Day 20: Brand Safety & Venue Vetting

The Company You Keep: Vetting the “Vibe” Does a venue align with your brand? An agency is obligated to protect your “moral rights.” If you are a vegan activist, your agent shouldn’t be booking you at a rodeo or a steakhouse chain’s private event without your express consent. They act […]

Read More

Day 19: Merchandising Rights & “House Cuts”

The T-Shirt War: Fighting the 20% House Fee Venues often demand 20% to 30% of your merchandise sales just for “allowing” you to sell in their lobby. This is a massive hit to an artist’s bottom line. A key agency obligation is to negotiate these “House Cuts” down or eliminate […]

Read More

Day 17: Radius Clauses: Protecting Your Market Value

The Geometry of Fame: Understanding Radius Clauses A “Radius Clause” prevents you from playing another show within X miles for X amount of time. While it sounds restrictive, your agent uses this to protect you. If you play three bars in the same neighborhood in one week, you “dilute” your […]

Read More

Day 16: Live Recording Rights: Who Owns the Tape?

The “No Tape” Rule: Guarding Your Digital Likeness In the age of iPhones and Twitch, venues often try to sneak a clause into the contract that gives them the right to record your set for “promotional purposes.” Your agency’s job is to strike that out. Your live performance is a […]

Read More