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 | Lawyers - The Initial Consultation |
If you've been handed a contract from a manager, booking agent or Joe Blow's record label you may consider yourself lucky. But it's better to consider yourself smart. Consult with a lawyer before signing any contract. Here are a few tips on how to get ready for your initial meeting with an attorney.
Before your meeting, agree on the amount of time you'll have to discuss your concerns with the lawyer and on the consultation fee.
Know what materials you'll need to bring to the meeting (i.e. contracts, copyright notices, correspondence, hard copies of any pertinent email, etc.)
Have questions prepared in advance. Writing your questions down will help you focus and use your time wisely. Before agreeing to work with the lawyer past your initial meeting ask yourself if the lawyer is right for you. Trust your gut instinct. If you feel the lawyer was dismissive, rude, untrustworthy, or unable to answer your questions satisfactorily, find another lawyer.
To retain a lawyer the initial fee should fall into the $1,000 to $1,500 range. Make sure you know how the lawyer is earning your money.
Are they shopping your tape/CD? What is the attorney's reputation and experience in the music industry?
Be honest. Tell the lawyer everything even if you're cast in a bad light.
Ask if the lawyer has had experience in dealing with a situation similar to yours. Make sure you understand what the lawyer is saying to you. You are paying them to interpret in layman's terms the often confusing legal jargon in a contract.
Go to the Resource Database for a list of entertainment lawyers.
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