Protecting Your Craft in 3 Ways

Posted byk8charlton

Say you and your friends get a gig to play in your ensemble at a venue. A hefty sum of payment is the reward. You say you will split it 50-50, and you each agree. The performance plays out swimmingly and you entrust your friend to take and split the money. Instead, they give you 30% of the total payment from the gig.

Many up-and-coming musicians entrust others to handle money fairly. You think, “Hey! At least this gig is paying me.” What many young artists do not yet realize is that because the field is so competitive, it is not always wise to trust others. A verbal contract is not a sound tool to get the payment you deserve.

So, after some research (so you do not necessarily have to), I have become knowledgeable of various contracts that artists and musicians use.

The following three contracts are ones that I believe young, up-and-coming musicians should look into now that could otherwise save a lot of difficulties later on.

The titles also have links to mock contracts that are found online. I am not a lawyer; however, anything in writing is better than nothing at all.

Song-writing Partnership Agreement

It is so much easier to understand one another with a contract if you are writing songs with other people. Every one has different ideas and like having something to call their own. Perhaps splitting parts of the song-writing process is a good place to start.

Parties involved:

  • You
  • Your cowriter(s)

Business management agreement

 No one wants drama when it comes to money. Make an agreement. Music is just too wonderful of a career to be stressed about the business part all of the time. Booking too many gigs? Great! Having a business manager can help a great deal. Deal?

Parties involved:

  • You
  • Your bandmates
  • The manager or management company
  • The business manager

Live performance agreement

Live performance agreements are often provided by venues, but if you’re playing a nontraditional venue, you still need to be protected.

Parties involved:

  • You
  • Your bandmates
  • The manager or management company
  • The venue

 

Have fun gigging!