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By Cristopher Laguna Abanil
So your newly formed band seems to be working well. You've done a few gigs
and fans love it. You want to take your band to the next level and you want
everything done professionally. The very next thing you need to do is come
up with a Band Agreement. Basically, it's a contract that states the obligations
every band member has to the band and to the other band members and the benefits
each band member is entitled to. A Band Agreement aims to put everything in
writing to protect all parties when conflicts arise. However, entering into
a contract is not something that everyone is comfortable of doing. If you want
to go through seamlessly when coming up with this kind of contract, please
read along. Here are some tips that could help you come up with your own Band
Partnership Agreement.
Talk Among Yourselves
Before entering into any agreement, you and your band-mates should have a
clear understanding on each member's duties and responsibilities. You should
also agree who is getting what percentage of the band's income and what to
do when losses are incurred. Your main goal here is to get everyone's expectations
and write them up in paper for discussion. If you are not sure if you've already
discussed all the necessary provisions for the agreement, you may check the
web for some Band Agreement templates. These templates typically cover the
important aspects especially those required by law. Not all templates are the
same so it's important to compare as many as you can gather and see which ones
are best suited to your band and country.
Get an Entertainment Lawyer
No amount of research could ever replace the expert advice that a lawyer could
give you. Prepare what you've initially agreed upon and present everything
clearly to your lawyer. Choose a lawyer who's got a good reputation among other
bands. Seek his advice and discuss everything in the presence of your lawyer.
Ask your lawyer to prepare a draft of the Band Partnership Agreement. Have
it printed and give each band member a copy. Allow some time for every member
to check the details and decide.
Execute Your Band Partnership Agreement
When everyone has decided to execute the contract, go back to your lawyer
and complete the process. Make sure that the contract is fully executed and
all the legal fees and stamps are paid.
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