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

Day 14: Weekly Recap: The Financial Shield

Week 2 Review: Is Your Money Moving Correctly? This week was all about the flow of cash. If you are represented, ask yourself: The Bottom Line: If your agent isn’t making you more money through better negotiation and protection than they are taking in commission, it’s time to re-evaluate. 23 […]

Read More

Day 13: International Withholding & CWA

Day 13: International Withholding & CWA Headline: Crossing Borders: Don’t Let Foreign Taxes Kill Your Tour Touring internationally? Most countries (like the UK, Germany, or Japan) automatically withhold 15%–30% of your pay for taxes. A sophisticated agency works with “Central Withholding Agreements” (CWA) or local accountants to reduce that withholding […]

Read More

Day 12: Dealing with Delinquent Promoters

The Agency as Your Collection Department What happens if a promoter’s check bounces or they “forget” the wire transfer? Individual artists often feel awkward chasing money—they want to stay “cool” with the promoter. The agency takes the heat for you. They have a “Blacklist” of promoters who don’t pay. If […]

Read More

Day 11: The “Force Majeure” Clause: Protection from Chaos

When Life Happens: Your Paycheck vs. Acts of God “Force Majeure” is French for “Superior Force.” It covers things like floods, riots, or global health crises. A primary obligation of the agency is to ensure your contract has a robust clause that protects your deposit if the show is canceled […]

Read More

Day 10: Expense Transparency: What’s Being Deducted?

The Fine Print: Understanding Commissionable Gross The Fine Print: Understanding Commissionable Gross An agent is obligated to be transparent about what they commission. Usually, they take their 10% from the Gross Guarantee. however, sophisticated agents help negotiate “Net Deals” where expenses (sound, lights, catering) are deducted before the split is […]

Read More

Day 9: The Settlement Process: Auditing the “Hard Tickets”

Don’t Get Shortchanged: How Agents Audit the Door Don’t Get Shortchanged: How Agents Audit the Door If your deal includes a “backend” (a percentage of ticket sales), you are at the mercy of the venue’s math. This is where “Settlement” comes in. Your agency (or a tour manager they’ve vetted) […]

Read More