TapeOpLarry wrote:In lieu of a contract, I've been meaning to print up sheets for different sessions that explain exactly how I'd like to be credited for certain types of projects. Many times the artist/manager/label/graphic designer interaction is pretty messy, with dropped communication. Having a sheet with my preferred credits would help immensely, and I could email the same info to the label and anyone working on the album.
The best situation was working on Elliott Smith's New Moon CD, as I collected and wrote the majority of the liner notes...
Yeah, contracts would be great, but I've still never had one for any normal recording sessions. I would be laughing my ass off if a person assisting me handed over a contract to an artist or manager and I hadn't even presented one. In fact, I'd probably send them packing if I was producing...
I have.
In a contract you can spell out exactly how to get out of it if the relationship isn't working for any reason. You can spell out IF you want to be credited as some projects you'll work, take the money, but, don't want your name on it.
If it was assisting, or engineering, then the contract would go to the contracting producer. No sense going around the person in charge of the sessions. I'm guessing you aren't in the union either. There's another way to make sure your credited, join the union in charge in your area, probably the IBEW or some other body.
They will probably have a contract that is pretty much fill in the blanks.
This isn't knocking anyone's ethos or procedure, but, while everyone is being right about sidestepping contracts, communication, negotiation, and standard practices of operation, and firing people who would present them, these people who do work which sometimes "should" be credited are having problems getting that, the very reason for the question.
Also, it wasn't clear "to me" that this is an "assistant only" topic.
Get a decent contract and don't work for anyone who laughs at, or, won't honor one, this industry won't ever get straightened out by not holding anyone accountable for honoring agreements.
However, assistants who suck but still get used "because there's no one else around", should be shot, or, dragged behind horses.
Me personally, I wouldn't work for anyone who won't sign a contract, which spells out exactly what's going to happen and what's to be expected of whom, how much magic pixie dust I'm going to use and especially EXACTLY how I'll be paid and credited (if I even care about being credited). Not having one is tantamount to leaving the business un-negotiated and an open door for arguments, disappointment, upset everybody, total lack of self responsibility, and the best way to make sure you and your business keeps being screwed.
Ya know, there's nothing wrong with loving what you do, and doing it long enough to be very good at it, and running it like a successful business and succeeding, not a dang thing wrong with that.
But minorleages is only an assistant, so , won't be gettin no contracts, that's a fact.
