Making a Musical Life by Tom Heimberg

Author:Tom Heimberg
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2007-01-30T10:00:00+00:00

Then you can go further. As your group works more and more, the agreement process can be aided by turning the checklist into a prepared form. A musician’s earliest playing experiences are usually with friends and family, and in those relationships, complications can (ideally) be worked out smoothly as they occur. But as you start to deal with people you know less well, remember that the more you can prepare ahead of time, the better off everyone will be. This is where a contract form can facilitate negotiations. The pictured sample on the previous page shows how details can be organized into a helpful and businesslike contract. Keep it simple; one page is all you’ll need (until you land your touring and recording contracts).

If demand grows and you find yourself playing often, you should give serious consideration to joining the musicians’ union. Speaking as a longtime member and former steward, I believe there are many benefits to joining, including the availability of standard contract forms and established pay scales. Negotiations are easier when there is a base to work from.

Now that you know how to write agreements, remember the next step: keeping them. Be dependable. Do everything you can to plan ahead, to be prepared, and to be punctual. The virtuoso who shows up at the wrong place or on the wrong day is still a virtuoso, but he or she is not appreciated as much. And the contract has been broken.

Making—and writing—clear agreements is a simple but important act that improves the final musical experience. It helps everyone, employers and musicians alike. Once needs and expectations have been made clear, all the participants can go into the event with ease and confidence. Try it; everyone will like it

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