This is a big one, especially in recent years. Unless you’re playing arenas, this is not likely going to be the case.ħ) Will the Venue Take a Cut of Merch Sales? Bigger artists will sometimes demand payment before they go on stage. And then plan to meet shortly after your set at a certain location (venue office, back bar, etc.) to settle up. Reach out to this person via text or email the day of the show, and establish that line of communication. Many times, the person who books your band is not the same person that will be paying you at 2am. I always recommend that touring musicians advance this information with the promoter ahead of time, and asking for a cell number and email address for your day-of contact. Having a signed contract and knowing the amount that you are to be paid is great, but tracking down the person that will be paying you is a different story. Again, it depends on your draw and the level of your band, so be reasonable. Don’t ask for the moon if you’re a start up band, but proposing a per diem of $20 per touring musician would be in line with industry standards, and might actually come across as more professional. ![]() But you don’t need a booking agent to ask for per diems. Depending on the size of your guarantee, this can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars.Ī savvy booking agency will negotiate per diems in to your guarantee, so that each member gets a little extra cash to cover food and expenses. More times than not, promoters will think the tax applies only to the remaining half. Tax is applied to the entire guarantee, not just the half of the guarantee that you collect at the show. Remember: touring musicians must pay the tax on their guarantee to the government anyway, so if you fail to collect it, you are actually reducing your guarantee accordingly. I’ve had dozens of promoters attempt to avoid paying tax on the guarantee (innocently or not). I’ve had e-transfers denied because the promoter’s bank didn’t work with the artist’s bank. I’ve had promoter’s cheques bounce when I tried to cash them two days later. Whether you are being paid in cash, cheque, e-transfer or beer, the discussion needs to be had ahead of time. The currency in which you’ll be paid might seem obvious, but I assure you it’s not. If the artist if forced to cancel, typically the deposit is simply refunded to the promoter. If the promoter gives more than thirty days’ notice of their cancellation, then only the deposit is forfeited. I always suggest inserting language indicating that if the promoter cancels less than thirty days in advance of the show, the entire guarantee must be paid to the artist. Whatever the case, the contract signed with the promoter should clearly state how the cancellation will be dealt with. tornado, hurricane, flood, etc.), a change in availability, a breakup of the band, or a better opportunity arising (for either the artist or the venue), if injury is present the Miami injury attorney will have to help you out in order to prove that you have valid reasons to not be present. Reasons for cancellation might include sickness, injury, force majeure (legal jargon for “act of God”, i.e. Whether you’re AC/DC or a regional touring musician, you need to know how what will happen if the show is cancelled. ![]() If you’re self-booking, I would still ask for half the guarantee in advance, but this will likely require that some sort of contract be in place. If you’re working with a major booking agent, they will likely demand half the guarantee well in advance of the show. Once the promoter has spent their own money, they are less likely to forget about the show or cancel it last minute. ![]() Fifty percent of the guarantee is an industry standard deposit. One way to help avoid being double booked or cancelled last minute is to receive a deposit in advance. 2) Have You Received Deposits for Your Shows? An experienced touring musician knows the important of a signed contract. Unless you receive a signed contract from the promoter, you will not have any remedies if things go south such as in the case of suffering an accident, for this having the help of a personal injury lawyer houston is probably the best option for this. Verbal acceptance over the phone or written acceptance via email will not suffice. Make sure all your shows are confirmed and all contracts are signed. As you can imagine, things don’t go well from here. This might seem like an obvious starting point, but I know numerous touring musician friends and clients that have shown up at a venue to play, only to find that the promoter has double booked another band or event (or has completely forgotten that the show was booked in the first place). Here are the 16 questions a touring musician should ask before loading up the van: 1) Are Your Gigs Confirmed & Contracts Signed? Whether you’re a seasoned touring musician or about to embark on your first tour, there are many things to take into consideration before hitting the highway.
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