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Comedy: What to Expect from Your Contract as a Comedian

One thing to remember about contracts is that they may be written or verbal. Another thing, they are legally binding and a potential cause of some headaches later on in your career. If you've heard of Dave Chappelle's legal tug-of-war with his former manager, then you'll know this to be true.

Signing for gigs
When you sign in as comedian either to a one-night gig or a lucrative contract, there will be standards and add-ons in your agreement. The standards will include the type of gig (main act, opening, host/emcee, to provide entertainment, etc.), duration, pay (per gig, per hour, per joke, etc.) and pay schedule, bonuses (additional pay for sellout shows, for example), taxes and the kind of sharing you can expect, usually in the form of a commission.

If you work with booking agencies, they will handle everything for you, from communication with clients to collection. If a client chooses you or if the agency books you, they will simply send you a contract to sign, confirm the event and then send you a check as partial payment for your services less the usual 10 to 15% commission. Usually, you'll receive the rest of the pay directly from your client after your performance.

Depending on your gig, your contract might also include your accommodation and transportation details, along with your technical requirements, if you have them. To serve as a protection for your services, you might also want to add your cancellation policy.

Signing with an agent, radio and TV
Know what your agent or booking company will and will not do for you and put it in writing. In case you'll have an argument later on, you'll know what your limits are and what to demand for if it comes to it.

Be sure you have an opt-out clause included. It's a contract and it's legal and binding, but it should allow you to exit gracefully and amicably if you want to. If the contract will make it difficult for you to get out of the deal, then you might want to revise it. The contract should be fair to both you and your agent.

Sometimes if you get lucky to sign with big agencies, you might encounter a 'standard' contract, one that's supposedly designed for every comedian in the company. However, if you're unhappy with the contract, don’t be afraid to negotiate, but do it nicely. If your argument is reasonable enough, your agency will be more likely to amend it and you won't be left high and dry in the future.

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