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serious opportunity- what to know legally

#101
smeet said:
Also:
I have the impression you don't know who the band is or how to contact them. That sounds fishy. If they really are big time in LA, there are LOTS of local female bass players they could choose from. Why would they be waiting for you when you don't even know each other?
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That's the part I'm not entirely getting. And the idea that the audition is just a formality. If this is as serious a project as it being made to sound, the audition would never be just a formality, unless the person in mind was already established and known by the people making the decisions. Not by a recomendation from some dude who seems to not know all that much about how the game works. Whole thing is not making much sense to me at all.

I was touring with the newest guitarist in G'nR when he was going through the process of getting into the band. He was recommended by another very famous and reputable player. His getting into the band wasn't just a formality, and he had lots and lots of info available about him.

@ hernameisrio, if you take this career as seriously as you seem to, how come there's nothing available online about you? Wouldn't that be something you'd consider necessary to move forward? Even if you don't have a ton of experience yet, something could be easily put together.
 
#102
What is the last girl band that "made it". Where are they now? Sounds like a silly dream to me. Kittie is one of the few I can think of that is still around, and that is because as a metal band they had to actually write and perform decent songs to be taken seriously. The bangles didn't need a Disney movie, they just wrote decent songs.
 
#103
lokikallas said:
What is the last girl band that "made it". Where are they now? Sounds like a silly dream to me. Kittie is one of the few I can think of that is still around, and that is because as a metal band they had to actually write and perform decent songs to be taken seriously. The bangles didn't need a Disney movie, they just wrote decent songs.
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Ok dude, this is just rapidly approaching irrelevant, mean-spirited sour grapes nonsense. Why should the gender of the band matter?! Don't be a troll. Women have it hard enough without having to read sexist crap like this.

Mellow, thanks for pointing that out but um, what do you think I'm doing, sitting around with my thumb up my @$$...?how do you not know I'm PUTTING something together about myself?! Duh. I'm not an idiot.

Once again people....I DON'T know a lot about this band or this guy's connections, all I know is what he told me, I can't help if he's being cryptic...and the reason I posted it here was to hopefully get LEGAL ADVICE, not to turn it into sexism or a lengthy moral debate or blatant evidence of what a desperate n00b I am and how therefore I don't deserve this IF it happens.

I think I've got my answers....obviously I'm a stupid gullible chick being taken for a ride and I should just figure that any time I get approached to play bass in a band, it's because I look cute doing it and might be good for some fun after the show. Hey it's nice to know that expensive haircuts and fancy tattoos pay off. Lets close the thread now. Thanks for playing. When I'm 41 and blowing money on Botox so I can still look good while I make $15 an hour at my day job and play crappy bars for free with talentless people half my age, I'll be sure to let the Internet know so they can remind me of that awkward moment when I passed up an opportunity to make it big simply because it sounded sketchy because OH WAIT THIS WHOLE BUSINESS IS SKETCHY, you think I don't know that?! I might be young(er), female, and relatively easy on the eyes, but I'm not stupid!

...I wrote this whole thing on my iPhone. Thumbs of steel, baby.
 
#104
Joe Nerve said:
@ hernameisrio, if you take this career as seriously as you seem to, how come there's nothing available online about you? Wouldn't that be something you'd consider necessary to move forward? Even if you don't have a ton of experience yet, something could be easily put together.
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Sorry, that last bit was directed to you Joe, not Mellow. Of course I'm putting something together to promote myself...it goes without saying and of course it's important to me. Not to snap at you as you've given me good advice, but I would've thought it's a given that I be assembling some photos, clips, etc. I just feel like this thread is making me look like I'm totally out of touch with reality. I promise you I'm not. I'm just as confused as everybody else. Only difference is, if I speak too soon, this dude could yank the rug out from under me. I'm not stupid, I swear.
 
#106
hernameisrio said:
Mellow, thanks for pointing that out but um, what do you think I'm doing, sitting around with my thumb up my @$$...?how do you not know I'm PUTTING something together about myself?! Duh. I'm not an idiot.
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I don't know you from some fat 75 year old dude who's got nothing better to do that make up stuff for an internet forum. Whether I think you're an idiot or not is completely irrellevent. :) Part of the point I was getting at.

This whole thing sounds a bit odd and fantastic at the same time. I hope for you it's all true, and that it all works out. As mentioned already, I would advise you not to get too terribly excited until things actually come to fruition. I've been in your shoes, been much further along in those shoes too... and it can be painful if we start believing and counting on things before they actually happen.

And you should go to national underground at 195 houston street in the city tonight to see an awesome zeppelin tribute called led blimpie. :) We're playing 9 sharp till 11. All request. It's a fun time. Anyone else in NY please come too, I'd do a gigspam post but they depress me cuz nobody ever responds.
 
#108
First of all, good luck. :)

jmattbassplaya said:
The alternative, since you haven't signed or agreed to anything with your friend, is that you do the audition, land the gig, and then don't worry about anything. If you haven't agreed to a percentage before the audition then why sign anything after the audition that says you now owe him something? Your friend is an idiot for not trying to get something signed beforehand, so use that to your advantage (and for the love of all that is holy don't tell him this).

Besides, you don't know this band's financial position. They might seem famous and rich to an outsider, but they might be incredibly in debt. You might be joining a band that will end up losing you money for a few years before you even begin to turn a profit, and once you do start making money you'll be owing some schmo a percentage of your earnings? Come on now. Since you haven't signed anything and since you already have an audition I simply would try out, land the gig, and then tell your friend to pound sand if he starts asking for money. As of now, I don't see how you owe him anything, and I don't understand why you think you do unless you're not telling us something.
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I agree with all this. If it were me and the band starts making it, I'd buy the person something as a thank you and be done with it. I say 'person' because he's really not acting like a friend. Oh, and I'd [DEL]have a mod [/DEL]delete this thread too.

This person isn't managing you; isn't putting any resources forward to support you. He just found a gig. A nice guitar or a case of wine with the first album signed by all the members.
 
#111
When I'm 41 and blowing money on Botox so I can still look good while I make $15 an hour at my day job and play crappy bars for free with talentless people half my age, I'll be sure to let the Internet know so they can remind me of that awkward moment when I passed up an opportunity to make it big simply because it sounded sketchy because OH WAIT THIS WHOLE BUSINESS IS SKETCHY, you think I don't know that?!
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If at 41 you’re making $15 an hour and playing crappy bars for free, it won’t be because you passed up this “opportunity”.

Getting to keep 80% still seems a better deal than getting to keep 0% because it didn't happen because I held out for something better that might not come along for another couple of years.
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And if you don’t get the gig he gets 0%, as well, so you offer him what you’re comfortable with (perhaps something in line with what the service he’s actually providing), and he’ll be in the same dilemma.
 
#112
Marko5657 said:
If at 41 you’re making $15 an hour and playing crappy bars for free, it won’t be because you passed up this “opportunity”.
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That's true. I'm older than 41, and I'm making sad, sad money at my day job, and I'm playing crappy bars for about $100.00 a night.

And I didn't even HAVE this "opportunity." Of course, I acted like I was seventeen until, well, I was older than 41.
 
#113
hernameisrio said:
the reason I posted it here was to hopefully get LEGAL ADVICE
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I’m not going to read through this thread, but if you want to ask a question or two in light of the discussion that's been going on, then I’m happy to chime in.

Again, without being completely clear as to what’s going on in the thread, these situations very often are about business advice and not so much about legal advice, but I could be wrong. If there’s some kind of offer being made to you that can be reduced to writing, then drafting a finder’s fee agreement is pretty simple. That is, “In the event X happens, then you are entitled to Y.” That way, whatever you’re giving up is dependent on something happening which you feel is worth the trade.

As to whether it’s WORTH you giving up what the other party is asking for or whether the deal is “fair,” then there is no right answer and it may be such that the terms are non-negotiable. If they are, then you just have to decide what you want to do. At least if you get clear language that something has to occur in order for the commission to be paid, then at least you got what you bargained for.

I’ve had plenty of songwriter clients who have to give up pieces of their song to the artist in order to get it placed on the artist’s album. Whether that seems fair or whether it was worth it is a whole different thread.

My point is, if you need something that protects you legally, then I might be able to help. If you need help deciding whether you should accept the offer (i.e., the business portion of the deal), then I’ll let you discuss that with others.

Best,
MA
 
#114
mellowinman said:
That's true. I'm older than 41, and I'm making sad, sad money at my day job, and I'm playing crappy bars for about $100.00 a night.

And I didn't even HAVE this "opportunity." Of course, I acted like I was seventeen until, well, I was older than 41.
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Yeah but you have an awesome hat and you're a nice person, so don't worry! I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I swear!
 
#116
mellowinman said:
Maybe, but there's always a chance you're just kissing up because of that bed thing.
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Oh my. This thread IS getting rather strange...

Cool, so, if anyone cares, I'm putting together my demo tonight and tomorrow along with a few photos and perhaps a video clip if I can get iMovie to cooperate. :D Then I'll throw it at Mysterious 20% Dude and see what happens next. Without signing anything, avoiding language which might land my @$$ in a sling. While this is all happening, I will seek out legal advice. :bassist:
 
#117
Just to put things in perspective, nobody legit in the music business gets 20%. Our booking agent gets 15% of any gigs she books, AFTER any lodging expenses. And she's actively working on a daily basis to keep our schedule full and fighting for the most money she can get us.

The most I'd be willing to give someone as a finders fee would be 5% of my net for the first year. Even then it would have to be a superstar level gig.
 
#118
Good to hear rio. Most of us here really do have your best interest at heart. Some of the gender bias stuff threw me off a bit, I didn't really know till today that your were a woman, and I don't think that would have changed any of the advice I gave. It shouldn't matter, but some men are more apt to take advantage of a woman, so that makes it so you have to be even more wary.

I would think every one of us here would be pleased as heck to see you get a successful gig/career. Some of us just have a good sixth sense about this type of situation, and even on the straight forward ones, we are protective and skeptical. This particular deal, or at least your connection to it, sounds fishy. Now the actual other musicians may be great and honest, but auditioning for a band should be really easy with no conditions.
 
#120
hernameisrio said:
Oh my. This thread IS getting rather strange...

Cool, so, if anyone cares, I'm putting together my demo tonight and tomorrow along with a few photos and perhaps a video clip if I can get iMovie to cooperate. :D Then I'll throw it at Mysterious 20% Dude and see what happens next. Without signing anything, avoiding language which might land my @$$ in a sling. While this is all happening, I will seek out legal advice. :bassist:
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Can't you seek legal advice before approaching M20D with your package? Reason being that as soon as you do that, you're agreeing with whatever verbal terms were laid out.
 

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