The Contract Playbook

034: Navigating Brand Deals During DEI Rollbacks

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, host Casey Handy-Smith sits down with Brittany Bright, founder of The Influencer League, to discuss the current challenges around DEI rollbacks in brand partnerships. Brittany shares her personal experiences managing creators and how she navigates brand deals while ensuring they align with her creators' values. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to The Contract Playbook Casey introduces the episode’s shift in focus, discussing the importance of addressing DEI rollbacks within the context of brand deals, especially for Black creators. 00:20 - Season Focus and Current Industry Issues Casey talks about the DEI rollbacks happening across large brands, explaining how they have affected creators, talent managers, and agencies since the beginning of 2025. 01:45 - Introducing Brittany Bright and The Influencer League Brittany shares the mission of The Influencer League, an online platform that uplifts and educates creators of color, particularly Black creators, and their journey in the influencer marketing industry. 03:25 - Interview with Brittany Bright Casey dives deep into the conversation with Brittany, where they explore the impact of DEI rollbacks, their implications for creators, and the ethical concerns that arise when navigating brand partnerships. 04:32 - Navigating DEI Rollbacks in Brand Partnerships Brittany opens up about the growing concerns around DEI rollbacks in major brands, highlighting how these rollbacks impact creators, especially those who have worked with brands for years. She shares her personal insights on why some brands have retreated from their DEI commitments and how creators can best handle these shifts. 22:31 - The Importance of Mutual Morality Clauses Brittany and Casey discuss the importance of including mutual morality clauses in brand deals. These clauses offer protection for both the creator and the brand in situations where a brand or creator comes under public scrutiny. 26:48 - Advice for Creators and Brands They provides crucial advice to both creators and brands on how to navigate this difficult terrain. She encourages creators to prioritize their values and not shy away from walking away from deals that may conflict with their moral compass. She stresses the importance of being selective and aligned with brands that truly support DEI initiatives. 31:04 - The Future of The Influencer League Brittany shares exciting news about The Influencer League’s rebranding, including new initiatives and tools for creators to help them thrive in the creator economy, including the launch of an AI-powered platform aimed at leveling the playing field. 37:16 - Closing Remarks and How to Connect Casey wraps up the episode with final thoughts from Brittany on maintaining authenticity in brand deals and how to push forward in the creator space, despite challenges like DEI rollbacks. Brittany also shares how to connect with her and The Influencer League. Key Takeaways: * Navigating Rollbacks: Brittany and Casey discuss the impact of DEI rollbacks by brands and how creators can handle the ethical concerns around these changes. Creators should continue to be vocal about their values and selective about their partnerships. * Mutual Morality Clauses: They emphasize the importance of negotiating mutual morality clauses in contracts. This protects both parties in the event of public backlash or reputational damage and gives both sides the ability to exit the partnership under certain conditions. * Creating Ethical Partnerships: Advice is given on how to make sure brand partnerships align with your values and beliefs, as well as how to walk away from deals that don’t feel right for your personal or professional integrity. * Empowering Creators: Brittany emphasizes the need for creators to stay empowered in their careers by making decisions that benefit their long-term growth and mental health. * The Importance of Education: The Influencer League is dedicated to educating creators on industry standards, helping them navigate brand deals with confidence, and ensuring their work is valued and properly compensated. Resources: * The Influencer League [https://theinfluencerleague.com] – Connect with Brittany and discover resources for creators of color. *  Follow Brittany on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/brightbrittany] *   [https://linkedin.com/in/brightbrittany]Connect with Brittany on Instagram & Threads [https://www.instagram.com/theinfluencerleague?igsh=MWxrbnhoanZsdTVheQ==] * Join The Contract Playbook Community! [https://www.contractcasey.com/the-contract-collective-waitlist] * Join Casey's Substack Newsletter - https://aicontractlab.substack.com/ [https://aicontractlab.substack.com/] If you enjoyed this episode and want more content on navigating brand deals, contracts, and the creator economy, don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Share this podcast with others who may benefit from this conversation, and follow along for more episodes. 🎧 Tune in now and gain valuable insights to help you thrive in your creator career, even amidst the shifting landscape of brand partnerships.

033: From Pitch to Contract - Integrating AI into Every Stage of Brand Deals

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, host Casey Handy-Smith sits down with Phe Morgan, influencer manager and founder of For Creator Good. Phe discusses how AI is integrated into every step of the brand deal process, from researching brands to curating content. She shares her process and how AI empowers creators by increasing efficiency without replacing their creativity. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to The Contract Playbook Casey introduces the episode and the importance of AI in brand deals. 00:22 - Exploring AI in Brand Deals Casey and Phe discuss how AI can be a powerful tool for streamlining the creator-business relationship and improving efficiency in brand collaborations. 02:18 - Interview with Phe Morgan Phe shares her journey into the creator economy and how she launched For Creator Good, an organization designed to empower creators through tools, resources, and campaign management. 03:11 - Phe's Journey and For Creator Good Phe talks about her background in design, marketing, and social good, and how her passion for supporting creators led her to start For Creator Good. 06:20 - Utilizing AI for Brand Research Phe explains how AI helps her research brand history, controversies, and positive campaigns to ensure alignment with her creators’ values before entering partnerships. 09:17 - Custom AI Bots for Creators Phe walks through how she creates custom AI bots for each creator she manages, detailing their goals, bio, niche, and previous partnerships to tailor pitches effectively. 14:19 - AI in Content Strategy and Pitching Phe shares how AI helps her generate creative content ideas, streamline pitching strategies, and optimize the outreach process to brands. 21:19 - Curating Content with AI Phe explains how AI aids in content curation by identifying gaps, addressing weaknesses, and crafting an editorial calendar for creators. 24:25 - Getting Started with AI Tools Phe offers actionable advice for creators and talent managers looking to integrate AI into their business processes, including finding the right tools and practicing with them. 27:21 - Conclusion and Resources Phe wraps up with resources for learning more about AI tools and how to implement them effectively for greater efficiency in the creator economy. Key Takeaways: * AI as a Support Tool: Phe emphasizes how AI enhances creators’ capabilities without replacing their core skills, making it an invaluable support tool. * Custom AI Bots for Creators: Phe uses custom bots to manage individual creator profiles, tailoring brand outreach and content strategies to each creator’s goals. * AI in Brand Research: AI helps speed up the process of vetting brands by providing insights into their history and public image, ensuring the best partnerships. * Content Strategy & Efficiency: By automating content strategy, AI helps creators pitch and produce more effectively, saving time while maintaining authenticity. * Tools for Success: Phe recommends experimenting with AI tools and customizing them to suit specific needs for more efficient campaign management. Resources: * Blog Post [https://www.forcreatorgood.com/post/ai-tools-every-influencer-manager-content-creator-should-use-to-streamline-operations] - 5 AI Tools Every Influencer Manager & Content Creator Should Use to Streamline Operations * Connect with Phe on Instagram & Threads [https://www.instagram.com/itspheelosophy] * Visit Phe’s website: For Creator Good [https://www.forcreatorgood.com] * Join Casey's Substack Newsletter - https://aicontractlab.substack.com/ [https://aicontractlab.substack.com/] If you found this episode helpful, share it with other creators and talent managers. Be sure to leave a review and let us know what you found most valuable. 🎧 Tune in to discover how AI can boost your efficiency, elevate your creativity, and transform your brand deal process.

032: Scaling Smart - How One Agency Built a Custom AI Playbook for Brand Deals

In this episode of The Contract Playbook, host Casey Handy-Smith talks to Mia Cunningham, co-founder and director of talent at Alora Society. Mia shares how they use custom AI playbooks to speed up contract negotiations and secure the best deals for their creators, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is helping scale their agency. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to The Contract Playbook Casey introduces the episode and discusses the power of AI in scaling agencies and improving contract negotiations. 00:21 - Season Overview: AI in Contract Review Casey explores AI's role in transforming contract review and management for creators and talent agencies. 01:03 - Interview with Mia Cunningham Mia shares her background, journey into talent management, and how she co-founded Alora Society with her partner, Kaylea Nicole. 01:16 - Mia’s Background and Journey Mia recounts her experience transitioning from working in social media and PR for a national brand to managing Kaylea’s brand and eventually founding Alora Society. 01:59 - Founding Alora Society Mia explains how Alora Society focuses on long-term, relationship-driven influencer management rather than transactional partnerships. 02:11 - Alora Society's Operations and Philosophy Mia describes their agency's mission to advocate for creators, ensuring they get the best deals while maintaining strong ethical standards. 10:28 - Challenges in Contract Management Mia discusses early challenges in managing contracts manually, such as repetitive tasks and the time it took to review contracts. 11:54 - Integrating AI in Contract Management Mia shares how they began integrating AI into their contract process to improve efficiency, especially as their agency scaled. 13:51 - Custom AI Playbooks for Agencies Casey and Mia dive into how Alora Society created a custom AI playbook tailored to their agency’s needs, allowing them to streamline contract review. 37:06 - Training and Scaling with AI Mia discusses how Alora Society is using the custom playbook to train new team members and scale the agency while maintaining consistency across contracts. 43:08 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Mia reflects on how AI has transformed their contract process, saving time, increasing efficiency, and allowing them to scale with confidence. Key Takeaways: * Scaling with AI: Alora Society has effectively integrated AI to scale their agency and improve contract efficiency. AI helps speed up redlining and ensures consistency. * Custom AI Playbooks: The agency built a custom AI playbook, allowing them to automate repetitive tasks and apply consistent terms for their creators, including clauses for late payments and termination fees. * Efficiency in Contract Review: By using AI, Mia can review contracts in a fraction of the time it used to take, reducing the cognitive load and ensuring accuracy. * Ethical Agency Practices: Alora Society's philosophy centers on maintaining integrity and advocating for creators, ensuring fair negotiations with brands. * Empowering Teams: AI enables the agency to scale by providing a system for training new team members in contract review and keeping everyone aligned on contract standards. Resources: * Alora Society [https://www.alorasociety.com] * Follow Mia on LinkedIn [http://www.linkedin.com/in/miacunningham/] * Connect with Alora Society on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/alora.society/] If you found this episode insightful, share it with others in the creator economy and leave us a review. Don’t forget to subscribe for more tips on navigating brand deals, contracts, and the creator business. Join Casey's Substack Newsletter - https://aicontractlab.substack.com/ [https://aicontractlab.substack.com/] 🎧 Tune in to learn how to leverage AI to make your contract process smarter, faster, and more efficient.

031: AI in the Contract Workflow - Simplifying Brand Deals from Start to Finish

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith discusses how AI is transforming the contract management process for talent managers and creators. Beyond just contract negotiation, AI simplifies every step from drafting to final execution, saving time and improving accuracy in managing brand deals. Timestamps: * 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast Casey introduces the broader conversation about AI in contract management, expanding beyond negotiation to managing contracts throughout their life cycle. * 00:28 - Expanding the Conversation Beyond Negotiation AI's role in simplifying the entire contract workflow, from tracking key dates to ensuring consistency across deals. Casey explains how contract management is more than just signing the deal—it's about the whole life cycle. * 01:06 - The Importance of Contract Management Casey stresses that managing contracts is a critical process that touches every aspect of a brand campaign. It includes renewals, termination deadlines, payment schedules, and tracking special terms. * 01:13 - How AI Simplifies Contract Management AI tools help automate many of these tasks, such as tracking key dates and deliverables, which makes managing contracts much easier, especially when handling multiple deals across several creators. * 04:08 - Automating the Review Process with AI AI tools can quickly analyze contracts, flagging missing or inconsistent terms and ensuring all standard clauses are included, such as payment schedules, deliverables, and exclusivity terms. These tools can save you hours of work and improve contract accuracy. * 05:06 - Training and Onboarding with AI AI can make it easier to onboard new team members, especially those without a legal background. With AI tools offering instant insights and guidance, your team can quickly learn how to spot issues in contracts and apply your agency's standards. * 06:11 - Maintaining Consistent Terms Across Deals AI ensures consistency across your contracts by helping you maintain your agency's preferred terms, like intellectual property ownership, exclusivity, and payment deadlines. Customizing AI playbooks for your agency can make this process even more efficient. * 07:30 - Real-World Application of AI in Contract Management A case study from the Contract Collective highlights how one agency used a custom AI playbook to streamline their contract review process. By flagging key terms like late payment penalties, content revisions, and kill fees, the agency saved time and ensured consistency across contracts. * 11:30 - Key Takeaways and Conclusion Casey wraps up with actionable advice on implementing AI in contract management, from identifying pain points to building your custom playbook. AI is a powerful tool, but it’s essential to combine it with human expertise for the best results. Key Takeaways: * Automate Contract Review: AI tools can help streamline contract reviews by flagging missing or inconsistent terms, saving time and ensuring key clauses are always included. * Onboard New Team Members Faster: With AI's instant insights and guidance, your team can learn how to spot issues and maintain consistency in contracts quickly and effectively. * Maintain Consistent Terms: AI helps ensure that your agency's standard terms, like intellectual property ownership and payment deadlines, are consistently applied across all contracts. * Custom AI Playbooks for Agencies: Build a custom AI playbook to meet your agency's specific needs, ensuring terms like late payment penalties and content revisions are always flagged. * Human Component is Key: While AI offers efficiency, it’s essential to maintain a human component to ensure contracts are handled with the appropriate expertise and attention to detail. Links & Resources: * The Contract Collective™ [https://www.contractcasey.com/the-contract-collective-waitlist] – Join the membership for access to our AI-powered Influencer Agreement Playbook and a supportive community of influencer talent managers and creators. * Boss Contract Society [https://bosscontractsociety.com/] – Find lawyer-drafted contract templates to protect your business and intellectual property. * Connect with Casey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyhandysmith/] – Stay up to date with more contract tips and insights from the entertainment and influencer marketing worlds. * Join Casey's Substack Newsletter - https://aicontractlab.substack.com/ [https://aicontractlab.substack.com/] 🎧 Tune in now and subscribe for more actionable contract advice.

030: Time-Saving Magic - How AI Automates Contract Review and Redlining

In this episode of the Contract Playbook Podcast, Casey Handy-Smith delves into how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the contract review process for creators and talent managers. AI not only saves valuable time but also enhances contract accuracy, providing a powerful tool for streamlining negotiations and protecting rights. Timestamps: * 00:00 - Introduction to Season 4 Casey welcomes listeners back to Season 4, where the focus is on how AI is changing contract review and negotiation for creators and talent managers. * 00:54 - Why Time Matters in Contract Review Casey emphasizes the importance of saving time during the contract review process, especially for creators and managers who may not have the luxury of hours to spend on tedious tasks like contract redlining. * 02:11 - Combining AI and Lawyers for Efficiency The episode explores how AI can work alongside lawyers to create a highly efficient contract review process. AI tools can flag risky clauses and suggest alternative language, while lawyers can focus on the more complex aspects of the contract, reducing billable hours and cutting costs. * 04:48 - How AI Reduces Review Time AI-driven tools can reduce the time spent on contract review by up to 80%. What once took an hour may now only take 10-15 minutes, freeing up more time for strategic thinking and creativity. * 05:50 - Improving Accuracy with AI Tools Casey shares data showing that AI tools can identify contract risks with up to 94% accuracy, compared to just 85% for human lawyers. This improved accuracy not only saves time but also ensures that critical risks are flagged early, offering more reliable contract assessments. * 07:27 - How to Get Started with AI-Powered Tools Casey explains how easy it is to start using AI-powered contract tools, especially those designed specifically for the influencer and brand partnership industry. With AI tools like the Contract Collective’s playbook, you can simply upload your contract, click a button, and get a detailed review that highlights risks and suggests alternative language. * 09:36 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Casey wraps up by reiterating that AI is not replacing lawyers but rather enhancing their capabilities and saving time. By combining AI and legal expertise, you can streamline the process, reduce costs, and negotiate better deals with confidence. Key Takeaways: * AI + Lawyers = Efficiency: AI tools help identify risks and suggest improvements, allowing lawyers to focus on more critical aspects of contract review. This combination saves time and reduces billable hours. * Time-Saving Benefits: AI can reduce contract review time by up to 80%, enabling creators and managers to focus on higher-level tasks and strategy instead of getting bogged down in the details. * Increased Accuracy: AI tools are significantly more accurate in identifying potential risks, making the contract review process both faster and more reliable. AI can identify contract risks with 94% accuracy compared to 85% for human-only reviews. * Easy Integration with AI Tools: Casey discusses how easy it is to get started with AI-powered tools, such as the Contract Collective’s AI-powered influencer agreement playbook, which provides a seamless review process without the need for complicated prompts. * Empowering Creators & Managers: AI enables creators and talent managers to feel more empowered in their contract negotiations, giving them the confidence to manage brand deals effectively without relying solely on lawyers. Links & Resources: * The Contract Collective™ [https://www.contractcasey.com/the-contract-collective-waitlist] – Join the membership for access to our AI-powered Influencer Agreement Playbook and a supportive community of influencer talent managers and creators. * Boss Contract Society [https://bosscontractsociety.com/] – Find lawyer-drafted contract templates to protect your business and intellectual property. * Connect with Casey on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyhandysmith/] – Stay up to date with more contract tips and insights from the entertainment and influencer marketing worlds. * Join Casey's Substack Newsletter - https://aicontractlab.substack.com/ [https://aicontractlab.substack.com/] 🎧 Tune in now and subscribe for more actionable contract advice.