CSP Safety and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A speaker discovers the venue's stage lighting does not meet OSHA's minimum foot-candle standards for performer work areas. What is the speaker's BEST immediate action?
- Proceed and document the deficiency afterward
- Notify the event organizer in writing before taking the stage (Correct answer)
- Adjust the lighting personally to avoid delay
- Cancel the engagement without notice
Correct answer: Notify the event organizer in writing before taking the stage
Notifying the organizer in writing creates a record and triggers their duty to remediate the hazard before the program begins.
Question 2: Under U.S. copyright law, a CSP who uses a third-party song clip during a keynote without a sync license is most likely liable for:
- Criminal trespass
- Statutory damages for copyright infringement (Correct answer)
- Defamation per se
- Tortious interference
Correct answer: Statutory damages for copyright infringement
Playing copyrighted music without a sync or performance license exposes the speaker to statutory damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504.
Question 3: Which IRS form must a U.S.-based professional speaker file to report self-employment income above $400 in a tax year?
- Form W-2
- Schedule C (Form 1040) (Correct answer)
- Form 1099-NEC only
- Form SS-4
Correct answer: Schedule C (Form 1040)
Self-employed speakers report business income and expenses on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax via Schedule SE.
Question 4: An event contract contains a force majeure clause. When a hurricane forces cancellation, this clause typically:
- Entitles the speaker to full payment regardless
- Excuses both parties from performance obligations due to unforeseeable events (Correct answer)
- Transfers all liability to the venue's insurer
- Voids the speaker's professional indemnity coverage
Correct answer: Excuses both parties from performance obligations due to unforeseeable events
A force majeure clause suspends or excuses contractual obligations when performance is prevented by extraordinary, unforeseeable events beyond either party's control.
Question 5: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires professional speakers presenting at public accommodations to:
- Provide only written transcripts on request
- Ensure their presentation materials are accessible to attendees with disabilities (Correct answer)
- Bear the full cost of all accommodation modifications
- Limit audience Q&A to 10 minutes
Correct answer: Ensure their presentation materials are accessible to attendees with disabilities
Title III of the ADA obligates speakers at public accommodations to make reasonable accommodations so attendees with disabilities can access the content.
Question 6: A speaker collects business cards from audience members to add to a marketing list. Under the CAN-SPAM Act, the speaker MUST:
- Obtain prior written consent from every recipient
- Include an opt-out mechanism in every commercial email sent (Correct answer)
- Register the mailing list with the FTC
- Limit emails to once per calendar month
Correct answer: Include an opt-out mechanism in every commercial email sent
CAN-SPAM requires every commercial email to include a clear, functioning opt-out mechanism that is honored within 10 business days.
Question 7: When a professional speaker signs a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before addressing a corporate client, the primary compliance obligation is to:
- Destroy all notes within 24 hours of the engagement
- Refrain from disclosing proprietary client information encountered during the engagement (Correct answer)
- Waive copyright in all materials created for the client
- Report NDA terms to the NSA ethics board
Correct answer: Refrain from disclosing proprietary client information encountered during the engagement
An NDA legally binds the speaker to keep confidential any proprietary or sensitive information learned in connection with the client engagement.
CSP Safety and Compliance 2
A speaker discovers the venue's stage lighting does not meet OSHA's minimum foot-candle standards for performer work areas.
What is the speaker's BEST immediate action?