Let's say you sign a $12,000 deal with a sports drink company.
You do a few posts, maybe an appearance, and the partnership wraps up in June.
Then September rolls around and another hydration company approaches you with an $18,000 offer.
Sounds good, right?
Except your original sponsor is still running ads with your face in them.
So can you take the new deal?
Maybe. It depends on what was agreed to in the first place.
Your deal might be over, but the brand could still have rights to your content.
When you sign a sponsorship agreement, there can be different end dates for different parts of the deal.
For example, you might only be required to post content until June, but the brand might have permission to use that content in advertising until December.
That means even though you're finished working with the company, it can still run ads featuring you.
And that doesn't necessarily mean they're doing anything wrong.
But what happens when a competing brand wants to work with you?
You could technically be allowed to sign with the new company while your previous sponsor is still advertising with your face.
And the new company might not love that.
An old Instagram post isn't the same as an active ad.
There's also a difference between a company leaving an old post on Instagram and continuing to pay to run that post as an advertisement.
Your agreement might allow one but not the other.
The same goes for your photos appearing on a company's website, in stores or in other marketing materials.
The important thing is knowing what the company can still use after your partnership ends.
Here's what I'd ask your agent:
“When can I work with a competing brand, and when does my previous sponsor have to stop using my face in ads?”
Those dates might not be the same.
And it's worth knowing that before another opportunity comes along.
For more guidance on hockey brand deals and sponsorships, visit the Player Partnerships Players Hub.