So you’ve found the perfect entertainer and have agreed on a price. The next thing is the contract, and with that, the payment of your deposit. There are as many different contracts as there are artists. Most artists (or agents) have worked out a standard contract that they edit with the specific details of each job.  At minimum a contract will cover the basics of your job including the name of the artist, the name of the client, the date, time, location and length of the performance. It will include payment arrangements such as how and when the deposit is paid and how and when the balance is paid. It should include specific requirements of the performance. For instance, maybe are hiring a magician and you want him to do that fire breathing trick you saw on his promo video. You should make sure that this is delineated in the performance details of the contract. Personally I feel that the most useful aspect of the contract are these specifics.

When I write a contract for my Dueling Piano show I generally start by looking at the email thread where the client and I have hashed out their expectations. So if they want Frank Sinatra music for the cocktail hour, and then an agreed upon playlist for an ipod during dinner followed by an interactive show with 2 pianos and drums for the last 2 hours, I will write all of this out in the contract. Maybe they are having a wedding ceremony prior to the reception in the same room and need me to be finished my setup before their guests arrive. That gets written in. Then anytime I have a question about the job requirements, I simply refer back to the contract.

Another thing I like to put in my contracts are “day  of” contacts for the client, the entertainer and the venue. If there are any insurance requirements, this too goes into the contract. I also like to delineate the number and length of breaks I plan on taking. Sometimes if I think the client may wish to extend our performance (maybe the party is still going strong at 11pm) I will write in this option along with the cost per half-hour.

A wise performer or agent will also include a clause which limits their liability for not showing up to the amount of deposit monies already paid. This means you probably won’t win a lawsuit for emotional damage because Bozo the Clown got in an accident on the way to your child’s birthday party in NYC, but you’re entitled to get your deposit back.

One final thought: If you are the one writing the contract and you’re not a lawyer, it’s best if it’s written in plain language. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the use of legalese looks and sounds more professional. If you have chosen your entertainment wisely, you should never have to use the contract in a court of law. The contract will simply serve as a reference for both the client (you) and the entertainer (me) of everything that has been discussed and agreed upon.

While we’re on the subject of legalities, I’m not a lawyer, I’m a dueling piano player. You should not consider any of the ideas in this blog post as legal advice. Happy contract writing!