Help making a contract for my singer

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jerberson12

mucis procedure
Hi guys,

I am a music producer
I found a singer of mine and Im in need in making a contract for her with me.
The reason is, so that no other producer will grab her from me easily and also no producer will take advantage on our projects when she gets to other producers.

I dont know if this is necessary,
but this is our plans

I am planning in making an album for her at least 10 original songs.
I will be the producer, composer, writer and all she will do is sing it.
Since im broke, I dont have anything to give her, but I can offer her free production and publicity through youtube with her favorites cover songs she likes to sing.

I just need help on how am I gonna write this contract for her professionally. Im not a good writer. Any help will do TY
 
Oh, dear. Please understand, I am a bit concerned for you- if my post seems harsh, it's only because I think you need a major dose of reality...

Truly sorry, dude, and I gave considerable thought to this before I decided to post, but IMHO you are attempting to draw oil from a water well, here- probably few, if any of us, are attorneys, and even fewer entertainment industry attorneys- and that is what you need. And it's gonna cost money. REAL money.

If she really is all that and a bag of chips, she could attract some serious attention, and unless you have a darn-near air-tight contract with her, you will be way out-classed and lose, one way or another. If she attracts really serious attention- I'm talking major label level attention, you will basically have two choices: accept whatever offer the majors offer you and go guietly back into obscurity, or fight a legal battle you will ultimately lose, anyway. Writing up your own legal contract with her, or having one or more of us yahoos help you with it, will guarantee that result, having a real lawyer do it at least assures you of having a ghost of a chance. I really don't think you realize how big the sharks you would be swimming with might be.

Or, you have seriously over-estimated your own abilities. By your own admission, you have nothing to offer her- and really, "free production and publicity through youtube" can be had on just about any street corner. Even if she does not realize that at the moment, somebody will bring her around- unless you have kept her very happy and she has a heart of gold, she will probably be gone on the very next train.

My best advise: get some money, pay a good entertainment-industry attorney to draw up a good contract, and bust your ass like you never thought you could to make things happen for her. Then, you might have a chance.

But I'm betting on the sharks.
 
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This isn't good legal advice, I am not a lawyer. Usually what I do is write in plain english what i expect from both parties, and have them sign it. It's not a great contract, but it might suffice (better than nothing). Or sign up for prepaid legal. they're cheap-ish and do contract drafts.
 
Equity or the Musicians Union provide free contracts and advice (for members) and legal representation if it goes tits up. Worth a look, for fee smaller than a coffee at the laywers.
Luck
 
IANaLB you probably want to consult with a lawyer if you're drawing up legal papers. Unless you trust this person implicitly to not screw you over, even accidentally, and to not in turn get screwed over by someone else (assuming she gets popular), getting a professional to help you is the way to go.
 
stevieb said:
Oh, dear. Please understand, I am a bit concerned for you- if my post seems harsh, it's only because I think you need a major dose of reality...

Truly sorry, dude, and I gave considerable thought to this before I decided to post, but IMHO you are attempting to draw oil from a water well, here- probably few, if any of us, are attorneys, and even fewer entertainment industry attorneys- and that is what you need. And it's gonna cost money. REAL money.

If she really is all that and a bag of chips, she could attract some serious attention, and unless you have a darn-near air-tight contract with her, you will be way out-classed and lose, one way or another. If she attracts really serious attention- I'm talking major label level attention, you will basically have two choices: accept whatever offer the majors offer you and go guietly back into obscurity, or fight a legal battle you will ultimately lose, anyway. Writing up your own legal contract with her, or having one or more of us yahoos help you with it, will guarantee that result, having a real lawyer do it at least assures you of having a ghost of a chance. I really don't think you realize how big the sharks you would be swimming with might be.

Or, you have seriously over-estimated your own abilities. By your own admission, you have nothing to offer her- and really, "free production and publicity through youtube" can be had on just about any street corner. Even if she does not realize that at the moment, somebody will bring her around- unless you have kept her very happy and she has a heart of gold, she will probably be gone on the very next train.

My best advise: get some money, pay a good entertainment-industry attorney to draw up a good contract, and bust your ass like you never thought you could to make things happen for her. Then, you might have a chance.

But I'm betting on the sharks.
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I just love when someone asks for advice and instead, a "good samaritan" gives you a dose of reality, in a passive-aggresive way of course (You just implied he's an idiot with low chances by posting that). That's not helping by the way, NOT BY THE WAY YOU EXPRESS IT.

I remember when i said everyone i was going to be a musician, then to record an album, then to get musicians, etc, etc. For every point, they told me i couldn't and i wasn't that good, always "supporting" but saying these "tips". Just ignore this guy, only for the way he writes his ideas.
 
TheComposer said:
I just love when someone asks for advice and instead, a "good samaritan" gives you a dose of reality, in a passive-aggresive way of course (You just implied he's an idiot with low chances by posting that). That's not helping by the way, NOT BY THE WAY YOU EXPRESS IT.

I remember when i said everyone i was going to be a musician, then to record an album, then to get musicians, etc, etc. For every point, they told me i couldn't and i wasn't that good, always "supporting" but saying these "tips". Just ignore this guy, only for the way he writes his ideas.
Click to expand...

Lol, agreed. Nothing I hate more than asking do-it-yourself-ers a how-to trick and getting a response like "hire a pro."
 
Well stevo, as soon as you can start trading in those precious rep points for beer or tits.. let us know, we'll start respecting you for it. Until then...

Prepaid legal is a perfectly fine suggestion, since it's a heck of a lot cheaper. Not contradictory. It's a very do-it-yourself short cut. And they're actually lawyers.

I think the point is stevish, that we're here to get ideas to do it the cheap way, if any of us had a lawyer on retainer, I doubt they'd be on homerecording.com they'd be on ispentthousandsonastudiorecording.com

But that's not what happened. My suggestion? if you don't agree with our route, feel free to chime in with pros and cons. But attacking how smart/stupid we are? That's sophomoric at best. (see what I did there?)
 
Yeah, StevieB. That was probably a bit much as far as retaliation goes.

The long and short of it is, if you're signing legal papers, you want them written by a qualified professional who you trust. If they're not, then someone else who CAN afford to hang out on the ispentthousandsonarecordingstudioandlegalfees.com BBS likely will commandeer your intellectual property and build off your hard work without you getting any compensation.

Now their are services that can help you get legal consultation as a musician on the cheap. What bruiser suggested might be worth looking in to.
I've seen Harry Fox linked several times on these forums. There might be something useful there.
What do the songwriting unions (ASCAP, etc.) offer as far as legal services?
 
stevieb said:
Everybody else here suggest some form of licensed, legal assistance on this matter, except you two. Hell, even one of you two idiots- yeah, I called you idiots- first suggest pre-paid legal (this sort of thing is NOT usually covered) and then you contradict yourself. Taken together, the both of you don't have as many posts or the rep power of anyone else in this thead. There are not enough :rolleyes: in the world to express how monumentally stupid you two are.

But by all means,FredF and The C, go right ahead and have a legal document drawn up by some schumck off the street. Then you will have the pleasure of seeing your work legally stolen by someone else. Frankly, you two probably have it coming- my only regret is I won't be there to see it, and hear your whine "They stole my shit!" You pathetic little crybabies. You will either get blown away by someone who appreciates and values a legal professional- or you will apply your flawed logic to your own bodies and attempt to remove your own appendix. Either way, it will be natural selection (often called "Darwinism") in action.

I am sure jerbeson12 has more sense to take your laughable advice.
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Woot he mad!!! it's time to buy some Posts and Rep Power from mighty Ebay!!

In another topic, is there a mod around?? this guy really needs to chill out big time.
 
FredFredrickson said:
Well stevo, as soon as you can start trading in those precious rep points for beer or tits.. let us know, we'll start respecting you for it. Until then...
Click to expand...

This, from the man with a whopping 47 post and zero rep. My post was for the OP, not you- I could not care less what you think.

VomitHatSteve said:
Yeah, StevieB. That was probably a bit much as far as retaliation goes.

The long and short of it is, if you're signing legal papers, you want them written by a qualified professional who you trust. If they're not, then someone else who CAN afford to hang out on the ispentthousandsonarecordingstudioandlegalfees.com BBS likely will commandeer your intellectual property and build off your hard work without you getting any compensation...
Click to expand...

Yes, Steve, correct on both counts- I was over the top, and got dinged by Chater-La- which I probably deserved. I've said moderation on this forum is about where it should be, so now I gotta walk the walk, too- so be it.

And, you understood my original point. Thanks for the summation.

EDIT: Just noticed Villain S. Deeds (on this forum), ends his signature with "Esq." Maybe he really is a lawyer. I'd PM him.
 
There obviously must be some deleted post by Stevie because this thread just looks now like everyone but him is the asshole. It seems the whole thread should be removed now that it makes no sense. Though like a bad car accident, I am curious what the hell Stevie said. :)
 
Jimmy, see the second post in this thread- I have not deleted any posts here. IMO, not everyone here is an ass- but this thread has a few!
 
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