BASIC THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE SIGNING A MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

Before you sign a contract with a prospective manager, make sure you are aware of music manager contract basics so you can be sure you are making the right decision. You must also realize that this information is general in nature. Your individual or personal deal or arrangement might be different.

§         KEEP IT SIMPLE: It doesn’t have to be a long legal sounding document filled with big grammar. As long as it covers the basic issue of MONEY, JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE MANAGER & LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT.

§          IT SHOULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL:  whatever contract you sign must have your best interest at heart and benefit the manager as well.  It doesn’t matter how well connected or influential the manager is, don’t be quick to sign your life away.

§          LENGTH OF AGREEMENT: you need to decide on how long the contract will last. A fair contract term is a one year agreement, with an option to extend the agreement at the end of the year if both parties agree. If things are going well, you can look at negotiating longer agreements, but a one year contract term is a good place to start.  Be careful not to give the manager options to extend your contract without your consent; otherwise, you will end op latched to a manager you don’t want.

§         JOB DESCRIPTIONS: Your contract should state in clear terms what you expect your manager to do for you. As an upcoming artiste, your manager should be marketing you to labels, pushing your music to get airplays, interviews and press reviews, trying to get you shows, and generally trying to get things off the ground for you. You need to be as clear as possible about what you expect from a manager, and they will also be clear on what they are willing to do. Bottom line is, everything should be in black and white.

§          MONEY: It’s very rare and almost impossible for Managers in the Nigerian music industry to promote you out of their own pockets, so you’re gonna have to come to a mutually beneficial agreement on covering of expenses. You don't have to pay your manager's phone bills, but you do have to pay for business trips your manager makes on your behalf and reasonable costs like taking a label representative out for drinks, PR for on-air personalities, and media people in general.  You need to also put a clause in the contract that says certain level or amount above a particular level must be cleared with you first since you will be footing the bills.

LAST WORD: There is no hard and fast rule to this as individual circumstances are different. However, whatever your situation is, make sure everything is stated in clear terms and ALWAYS SEEK LEGAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYTHING!