Industry news & advice blog

Have you ever booked a gig with a promoter via text, email or Twitter? 

Fine if you’re planning a night out, but if you’re the one taking to the stage it not only lacks professionalism, it will also be hard to use as evidence in court if the arrangement goes awry. 

So how can you make sure you're covered if something goes wrong?

Get it in writing
You may need to provide documentary evidence to prove that an agreement was in place, for example if you need to bring a claim for unpaid fees. 

Ideally you should use a signed Musicians’ Union contract, but a clear exchange of emails or even a print out of a Facebook chat or tweets can count as long as the content is clear and certain.

It may sound like an attack on social media, something we all use to arrange our lives. But the problem doesn’t lie with the medium. It’s all about the message. You need to have enough detail recorded to prove a contractual agreement was in place and that all of the relevant terms had been agreed. And things like text talk could make it harder to prove that there was a serious intention to create a contractual relationship. 

If an engager refuses to sign a contract or confirm a booking in writing, alarm bells should start to ring. Of course you want to get the gig, but you also want to be paid. And having a record of what is agreed can protect the promoter’s position as much as the artists’, so they really shouldn’t object.

Know who is hiring you 
First off, make sure you're arranging a gig with the right person. Bob the barman might not have the authority to hire bands or be there when you turn up to play. 

You then need to make sure the person you sign a contract with is the 'legal person' who is engaging you – an individual over 18 or a limited company – and that they are explicitly named as the hirer. If the booking is with a company, check that it exists. 

It sounds simple, but this has caught people out before. 

Value yourself as a Musician
Don’t be afraid of asking to be taken seriously. Using contracts and agreeing terms demonstrates that you expect to be respected. As does asking for a fair wage – check out our Fair Play Guide and Work Not Play campaign for more on how and why. 

We can support you with contracts and specimen agreements. Plus help if you have a disagreement with a venue, promoter or agent. Get in touch with your Regional Office via theMU.org.