the states. It's also sort of a copyright issue since I created and wrote all of that myself- and have it copyrighted as you can see with the disclaimer on my site. It be like Microsoft copying and pasting apple's Terms of Service. In the past when I give permission for people to reference my stuff, I ask them to put it into their own words, change up the order of things, and be inventive and avoid plagiarism. If you'd like a good example check our Mermaid Iona's website. She used some of my stuff as a framework but still kept it unique to what she's doing www.mermaidIona.com (http://www.mermaidIona.com)

Thanks very much though for the shoutout on my book, I appreciate it.

Hi Raina,

Thanks for getting back to me! I should have mentioned in the original post that I had copied/pasted a few items from your website, and hadn't tailored them at all yet beyond changing the names- and the things I HAD tailored weren't finished :P The website is technically live so my friends and such can help me edit, but it won't be available for clients until January at which point I'll have it all tailored- I'm meeting with a lawyer next month to talk about laws and such as well :) Thanks for pointing out that the laws in FL might be different, and I can totally understand accident cross pollination with copied verbage. I do plan to heavily edit your content that's currently on the site- sorry I neglected to mention that before.

As far as rates go, the rates currently up (for the basic packages) are what the local princess party entertainers are charging, I reached out to them to try and set similar rates. I do think I'll raise the add-on prices- I have a regular photographer and she gives me a deal. Florida's entertainment rates are much higher than the rest of the country in general across the board, but in my home city I charge what is reasonable for clients here- Gainesville is very, very different from Tampa, Orlando, the entirety of South Florida, or any of the coastal cities. For example, when performing Burlesque in my home city, I charge a local base rate, when performing around the state, I try to match other performers' rates to avoid undercutting. I planned to include that in my 'travel fees' amounts... the current rates on the site are for my home city. And trust me, I'm comfortable with charging standard rates.

Thanks for your help and for looking everything over :)

[AniaR]

Yeah I'd just appreciate no copying and pasting please. That's our material I developed and wrote and copyrighted under Canadian law. It doesn't mean you can't offer what I offer or explain what I explain, you just have to word it yourself and tailor it to you. If you wouldn't do it for a school paper or a book, don't do it on your mermaid website. All the tail makers offer all similar services but no one copies and pastes from each others sites. It is all written in their own wording . I have free templates in my book I've designed along with free templates people get when they do my workshops. Plus there are loads online. You can certainly use me as a reference for what to cover but no direct copy and pasting. In other circumstances I might let someone quote me with a link back but in this instance I think it would be confusing.

My examples of how you can change things are really just examples and suggestions. You can take it or leave it. But I'm pretty much saying no to copying and pasting my original content. Thanks.

[maressa]

Yeah I'd just appreciate no copying and pasting please. That's our material I developed and wrote and copyrighted under Canadian law. It doesn't mean you can't offer what I offer or explain what I explain, you just have to word it yourself and tailor it to you. If you wouldn't do it for a school paper or a book, don't do it on your mermaid website. All the tail makers offer all similar services but no one copies and pastes from each others sites. It is all written in their own wording . I have free templates in my book I've designed along with free templates people get when they do my workshops. Plus there are loads online. You can certainly use me as a reference for what to cover but no direct copy and pasting. In other circumstances I might let someone quote me with a link back but in this instance I think it would be confusing.

My examples of how you can change things are really just examples and suggestions. You can take it or leave it. But I'm pretty much saying no to copying and pasting my original content. Thanks. Yes, as I said in my last post that's all going to change.

[maressa]

Hi Raina, all has been changed from your original wording. I hadn't touched the booking agreement because I was thinking about it similarly to how a standard model release works, where everyone uses basically the same form and wording with some minor editing- sorry for the misunderstanding. If you see anything on my site that is offensive to you please let know so that I can change it. Thanks again for being a great resource and a helpful mentor!

[AniaR]

Thanks very much Tessa. I hadn't realize that a few people had taken stuff from my website too so you weren't the only one! I appreciate you making the changes :)

[maressa]

Thanks very much Tessa. I hadn't realize that a few people had taken stuff from my website too so you weren't the only one! I appreciate you making the changes :) Oh! No good! Yeah I just didn't realize it was copyrighted, thought it to be something of a standard release/standard information. Live and learn :)

[Winged Mermaid]

I'm glad you two are sorting this thing out! :)
My gernal thought is if you (using generic "you" here) haven't written your own info, I suggest you just remove the copied info until you can do so. Especially since you say you (you in particular) are not looking for clients till Jan it shouldn't be an issue.

This also goes for other mers making their website- don't copy others sites as a place holder until you write you own. Post your own info or just say the page is under construction and for them to contact you for more info. Even using others info as a place holder isn't okay. When I looked this morning you had copied Raina's legal disclaimers, booking agreement, behavior guidance, photography FAQ, dropbox/photo release form, some of the names for packages and even the deposit rates. That's a loooot.

Anyway, just putting my 2¢ in ;) Glad you're working things out!

[AniaR]

It's all a growing and learning opportunity :)

[maressa]

I'm glad you two are sorting this thing out! :)
My gernal thought is if you (using generic "you" here) haven't written your own info, I suggest you just remove the copied info until you can do so. Especially since you say you (you in particular) are not looking for clients till Jan it shouldn't be an issue.

This also goes for other mers making their website- don't copy others sites as a place holder until you write you own. Post your own info or just say the page is under construction and for them to contact you for more info. Even using others info as a place holder isn't okay. When I looked this morning you had copied Raina's legal disclaimers, booking agreement, behavior guidance, photography FAQ, dropbox/photo release form, some of the names for packages and even the deposit rates. That's a loooot.

Anyway, just putting my 2¢ in ;) Glad you're working things out! Right, and I also said that I was unaware that information was copyrighted. And I've fixed it (except the photo form which my computer isn't letting me access- but I'm working on it), so I'd appreciate if the forum could focus back on proofreading the website and offering suggestions on how to improve it or the services listed. Thank you.

[Winged Mermaid]

Right, and I also said that I was unaware that information was copyrighted.

It shouldn't matter if it's copyrighted or not :/ Ripping off/plagiarizing someone else's work/website is immoral. I'm not trying to be mean with that statement, just truthful and straightforward.

[maressa]

It shouldn't matter if it's copyrighted or not :/ Ripping off/plagiarizing someone else's work/website is immoral. I'm not trying to be mean with that statement, just truthful and straightforward. To you that may seem obvious, but to someone who has only really dealt with contracts, release forms, and other such documents which are all usually copied word for word and altered or tailored to fit needs, it wasn't. As soon as Raina explained that I changed it, so I would really appreciate it if I wasn't judged on my morals for an error.

[AniaR]

I have a copyright notice on my website but I think when I get a chance I will copy and paste it onto every page so it's maybe a little more obvious. You aren't the only one to have copied things, I think people confuse my role at time because I often provide people with information on how to do this stuff and then use my own as an example (like in Arella's photography add on thread).

As far as your website, I think it's a good start. As you get going it's always good to keep a list of public clients as you gather them, client feedback, Media as it happens, and adding a blog seems to always increase the exposure people get if you have time. Built in social networking is nice, I'm going to be running a workshop in the upcoming months on social networking too :)

[maressa]

I have a copyright notice on my website but I think when I get a chance I will copy and paste it onto every page so it's maybe a little more obvious. You aren't the only one to have copied things, I think people confuse my role at time because I often provide people with information on how to do this stuff and then use my own as an example (like in Arella's photography add on thread).

As far as your website, I think it's a good start. As you get going it's always good to keep a list of public clients as you gather them, client feedback, Media as it happens, and adding a blog seems to always increase the exposure people get if you have time. Built in social networking is nice, I'm going to be running a workshop in the upcoming months on social networking too :)
Wow, yes I didn't even SEE the copyright notice- I was distracted by all your photos and lots and lots of info. Haha! For Burlesque and modeling, I do a lot of social networking, but I've always been a little unsure of how to drive my Facebook traffic to my website... I always post links and such, but virtually no one seems to visit it. Same thing with my Gig Salad... everyone books me through Facebook and I have to direct them to the website to read booking info :P

[maressa]

To you that may seem obvious, but to someone who has only really dealt with contracts, release forms, and other such documents which are all usually copied word for word and altered or tailored to fit needs, it wasn't. As soon as Raina explained that I changed it, so I would really appreciate it if I wasn't judged on my morals for an error.
Also Iona, re-reading this in the morning after posting it tired and grouchy, I apologize if it came off badly. I'm mainly just embarrassed that this even happened- if I had known I was doing something wrong I wouldn't have...well, one, done it in the first place, and two posted it on a public mermaid forum where hundreds of people, including the well-respected mermaid I had offended, could see it. Your comments just kind of made me feel stupid. I left the thread up and didn't change any comments because I wanted to keep other inexperienced mers from making the mistake!

[maressa]

Still would appreciate some feedback :-/ thread kinda got derailed...