CompuServe Messages

Hi, everyone. I've been using 3DS for a little over a year, and I have finally gotten enough work together to make my first demo tape (yay!). Someone really scared me today, though. They brought up the question of whether I have the right to put work that I did for clients on my demo reel. I've seen so many animation demo tapes with work that was obviously done for clients that I never gave it any thought. What's the standard in this area? Do I have to get written releases (groan)? I assumed that because I am selling my skills, not the animation itself, there would be no problem. Any light anyone could shed would be very welcome; if I can't use all this stuff, I've got no reel! Also – what about music on the demo? Do I have to find royalty-free music? Or do I have to pay for needle-drop music? Or can I use copyrighted music since, again, the purpose of the tape is not to be sold but to show what I can do and show it to its best advantage (which of course means put to music)? Thanks in advance, Madeline