For Raw RSS Feeds
I’ll admit it. After the years I spent studying Music Business in college and at conferences, I’ve learned a lot about the music industry…but not nearly as much as I’ve learned from actual first hand experience. As a professional, gigging musician for many years now, I’ve gone through plenty “you live, you learn” moments. I’d like to share one of the most important, even if you’ve already heard it a million times: Get it in writing.
Regardless of if it’s how much you’re agreeing to pay in the recording studio, details of compensation from a club or festival, licensing structures, etc.- Get it in writing.
It doesn’t matter how good of a friend you think your producer is, or how prestigious of an event it is you were just booked to play- Get it in writing.
This can be done several different ways, but they all have the same common goal- To protect you as the artist and to make sure everyone upholds their end of the deal, no matter how formal or informal. Signed, written contracts specifically detailing things out is one way to go. A simple time stamped email is another.
Let me give you an example. My band was booked to play a very well known, highly publicized event that has been established in the U.S. for decades. Television shows have done specials on this event, and they book huge headliners (anyone ever heard of any artists named George Clinton, Black Eyed Peas, or Snoop Dog?). What I’m getting at is…it’s a reputable event.
When speaking with the promoter, we worked out the compensation, hotels, hospitality, and equipment over the phone. I wrote everything down, and we shared a few emails after. My biggest mistake: Not getting the specific details down in writing from him.
We did the event, had a blast, gave a great performance, and would absolutely do it again. BUT…nobody knew who was responsible for providing us with the aforementioned compensation after the event. After that weekend, I called the promoter to ask about it. No response. Gave it a polite week before checking in again. No response. In the end, it took over seven months of persistent phone calls, emails, faxes, and eventually two letters from a lawyer to actually get paid.
Yes, we were finally compensated and even received a very kind apology. But in the end, we were lucky. If an artist finds themselves in a similar situation and takes the offending party to court, but has no written or recorded verbal contract outlining how, when and what they are to be paid, they’ll have great difficulty proving their case.
You don’t necessarily need a ten page contract for everything. Here are a few examples:
• Write a quick summary email bullet-pointing the details of the gig and asking the promoter to confirm that everything is correct. Save their response, and bring a printed out copy with you to the gig. The same can be applied to Instant Messages and Social Networking correspondence (Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, etc.).
• Most cell phones, office lines, and even home phone services have a “record” feature available now on them. Record your conversation with the booking agent or promoter when discussing dates, compensation, hospitality, etc. A verbal contract is just as legal as a written one.
• Save any voicemails from the event or company stating details of the gig.
• Save any contracts anyone ever makes you sign. Ever. Save and organize them- they may prove very useful even after the event.
These can be applied not just to live performance opportunities but any business correspondence for an artist. Long story not so short, I could have saved myself some strife and a couple fees to a lawyer. Do yourself a favor- Get it in writing.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}