Terms of Service & Code of Conduct

Welcome to The Casting Crew Media Services LLC ("Studio"). By booking our space, using our equipment, or employing our production services, you ("Client," "User," or "Creator") agree to comply with this Terms of Service and Code of Conduct. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in immediate cancellation of your session, termination of your contract, and forfeiture of any fees paid.

1. Booking

Clients must book all sessions, including session rescheduling and cancellations, via our website https://www.thecastingcrew.media. Clients must pay studio sessions in full before arriving.

Late Arrival and Session Timing Policy

Fixed Booking Window: Scheduled sessions begin and end exactly at the times specified in the booking confirmation. A client’s session time will not be extended to accommodate late arrivals. (This policy is necessary so that we can prepare the studio for the next scheduled client.)

The client will receive 15 minutes prior to the session to set up.

Billing for Late Arrival: If the Client arrives late, the Client is still responsible for payment of the full booked duration.

If a session goes overtime, we may be able to extend the time if no other client is scheduled. However, this is not guaranteed.

If the engineer allows your session to go over time, the client will be charged for each hour the session goes overtime.

No-Show Threshold: If the Client fails to arrive or contact the Studio within 30 (thirty) minutes of the scheduled start time, the session will be considered a "No-Show." The session will be cancelled, and all fees for that session will be forfeited.

The Clock: The client will be able to monitor the start time, end time, and time remaining for their session via a countdown clock that will be visible from their podcasting session.

2. Content Standards and Permitted Use

The Studio reserves the right to maintain a safe, inclusive, and professional environment. While we champion creative freedom, we strictly prohibit the recording, production, or distribution of content within our facilities that contains or promotes any of the following:

Hate Speech: Material that attacks, denigrates, or incites violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

Obscenity and Pornography: Explicitly pornographic material, sexually explicit depictions, or content that meets the legal standard of obscenity.

Harassment and Defamation: Content designed to bully, stalk, maliciously defame, or expose the private personal information of individuals without their consent.

Incitement to Violence: True threats, calls for physical harm, or instructions on how to perform acts of violence or terrorism.

Illegal Activity: Content that directly promotes or instructs users on how to execute illegal activities, federal crimes, or fraud.

2. Right of Refusal and Discretion

Studio Autonomy: The Studio is a private business. We retain absolute editorial and operational discretion regarding the projects we facilitate.

Assessment: If a Studio staff member determines during a live session or a review of files that your content violates Section 1, the Studio reserves the right to immediately halt production.

No Refund Policy for Violations: Sessions cancelled or terminated mid-booking due to a violation of this Code of Conduct are non-refundable.

3. Workplace Safety and In-Studio Behaviour

Clients and their guests must maintain professional conduct while on the premises. The following behaviours are strictly prohibited and constitute a breach of contract:

Verbal abuse, physical intimidation, or harassment directed at Studio engineers, staff, or other clients.

Damage to, or reckless misuse of, Studio recording equipment, furniture, or property.

Bringing unauthorized hazardous materials, illicit drugs, or weapons into the facility.

4. Legal Compliance and Indemnification

Compliance: The Client warrants that all material recorded does not infringe upon any third-party copyrights, trademarks, or rights of privacy.

Indemnification: The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Studio, its owners, and its employees from any legal claims, damages, or liabilities arising from the distribution or broadcast of the content recorded at the Studio.

5. Equipment Damage, Liability, and Fees

Client Responsibility: The Client assumes full financial responsibility for all Studio equipment, instruments, furniture, and property utilized during the booking. This responsibility extends to all guests, co-hosts, or talent brought into the facility by the Client.

Assessment of Damage: Following the conclusion of each session, Studio staff will inspect the room and gear. If any equipment is found to be damaged, broken, or malfunctioning due to reckless use, negligence, or wilful misconduct, the Client will be notified immediately.

Fees and Payment: The Client agrees to pay the full replacement retail cost or professional repair cost (whichever is determined necessary by the Studio) for any damaged property. The Studio is authorized to charge the credit card on file for these costs within 24 (twenty-four) hours of notifying the Client.

Loss of Use: If equipment damage forces the Studio to cancel subsequent client bookings, the Client may be held liable for an additional "Loss of Use" fee equal to the standard booking rate for the affected hours.

6. Intellectual Property Ownership and Licensing

Client Ownership: Except as otherwise explicitly agreed in writing, the Client retains 100% ownership of all copyrights, intellectual property, and master recordings ("Content") created during their scheduled booking time. The Studio claims no ownership over the ideas, scripts, or final audio products produced by the Client.

Engineer Credits: The Studio and its audio engineers do not claim any performance or publishing royalties for standard engineering, tracking, or mixing services, unless a separate "Producer Agreement" is executed before recording begins.

Limited Promotional License: The Client grants the Studio a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use short audio excerpts under 30 (thirty) seconds, the Client's podcast title, logo, or promotional imagery solely for the Studio's portfolio, website, and social media marketing. The Client may opt out of this promotional license at any time by providing written notice to the Studio.

Independent Contractor Status: The Studio acts strictly as an independent service provider. Nothing in this agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, or employer-employee relationship between the Studio and the Client.

7. Digital Audio File Storage and Data Retention Policy

Studio Storage Liability: The Studio provides temporary storage for the Client’s raw audio tracks, project sessions, and final mixed files ("Files") as a courtesy. The Studio is not a permanent data archiving service and is not liable for data loss, file corruption, or hard drive failure.

Retention Window: The Studio will store the Client's Files on its local hard drives or secure cloud storage for a maximum of 30 (thirty) days following the date of the final recording session.

Deletion Notice: Upon the expiration of the retention window, the Studio reserves the right to permanently delete all Files from its systems without further notice to the Client.

Client Responsibility: It is the sole responsibility of the Client to request, download, and secure backups of all final audio assets and raw project sessions before the retention window ends. Files will only be delivered to the Client once all outstanding invoices and studio fees are paid in full.

Extended Storage Archive: If the Client requires the Studio to archive project files beyond the standard retention window, an extended data storage agreement must be requested in writing. This service is subject to an additional monthly archiving fee of $50 (fifty) dollars per month.

8. File Delivery Methods and Procedures

Standard Digital Delivery: Upon completion of the production services and verification of full payment, the Studio will deliver final audio assets via secure digital transfer methods, including Google Drive / WeTransfer / Dropbox / Microsoft SharePoint.

Download Expiration: Digital delivery links are active for 7 (seven) days from the date sent. The Client is responsible for downloading all files before the link expires.

Physical Media Delivery: Clients wishing to receive project files on a physical hard drive or USB flash drive must provide their own brand-new, formatted storage device prior to the end of the session. The Studio assumes no liability for the failure, incompatibility, or corruption of client-provided physical media.

Delivery Formats: Standard delivery includes final mixed audio files in WAV 24-bit / MP3 320kbps, Mp4, and 4k format. Requests for raw unmixed stems, multi-track session files, or alternative file formats must be requested prior to the session and may incur additional engineering and export fees.

Payment Clearance Required: Under no circumstances will digital links be shared or physical media released until all outstanding invoices, studio time, and additional engineering fees are paid in full.

9. Cancellation, Rescheduling, and Refund Policy

Notice Requirement: The Client must provide at least 24 (twenty-four) hours advance notice to cancel or reschedule a booked session.

Deposit Forfeiture: Cancellations or rescheduling requests made less than 24 (twenty-four) hours before the scheduled start time will result in the forfeiture of the booking deposit.

Studio Cancellation: In the rare event that the Studio must cancel a session due to equipment failure, staff illness, or emergencies, the Client will receive a full refund.

All cancellations must be made via our website at https://www.thecastingcrew.media

11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

Jurisdiction: This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Venue: Any legal action, suit, or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement must be instituted exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Bergen County, New Jersey

Attorney Fees: In the event of legal action to enforce this contract or collect unpaid fees, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs.

CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have read, understood, and agree to the Terms of Service and Code of Conduct outlined above. I acknowledge that violating these terms may result in the immediate termination of my session without a refund.