Contract Repository

Dr GO

Niner posted in the Lounge several questions as to what members play professionally, and gig specifics such as nationally know professionals they have played with and if playing was for pay. That reminded me of how difficult it was for me when starting in the business to protect my bands on myself to assure payment to gigs. It took a bit of research to find out how to draft contracts for gigs and came up with my own template that I have successfully used over the years.

I thought other members on this site may have examples as well that would help members that have consider the types of contracts that best fit their needs and situations.

Looking forward to many examples and a lively discussion.

Dr GO

Band Contract I have personally designed for my initial band, Second Coming, that has survived and been adapted by Eddie Brookshire for my current small group ensemble, The Eddie Brookshire Quintet: [0_1574634518191_EBQ General

Dr GO

Contract used by our AFM Local:

barliman2001

For other locations: In Germany, the Deutscher Tonkünstlerverband (Musicians' Union) provides contract forms; in Austria the Younion (which includes musicians) does the same.

Kehaulani

Or, you can be like me and work under the radar for decades.

Newell Post

Bruce Springsteen tells a great story about their early days when they opened for Chuck Berry somewhere in New Jersey. Chuck traveled by himself in those days and used local pick-up bands for backing. Bruce had already signed to be the opening act that night and the promoter asked him if he knew a band that could back Chuck. Bruce said: "Heck, yeah. We can do it. We'll already be onstage and we know his tunes." Chuck got $11,000 in cash from the promoter before he went on. If the gear worked OK and the backing band was good enough, he gave back $1,000 to the promoter.

Bruce didn't really know all of Chuck's tunes, but they went out and bought all of Chuck's albums and wood shedded them. When Chuck took the stage, he just launched into whatever song he thought was right without saying a word to Bruce's backing band. Bruce was going: "Mr. Berry! Mr. Berry! What key?" Chuck's response: "Shut and play for that money, white boy!"

OldSchoolEuph

@Dr-GO
Wow, I'm impressed by the salesmanship that gets venues to sign this EBQ contract.

It does not designate length of performance (set lengths, number of sets, end time, or any other elements that would allow determining this). By signing, the buyer explicitly agrees that they receive the services to which they are entitled - obviously well in advance of actual delivery (if). The venue has no recourse for damages in the event illness prevents EBQ from performing - most I have known want the equal of the deposit they pay up front (in addition to that refund) as damages (of course, the odd format of Section 8 shows that while deposit used to be part of this, there is none - an unusual risk for the ensemble).

Says a lot about the excellent reputation of the group that it can book under these terms.

Dr GO

@OldSchoolEuph said in Contract Repository:

@Dr-GO

It does not designate length of performance

It does state [items 6 and 7] the time (from to is implied) and has reflected this in our finalized contracts. Then the set time and number will be determined by the entry space in front of the 20 minute break statement. For example, item 6 will state from 7 pm to 10 pm; then item 7 will state 2 20 minute breaks (with the freedom of where and how the breaks will be spaced). So the band plays 140 minutes, the band breaks for 40 minutes. So length of time is defined in this way.

This is a valuable feature as there is improvisation as to when the venue organizers may want time to come to the mic to run a speech or their program material. This type of time line provides much flexibility.

As for recourse they have their lawyers and we have ours.

I am happy to say in the 13 years we have used this contract both sides have been content with the terms post performance and there has never been a need to litigate.

Dr GO

What I find even more amazing is the AFM contract I use is very vague.

Dr GO

@OldSchoolEuph said in Contract Repository:

Says a lot about the excellent reputation of the group that it can book under these terms.

Eddie is so well known, There is an Eddie Brookshire Day in Dayton Ohio!

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/dayton-daily-news/20190414/282707638449682