Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 18, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Klaus Essler ("I", "me", "my") collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you visit grayonstage.com (the "Site"). This Site is intended for visitors worldwide. Where applicable, I comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable German data protection law (BDSG) for visitors from the EU/EEA, as well as other privacy laws (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, "CCPA") that may apply to visitors from other regions.

1. Who Is Responsible (Data Controller)

Klaus Essler Rheinallee 20a 53173 Bonn Germany Email: contact.klausessler@gmail.com

2. What Data I Collect

a) Data You Provide Directly

When you use the contact form on this Site, I collect:

  • Your name

  • Your email address

  • Any message content and other information you choose to include

This data is used solely to respond to your inquiry (e.g., booking requests, engagement inquiries, general questions) and is not shared with third parties beyond what is described below.

b) Data Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, certain technical information is collected automatically, such as your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and time spent on the Site. This is collected via:

Squarespace (Hosting Provider) This Site is hosted on Squarespace, Inc. Squarespace automatically collects certain technical data to operate and secure the Site. See Squarespace's own Privacy Policy for details: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy

Google Analytics This Site uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited ("Google"), to understand how visitors use the Site (e.g., number of visitors, pages viewed, time on page). Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect this data. IP addresses are anonymized/shortened where possible.

  • Legal basis: your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), collected via the cookie banner

  • You can withdraw consent at any time via the cookie settings on this Site

  • More information: Google's Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy

c) Embedded Videos (YouTube / Vimeo)

This Site embeds videos from YouTube (Google Ireland Limited) and/or Vimeo (Vimeo.com, Inc.) so you can watch performance clips directly on the page. When you play an embedded video, the respective provider may set cookies and collect data about your device and viewing behavior, even if you don't have an account with that provider.

Where possible, videos are loaded only after you actively click to play them, or after you've given cookie consent, to limit data transfer until you choose to view the content.

3. Cookies

This Site uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to enable certain features (such as analytics and embedded video playback). On your first visit, you will be shown a cookie banner where you can accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your cookie preferences at any time through the cookie settings link in the footer, or by adjusting your browser settings.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

For visitors in the EU/EEA, where the GDPR applies, I process your personal data based on:

  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) — for analytics and embedded video cookies

  • Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) — for responding to inquiries sent via the contact form and maintaining basic site security

  • Contract or pre-contractual measures (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) — where your inquiry relates to a potential booking or engagement

5. How Long I Keep Your Data

  • Contact form submissions are kept only as long as necessary to handle your inquiry, and are deleted afterward unless a longer retention period is required by law or a booking relationship continues.

  • Analytics data is retained according to Google Analytics' default retention settings, which you can review in Google's documentation.

6. Data Sharing

Your data is not sold. It may be shared only with:

  • Service providers who help operate the Site (Squarespace, Google Analytics, YouTube/Vimeo), acting as processors under their own privacy terms

  • Authorities, where required by law

Some of these providers (e.g., Google) may process data in the United States or other countries outside the EU/EEA. Where this occurs, appropriate safeguards (such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses) are relied upon by these providers.

7. Your Rights

If you are located in the EU/EEA

Under the GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data I hold about you

  • Request correction of inaccurate data

  • Request deletion of your data

  • Request restriction of processing

  • Object to processing based on legitimate interest

  • Data portability

  • Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting processing that occurred before withdrawal)

  • Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority — in Germany, this is typically the data protection authority of the state (Bundesland) where you reside, or the Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information if applicable to me

To exercise any of these rights, contact me at: contact.klausessler@gmail.com

If you are located in California or another region with similar privacy laws

You may have similar rights, including the right to know what personal data is collected about you, request deletion of your data, and opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal data (note: I do not sell personal data). To exercise these rights, contact me at: contact.klausessler@gmail.com

All other visitors

Regardless of where you are located, you can always contact me to ask what data I hold about you or to request that it be deleted.

8. Data Security

I take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

9. Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the Site's features or legal requirements. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect the most recent revision.

10. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact:

Klaus Essler contact.klausessler@gmail.com