The Typical Talent Booking Contract
There are a lot of people in this industry who will promise you the moon. "Sure, I can get Led Zeppelin at the water park". They're a dime a dozen and it's really one of the key reasons you want to deal with a professional. In our 25 plus years, we've seen and heard it all. So how exactly do you protect yourself from this. You're halfway there in coming to us since we're acting on your behalf with the agencies, but in the end, nothing beats a contract. A contract not only spells out exactly what will transact (which is incredibly important to avoid the occasional, "But I thought you wanted a 9 inch version of Stone Henge on stage?!?!), but it also protects you considering that we're generally talking about fairly large sums of money.
So let's take a spin through a typical talent booking contract to see what to expect and touch base on some of the more critical issues. Contract 101 - please prepare your forms in triplicate!
Details that will be covered include:
T FOR KIDS EVERYWHERE
1. ENGAGEMENT VENUE: Pretty straight forward...where will the talent perform. It's important to iron this out as a venue change may pose problems or additional changes/charges
2. DATE OF ENGAGEMENT:
a. Number of Shows b. Show Schedule c. Acts on the bill:
3. BILLING: Basically, how and when money will transact
4. COMPENSATION (Talent Fee): Expected gross payment for talent performance
5. DEPOSIT Requirements: (see Payment terms below)
6. PRODUCTION AND CATERING: Purchaser shall provide sound and lights, backline and all rider requirements. (Details attached). We have great resources for these services if you need them at a separate cost.
7. TRANSPORTATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS (if applicable):
8. SPECIAL PROVISIONS (examples below):
- No audio or video recording, live broadcasts or webcasts without prior written permission from Artist management. - There shall be no use of Artist's name, likeness, logo or otherwise on any merchandise without prior written approval from management. -Purchaser shall use only Artist-supplied admats, photographs, biographies and materials. In the event none are provided by Artist, any use of Artist's name, likeness, logo, image or otherwise shall be subject to Artist's prior written approval.
9. ARTIST RIDER:PURCHASER shall provide and pay for all terms and conditions contained in the ARTIST rider and shall fully comply with all provisions thereof.
10. PAYMENT TERMS: a. DEPOSIT in the amount of $10,000.00 USD shall be paid to and in the name of Crescent Bay Entertainment before any event can be confirmed. All deposit payments shall be paid via certified or cashier's check sent to:
Crescent Bay Entertainment, ATTN: Joe Fletcher, 316 Mid Valley Center, #167, Carmel, CA 93923
OR via bank wire (details to be provided)
b. BALANCE of the monies shall be paid to and in the name of PRODUCER by certified or cashier's check or bank wire (as designated by PRODUCER), to be received by PRODUCER not later than prior to the first show of the Engagement.
11. SCALING AND TICKET PRICES:
CAPACITY:
Prices:
COMPS:
KILLS:
SELLABLE SEATS:
FAC. FEE:
OTHER:
NET PRICE:
GROSS POTENTIAL:
SCALING NOTES:
12. MERCHANDISING: (Does venue take any percentage of merch sales?)
13. TAXES:
These are the common contract elements you will run into when booking talent. You may have specific requirements and your chosen celebrity, band, musician, or comedian may also have specific requirements but the above is a good template to base expectations on. Of course, please feel free to contact us with any questions and or talent booking contractual requirements for your event.
"The Typical Talent Booking Contract", was submitted 02/16/2012 under category Entertainment.
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