Archive for the ‘Employees’ Category

Artist Visa Updates, Non-Compete Agreements, Manager/Agent Trust Accounts, 1st Amendment Poop Jokes

Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

LAW & DISORDER Performing Arts Division April 6, 2023  INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Artist Visa Updates • Non-Compete Agreements • Manager/Agent Trust Accounts • Is There A Constitutional Right To Poop Jokes?   Artist Visa News & Nausea  • The Status of Proposed Petition Fee Increases Thanks to all of you who took the time […]

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USCIS JUST THREW ARTISTS A CRUMB!

Tuesday, April 7th, 2020

Unemployment and the CARES Act For Non-US Artists April 7, 2020 By Brian Taylor Goldstein Shocking as it may sound, USCIS has passed a tiny wind of hope in the direction of artist visas during this coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security (which sets the policies for USCIS) has confirmed that applying for unemployment […]

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A CORONAVIRUS VISA ROUNDUP FOR NON-US ARTISTS

Tuesday, March 31st, 2020

Cancelled Engagements, Unemployment, Layoffs, and Visa Renewals March 31, 2020 By Brian Taylor Goldstein As the tumbleweeds blow through Times Square and we begin to consider the viability of Easter peeps or even kale to supplement the dwindling toilet paper supplies, there is an understandable amount of angst and confusion on many fronts. Not least […]

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CAN A U.S. ORCHESTRA REFUSE TO PAY A NON-U.S. MUSICIAN?

Tuesday, February 27th, 2018

By Brian Taylor Goldstein Dear Law and Disorder: I am a musician on an O-1 visa that my agent got for me. It covers multiple engagements. Last September, I was hired to be a section musician with an orchestra. They have been paying me up until now, but now they are saying that legally they […]

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Never Play Chess With Pigeons

Thursday, October 1st, 2015

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq.    Dear Law and Disorder I’ve been asked sign a bad performance review with a number of inaccuracies. Can I be fired if I don’t sign it? Or should I insist that it be amended to reflect the truth? Our Executive Director is very emotional and hard to deal with, […]

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Advice For The Young and Restless

Thursday, May 14th, 2015

By Robyn Guilliams      GG Arts Law and GG International are in the process of hiring a new administrative assistant.  As I’ve been reviewing applications, I’m sad to say that I am shocked – shocked! – at the very poor quality of some of the cover letters and resumes we’ve received. So, as a […]

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“Leave Here and You Die!” Unenforceable Non-Compete Agreements

Thursday, November 13th, 2014

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq.    Dear Law and Disorder: The management company where I work has asked me to sign a non-compete agreement saying that, if I ever quit or am fired, I would be prohibited from working as a manager or agent anywhere in the world for one year after I leave. The […]

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The Recipe For Confusion

Thursday, September 11th, 2014

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq.    Dear Law and Disorder: We obtained a three year O-1 visa for one of our artists. We are the artist’s agent and served as his petitioner. A large venue wants to book the artist, but they are insisting that, according to their finance department, they cannot pay us as […]

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New I-94 Process for Artists Touring the United States

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq. Dear Law and Disorder: I heard that US Immigration will no longer be giving foreign artists the little white card they used to get when an artist entered the US. The cards were stamped with the artist’s visa category and the date they had to leave. It was my understanding […]

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Student Visas: A School for Scandal?

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq. Dear Law and Disorder: May a non-resident alien (Russian) musician here for an advance graduate school degree on an F-1 visa be paid for playing some off-campus recitals? Are they considered “Curricular Practical Training” which is supposed to be allowed, if approved by the Designated School Official? (Of course, 30% of the gross […]

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