Archive for the ‘Employees’ Category

Independent Contractors or Employees: What’s In A Name?

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq. Dear Law and Disorder: I hire musicians to perform, with me. Are they employees or independent contractors? I do not deduct taxes from what I pay them. Should I also make them sign a contract stating that they are independent contractors? Contrary to what many believe, the distinction between who […]

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Commissioners Beware!

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq. Dear Law & Disorder: When a composer/songwriter is commissioned to write a song, who owns the copyright to the song? The commissioner or the writer? And for either party, when the other owns the copyright, what kind of controls and/or royalties does the holder have? As with just about everything […]

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Are We Liable For A Backstage Brawl?

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

By Brian Taylor Goldstein Our stage manger slapped one of our actresses during a rehearsal. Are we liable? Anyone who understands the unique stresses and pressures of the performing arts should expect a certain degree of screaming, emotional meltdowns, tantrums, and other inappropriate behavior. Welcome to the theater. However, physical violence crosses the line and, […]

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Is A Choral Group Required To Have Workman’s Compensation?

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012

By Brian Taylor Goldstein Dear Law & Disorder: We have a non-profit choral group. Our of local public television stations has sent us a contract to record and broadcast one of our concerts this December and they have an item that requires us to have workman’s comp on our entire group. We currently only have 3 […]

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How Do I Draft An Engagement Agreement For My Trio?

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

By Brian Taylor Goldstein Dear FTM Arts Law, I am a manager who will be writing contracts on behalf of a trio. They don’t have a corporation and there is no “leader.” They just get together and perform together. How do I handle their engagement fees so that I do not look like their employer? […]

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