Thread: Troupe Contracts?

Re-writing our troupe contract... would anyone be willing to share theirs?

If you'd feel more comfortable emailing them, my address is:
raksanais @ gmail . com

thanks so much!

I drafted one back in 2007 but the other members didn't want to do it "all formal". Obviously it resulted in a disaster

Anyways, I'm happy to share mine but it's in Duth. Just let me know if you'd like me to e-mail it to you, perhaps you can use google translate.

B

Basically, ours states that: 1) don't join unless dancing as part of an ensemble is what you enjoy and 2) The director is the final decision maker, and if you don't like how she runs things please don't join either.

sent you mine.

emailed you!

Sent mine too!

Originally Posted by maurazebra

Basically, ours states that: 1) don't join unless dancing as part of an ensemble is what you enjoy and 2) The director is the final decision maker, and if you don't like how she runs things please don't join either.

..l;,..l;,..l;,

If I ever will make a contract then it will be just this quote! Seriously, only if you have every day work or do a professional tour like Jilina it is worthwhile to make a contract for your troupe members.

If you work low profile and there is a conflict would you go to court? And what about the fees for a lawyer and a lawsuit?

Originally Posted by amiraates

..l;,..l;,..l;,

If I ever will make a contract then it will be just this quote! Seriously, only if you have every day work or do a professional tour like Jilina it is worthwhile to make a contract for your troupe members.

If you work low profile and there is a conflict would you go to court? And what about the fees for a lawyer and a lawsuit?

Well, I have a "contract" (more a policy statement - they don't sign anything) because I book my dancers for paying gigs, so it is a job and there are expectations. I want to make sure they know (1) what is expected of them when they go on a gig (2) what my responsibilities will be in booking them, and what their responsbilities will be in contacting the client and most importantly (3) that they will be "fired" if they break the policies (ie: if they go out on gigs booked by me, but hand out their own business cards not referring potential clients back to me for booking).

No, I'm not going to take them to court, but I will stop booking them. And no I am not a touring troupe like BDSS, but I do put my own money and time into advertising our company and I do take a cut of their booking fees for the work I do. So, I want it to be clear what I expect of them while they are working for me, and what will get them "fired" from the company if it came to that.

Originally Posted by amiraates

..l;,..l;,..l;,

If I ever will make a contract then it will be just this quote! Seriously, only if you have every day work or do a professional tour like Jilina it is worthwhile to make a contract for your troupe members.

If you work low profile and there is a conflict would you go to court? And what about the fees for a lawyer and a lawsuit?

Oops, forgot rule #3: Membership in the company is at the Director's discretion.

The point of the contract is to manage expectations. There are occasional performance reviews with the Director so folks can attempt to get expectations in sync with / influence the course of events. Since we have a two-tier organization, the Director will move folks back and forth based on their time commitments for rehearsal, etc. They don't get invited in the first place unless they are talented.

Talented and committed folks with their own strong vision of how things should be sometimes get mad and leave when they realize that we are not going to make over the Company to suit their vision. We always regret the uproar but we are as committed to our vision as they are to theirs.

Originally Posted by maurazebra

Oops, forgot rule #3: Membership in the company is at the Director's discretion.

The point of the contract is to manage expectations. There are occasional performance reviews with the Director so folks can attempt to get expectations in sync with / influence the course of events. Since we have a two-tier organization, the Director will move folks back and forth based on their time commitments for rehearsal, etc. They don't get invited in the first place unless they are talented.

Talented and committed folks with their own strong vision of how things should be sometimes get mad and leave when they realize that we are not going to make over the Company to suit their vision. We always regret the uproar but we are as committed to our vision as they are to theirs.

Dito..l;,

Originally Posted by danielabellydance

Well, I have a "contract" (more a policy statement - they don't sign anything) because I book my dancers for paying gigs, so it is a job and there are expectations. I want to make sure they know (1) what is expected of them when they go on a gig (2) what my responsibilities will be in booking them, and what their responsbilities will be in contacting the client and most importantly (3) that they will be "fired" if they break the policies (ie: if they go out on gigs booked by me, but hand out their own business cards not referring potential clients back to me for booking).

No, I'm not going to take them to court, but I will stop booking them. And no I am not a touring troupe like BDSS, but I do put my own money and time into advertising our company and I do take a cut of their booking fees for the work I do. So, I want it to be clear what I expect of them while they are working for me, and what will get them "fired" from the company if it came to that.

Yes I understand all the above is very important it is more like a set of rules or terms and conditions rather then a contract. A listing like yours is very favourable to have and hand out to your troupe. I need to set up something like that. ..g.:

Originally Posted by maurazebra

Oops, forgot rule #3: Talented and committed folks with their own strong vision of how things should be sometimes get mad and leave when they realize that we are not going to make over the Company to suit their vision. We always regret the uproar but we are as committed to our vision as they are to theirs.

Jeez, I wish it hadn't taken me so long to get this concept through my head! How come U so smart!?
Very zen, yes? It is so blameless and freeing to view things this way!!

Originally Posted by LiesaB.

Very zen, yes? It is so blameless and freeing to view things this way!!

Liesa, I try very hard to keep it 'business, not personal' or else my chest or head would surely explode some days!

Originally Posted by maurazebra

Liesa, I try very hard to keep it 'business, not personal' or else my chest or head would surely explode some days!

..l;,..l;,..l;,

Originally Posted by maurazebra

We always regret the uproar but we are as committed to our vision as they are to theirs.

well put!

..l;,

Originally Posted by laura 2

Sent mine too!

May I see yours? ,r:; I never used a contract, but I am thinking seriously about it.

Main issues:
- Troupe members who miss a lot of classes.
- One troupe member who refuses to buy anything (not that big a deal, because she sews fairly well).
- Same troupe member never attends any workshops, and so is not growing at the same pace as the others.
- A general disinterest in learning anything about ME music, culture.

I could use some ideas...

Originally Posted by shaia

May I see yours? ,r:; I never used a contract, but I am thinking seriously about it.

Main issues:
- Troupe members who miss a lot of classes.
- One troupe member who refuses to buy anything (not that big a deal, because she sews fairly well).
- Same troupe member never attends any workshops, and so is not growing at the same pace as the others.
- A general disinterest in learning anything about ME music, culture.

I could use some ideas...

Sure, I can email it to you.