Sign on the Dotted Line—the Importance of Contracts in Circus and How to Understand Them

 “Any time there is an agreement between two people to do something, that agreement is a contract. The importance of the paper is to prove what they agreed on,” explained Gordon Firemark, entertainment attorney in Los Angeles. He represents all sorts of entertainers, from comedians, magicians and clowns to theater, TV and film actors, and he has been a theater buff his whole life as well. He enjoys helping performers so much that he does a blog and podcast on entertainment law issues. Although he maintains that a written contract is the preferred way to outline everyone’s expectations, he also explained something interesting, that even an email, though not a legal document, is sometimes used as an informal contract, outlining the details of the offer and the negotiations leading up to acceptance. Sometimes, he admitted, that is how jobs, especially smaller one night shows, get booked. But having an official contract, especially with a lawyer, agent or union working on your behalf is generally a more thorough way to assure that you get what you expected out of longer engagements. So, when is it important to have a contract, and when is it OK to just negotiate details on your own? What do you do if you don’t understand parts of it? I spoke to two entertainment lawyers, and two circus professionals to get their best advice and tips on how to navigate the rocky straits of negotiation so you can sign on the dotted line with confidence and get back to the business of training and performing.

Link to Full Article on Circus Promoters Blog. 

Photo: Mr. Spring and Tulga  Photo Credit: Moto Photo Arthur Edward Ortiz