The Importance of a Contract
Get it in writing to make the gig go smooth!
by Lesa McCabe
Due to questions in Fretbuzz concerning contracts, I
thought I would hit upon this very important subject.
When you and a club have decided that you and your
band are the perfect match, dates are settled on, price
is negotiated, the next step is to put all this in writing, for
the protection of both parties. Some clubs have their
own contracts, and some don't. I have a very basic
contract I use when the club does not have one.
Points to include in your contract are:
1.) Club address, phone, contact person.
2.) Dates and times band is to perform.
Include set and break lengths. For instance " Payday
Daddy agrees to play" Friday and Saturday night, Feb
2nd - 3rd, 2001, from 9:00 - 1:30 am... 2 -70 minute
sets,, with a 20 minute break in between, followed by a
1 hour and 45 minute set.( Alot of bands do not follow
our set lengths, more common are 4 - 45 minute sets
with 15 minute breaks in between..) Also note who will
provide music will the band is on break.
3.) "Acts of God" clause.
This protects you, and the club if there is a bad storm,
flood, fire, or an illness, or something beyond anyone's
control. Neither party will be held in forfiet of the contract
if anything bad should happen.
4.) Price.
Make sure to write out the agreed amount as follows.
The agreed rate of pay is to be $800.00, Eight Hundred
Dollars. This way there is no misunderstanding.
5.) Cancellation clause.
This should read as follows. In the event that
"Cancellation of this Contact" is determined, there
should be at least a 6 -8 week to grace period. This
way, the club can't cancelyou a week before your gig
because the club owners niece's cousin's son that has
a band wants to play there next weekend. This also
gives you ( Hopefully) enough time to re-book that date.
And it protect's the club from bands that cancel a day
before the gig because they got a better offer
somewhere else. ( By the way, this is a BAD NO-NO,
and if you are a band that does this, STOP. Word will
get out and no one will hire you.)
6.) Any "Bennies" for the band.
This can include, food, drinks, rooms etc.
7.) Signatures of both yourself or the band's manager,
and the club contact person both printed and
signed.
Use carbon paper, or the kind where it will make a
duplacate without carbon. You get a copy, and so does
the club.
