Studio Waiver

[Z MINOR SOUND]

Greetings

I come in peace in hopes that the tape op elders will bless me with their benevolence and wisdom.

I've utfsf with key words waiver and contract and haven't found anything useful.

Here's the deal. I will be opening the doors of a modest yet much needed studio in the next month. As I'm plugging in pres to converters, I begin wondering about the necessary legal documents I will need to have customers sign to cover my self. I recall the times I've signed waivers in the past assuming liability for damage, that I understood the laws of the studio, and so on and so forth. And I was wondering if anybody had a general guideline or copy of such documents for me to use or get an idea from.

Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.

Andrew

[chris harris]

I guess I'm not really familiar with the laws of the studio.

[ott0bot]

I'd go to your state's business regulation website or office. They usually (at least in AZ they do) have generic contracts you can print out, and you can add in the information you want or exclude and make you're own contract. Of coarse now that I'm looking for it I can't find it! I think I've got it in my notes from music business from like 2 years ago. i'll see if i can find the link.

or

type up what you think works and then consult a lawyer for revision

[cgarges]

For whatever it's worth, I've never signed a contract with a studio as a freelance engineer OR as a musician. I have signed waivers and contracts on a VERY small handful of projects where artist management wanted me to sign them in order to get paid, but that's it.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Z MINOR SOUND]

So nobody has their customers/clients sign an agreement of some sorts prior to recording?

[chris harris]

So nobody has their customers/clients sign an agreement of some sorts prior to recording?

What do you want them to agree to in writing?

[Z MINOR SOUND]

I guess my question is what are other studios having people agree to in writing?

[cgarges]

Like I said, I've never signed a contract with a studio in 28 years of dealing with studios. Honestly, I think a studio that would make me sign some kind of waiver for me to pay them to record me would make me uncomfortable and there are too many comfortable studios around.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Z MINOR SOUND]

Thanks Chris!

I know what you mean, the 3 studios I've signed waivers at were kinda up tight and I never went back to finish my project at their facilities.

I appreciate your input.

[Gentleman Jim]

If someone doesn't honor the terms of the 'waiver,' (really a contract or written agreement), are you really going to enforce it in court for a broken microphone or $500 worth of unpaid recording time? Because that's what it's for. And while I'm sure that there are a few horror stories floating around about bands or labels ripping off studios for tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I imagine those situations are rare. And it's not like in a situation like that one couldn't sue without a signed paper.

Screen your clients, trust your gut, and keep karma on your side.

[Z MINOR SOUND]

Thank you sir. Great insight. Come to think of it, the places I've had to sign a waiver all made a bulk of their business off of local wanna be rappers.

[DrummerMan]

Screen your clients, trust your gut, and keep karma on your side.

and also make sure you're insured.

[Z MINOR SOUND]

I've got commercial liability insurance which is mandatory with the lease and personal property insurance. Is there something I'm missing?

[Z MINOR SOUND]

I'm also looking at security cameras for the front door, back door and parking lot.

Any suggestions?

[jmiller]

For whatever it's worth, I've never signed a contract with a studio as a freelance engineer OR as a musician.

What about work orders with brief terms on them?