After Forwarding

[datastream]

Are we on our own when it comes to negotiating a deal after forwarding? Is there any advice available in making a deal? How do we know if an offer is fair?

[mazz]

Hi and welcome to the forum.Yes we are on our own if we are offered a deal. There's lots of great advice on this forum, including one I started yesterday titled "Being Professional" in this same section of the forum.There's also some great videos on YouTube put together by TAXI and featuring Matt Hirt, one of the most successful folks here, almost all of his success has been via TAXI forwards. A quick search here or even Google will take you to his videos.How do you know if an offer is fair? By studying resources and understanding how the business works and what typical offers are depending on what type of deal it is. There's no one answer, but I can say that being prepared when you do get the call is crucial if you are to advance in your career. Hone your business chops. If you're getting forwarded then you're a lot closer to a deal than you were before. It'd be a shame to blow the deal because you weren't ready when the call came.Good luck!!Mazz

[davewalton]

Quote:Are we on our own when it comes to negotiating a deal after forwarding? Is there any advice available in making a deal? How do we know if an offer is fair?There's two things really. One, you can post the generic terms here on the forum (i.e. 50/50 split down the middle, non-exclusive). Nobody is going to give you legal advice or the equivalent but probably we can at least tell you "that's typical, not a red flag". The best thing to do is when the time comes, enlist the aid of a good entertainment attorney. What you want is someone to (a) review the terms of the contract and (b) take you though the contract to help you understand it. If you understand the basics of, say, a non-exclusive music library contract, you don't have to involve an attorney every time... only when a situation arises that's unfamiliar to you.You won't be expected to make a decision on the spot anyway. Taxi only deals with reputable sources and they all understand that it sometimes takes time to either have a contract reviewed or to make a decision. That's one thing that can relieve any anxiety with "what happens when...". You'll always have time to get the right answer.In the meantime, follow Mazz's excellent advice and "bone up" a little on the music biz. Grab a coffee at Barnes & Noble and spend an afternoon browsing the music business books. Maybe even buy one. Dave

[datastream]

Thank you Dave and Mazz. I guess I have some homework to do!

[mazz]

It's work worth doing! Once you get in the groove with it, the basic concepts aren't that difficult to grasp. The legal lingo can be mind numbing but that's where the attorneys come in.Believe me, if you can write a piece good enough to get forwarded, you can learn the ins and outs of the music business! Good luck on your journey!Mazz