What should I do when I play live?
Most bands play live. Whether you play live shows infrequently or on a regular basis, you should consider a written contract when playing live. A contract can be very simple. It does not have to be full of legal mumbo jumbo to be a contract. It can be as simple as "Band agrees to play on July 17, 2001 for one hour for $3,000 at Venue X." That is sufficient to be an enforceable contract. At a minimum, a contract should have the following elements. First, it should be in writing. An oral contract may be valid, but it is very difficult to enforce. The expression, "an oral contract is not worth the paper it is written is on" comes from experience. Therefore, I highly recommend getting the terms in writing. Second, it should be signed by both parties. This means the agent or venue owner and one member of the band. Each band member has authority to bind the entire band in a partnership. The following terms must be in the contract to be enforceable. First, it must spec...