Hi you guys!! I recorded my first podcast episode in foreverrr. Click below to watch it itās pretty fun, and when youāre done watching come back and read the rest of this article it will be the cherry on top!
Also I wonāt be posting any more content of my AI Clone. It looks creepy, it doesnāt have my personality, and Iām over it. I always say I donāt have time to film content but I have the time to spend a whole day batching AI contentā¦ make that make sense. No itās literally that I donāt want to make myself presentable to film and I need to just do it and stop being lazy because this AI shi aināt it.
So enjoy my latest (NOT AI AT ALL) podcast episode :)
The costumes everyoneās searching š
Googleās list tracks the biggest search spikes leading up to Halloween, and this yearās lineup is unhinged in the best way:
Buddy the Unicorn, the mascot from the horror movie Buddy. For the first time ever, āBuddy unicorn costumeā beat out ākids unicorn costumeā in searches. The kids are not okay (and neither is the unicorn). š¦
NeeDoh, the squishy stress toy. Yes. People are dressing up as a squishy toy.
Nikki from Obsession, the highest-grossing horror movie of 2026. Her red and black zebra set is cheap, easy and ALL over Pinterest.
Also trending: Agamemnon from Christopher Nolanās The Odyssey, Oliver Tree, and Disco Scooby-Doo and Shaggy as the top duo. And Dolly Parton is the #1 kidsā costume and #2 pet costume, which is the sweetest tribute after we lost her in August. š
Gay Tiktok has taken over with itās incredibly obscure halloween costumes, and itās honestly my favorite part of the season. Because what do you mean they dressed up as Cynthia Ervioās christmas nailā¦ Iām dead.
credit: @bfflthought
Why this matters for you, bestie: brands buy seasonal trend content in a super tight window around every holiday. Have a quick-turn rate ready to go so you can say yes in hours, not days!!
The Meat & Potatoes: The scariest clauses creators sign š±
Quick disclaimer: Iām not a lawyer, but I have read millions of brand contracts and you should always get your contracts reviewed by a professional!! But these are the clauses I want every single creator to recognize on sight.
š§ The Curse That Never Ends
What it says: āIn perpetuity, worldwide, in all mediaā
What it actually means: They can run your face in ads FOREVER without paying you again.
Ask for this instead: A set term (30, 60 or 90 days), named platforms, and paid ad use priced separately.
š¹ The Possession
What it says: Exclusivity with no end date, or for a whole category
What it actually means: They own your calendar, babe.
Ask for this instead: A named competitor list, a short window, and extra pay.
šļø The Haunting
What it says: āUnlimited revisionsā
What it actually means: You reshoot until they get bored.
Ask for this instead: Two rounds included, then a revision fee.
š The Net 90 Nightmare
What it says: Payment 90 days after the campaign ācompletesā
What it actually means: Youāre floating their marketing budget for three months. š¬
Ask for this instead: Net 30 from posting, 50% upfront with new brands, and a late fee.
š½ The Body Snatcher
What it says: Brand can edit your content or alter your likeness
What it actually means: Your face, their words, or AI changes you never approved.
Ask for this instead: Approval rights, and no AI changes to your face or voice. Ever.
š» The Ghost
What it says: Brand can cancel anytime with no payment
What it actually means: You film, they vanish.
Ask for this instead: A kill fee (like 50% if they cancel after youāve filmed).
š©ø The Morality Trap
What it says: Only YOU can be dropped for ābad behavior,ā and they get to define it
What it actually means: One bad week and your deal is gone.
Ask for this instead: Mutual terms!!
A little more on that first one, because itās the big one. Market rates for a short paid-usage license run around 30% to 50% of your base fee. And brands are boosting creator posts as ads more than ever: U.S. spend on boosted creator posts is expected to hit $14.15 billion in 2027!! Usage is where your content turns into an ad, so usage is where the money is. šø
UGC or influencer? Know what youāre signing!!
These two types of deals come with totally different contracts.
UGC: the brand posts your video, so the contract is mostly about usage rights. Influencer: you post to your own audience, so itās all about your reach and exclusivity.
If you donāt know which one youāre signing, you canāt tell which clause should scare you!!
š¬ This week on Brand Deal School: The Difference Between UGC & Influencer Marketing! (and which one pays more).
Your one move this week āØ
Open your last contract and search for two words: āperpetuityā and āexclusivity.ā If either one shows up, read that clause again before you sign anything else!!
The bottom line
Brands arenāt villains, and most bad clauses arenāt evil. Theyāre just written to protect the brand, not you. Your job is to read them like they matter, because they DO.
The scariest contract is the one you signed without reading. š·ļø
Happy Halloween, bestie!! Go find those two words, watch the UGC vs. influencer breakdown, and Iāll see you in the next issue. š
x, Brielle