Thread: Contracts

Guys,
I have a question about this. What do you include in your contract? what kind of information? Do you take a deposit before the gig? I am just now starting to treat my dancing business as "formally" as I do my design business and honestly I don't know where to begin. I would appreciate any words of advice and/or wisdom :)

Susanna, I'm certainly not an expert on this as I myself am just budding as a pro dancer, but I do have a contract I give to every client, private party or gig. When my new website is up and running (hopefully two weeks) I will have it online to download. Feel free to use it if you'd like.

It basically says, we're in agreement that this is the performance at x price on x date. It has a few legalities in the small print for safeguards. I also require payment in full by check/cash up to a week before performance. Or cash only the day of the performance BEFORE I perform. I also have fees for excessive travel and extended wait times.

I hope this helps! I'm sure lots of seasoned professionals will be able to help you further with this.

I can send you my contract if you'd like. Email me at danielabellydance AT yahoo DOT com. It's worked very well for me. And I take a 50% deposit.

I'm sure you'll get lots of details from others, as well as there's a downloadable contract on Michelle Joyce's website, but I just want to say this real quick:

- yes, I think taking a deposit and having it included in a contract is exteremely important. Imagine someone signs your contract but backs out anyways and cancels your performance the same day. How are you going to enforce everything that's in your contract? Are you going to take him to court to recover money? Too much hassle.
In my contract for example it says a 30% deposit is mandatory and will deem the contract valid (or something like that) meaning without the deposit I am not booked.
I only require contracts (and deposits) if the gig is out of town and or if it includes other dancers.
Also I don't take deposits without a contract either, because when you accept money in advance you have to have a set of rules written and signed, so you know how to handle various situations that could occur. (postponing, cancelling, reducing, etc)

some things to include on your contract could be what you require as to performance space, a place to get ready, and all that.

as in: please supply a private, secure room for dancer to get ready in and to store her things during the show. dancer requires an open space to perform in (X by X feet minimum) clear of tables, chairs, low hanging lights and decorations, burning candles, and loose area rugs. dancer will use your in-house stereo system or DJ to play her cd unless otherwise specified.

etc. and so forth. I've shown up to bellygrams and gigs so many times over the years and been expected to dance near a fireplace or candles, ducking streamers from the ceiling, on grass or pavement or in the middle of the street, or with small yapping dogs running around. I've been expected to wait on the porch in the rain while they get the birthday dude ready. I've waited in the hall for countless minutes as people move chairs and coffee tables out of the way so I have more than 3 square feet to dance in. it would have been nice to have all of that brought up in a contract ahead of time!

OH - one more thing to add (this all is probably in michelle's contract you can download from her website, but in case not) - you should have some clause in the contract that says something along the lines of the dancer will end the show if there is unsafe or inappropriate behavior. and get paid in full, of course.

My performance contract can be downloaded here: Jewel Bellydance - Belly dance classes melbourne Australia ::: Articles (scroll down to bottom).

There's not much legalese to it, other than the terms and conditions of deposit refunds. The first page is the contract, and outlines payment and basic event details. The next two pages are tips on how to ensure a good performance (and incl. some of the abovementioned info on space requirements, bad behaviour, etc).

One thing I always fail to do - get it signed and returned!

Like others my contract has the agreed upon date, time, location, and rate. I also include a brief description of the service--playshop, belly gram, any special music (greek, turkish...) or colors and themes, props requested.

I inlcude a leaflet "How to Enjoy Belly Dance" that has tips for a host or hostess like --clap along with the music, never touch the dancer...

My contracts specificy that there is a $25 charge per dancer for each 15 minutes past the specified start time--always keeps them on time!

I also inlcude a niceity about tipping--around here we NEVER take body or costume tips so its important to communicate that. People want to tip so we include suggestions on how to do this (shower the dancer with bills & praise, include the gratuity in the final payment, et cetera).

If the contract has enough advance notice, I require a 50% non-refundable deposit. In all cases, the dancer is paid the balance up front--before she dances.
There's also a note that the dancer reserves the right to refuse service at any time, for any reason if the environment is unsafe without refunding the deposit. (If she is paid in full @ the party, she will keep 50% and return the balance).
Travel fees are NON REFUNDABLE.

nayastrance - would you be willing to share the text of your 'how to enjoy belly dance' leaflet? that sounds like an awesome thing to have.

jewel - something popped into my mind reading your post about not getting contracts signed and returned. do you require a deposit? you could have the contract say something like "X% deposit via paypal required to reserve your booking. Your deposit serves as your agreement to the specifications of this contract."

Originally Posted by elisagamal

jewel - something popped into my mind reading your post about not getting contracts signed and returned. do you require a deposit? you could have the contract say something like "X% deposit via paypal required to reserve your booking. Your deposit serves as your agreement to the specifications of this contract."

Now that's a great idea! I do get a deposit for many gigs (not all, but that can change). I think I'll write this into my contract, as it sounds like an easy way to formalise things.

This is very timely info!

Michelle Joyce very nicely let me use her contract, and I've added some additional clauses like:

- snow and/or driving ban cancellations (for every town between my house and the venue)

- it the client isn't the owner of the venue, they have to get permission from the owner or manager to have me perform, to use candles (if applicable), and they have to get any necessary permits (and provide proof if I ask, and pay in full if the owner/manager doesn't give permission or changes their mind)

- tips are mine and don't count as payment

- if I deem the situation dangerous, I can leave without dancing, and they still have to pay me.

- fees for waiting time, extra photo time, etc.

PM me if you'd like me to send you a copy, although since it is based on Michelle's, I'd want you to ask for her permission to use it as well.

For corporate events I always use a contract, for private gigs it depends on the client. I always make sure to include a text specifying a 50% deposit and the max number of days the client has to return the signed contract to me to ensure the booking. I used a contract I found via google (search on 'artist contract'). It pretty much had all the information I needed, I only had to change 'band' to 'artist' and fill in some numbers and dates.

Hope this helps!
Khalida

Susanna, mine is now on my website as well, Malia belly dancer. However, I'm going to make some of the suggested changes listed here. Good info ladies!

Everyone, thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. I will post my final product up soon.