Attorneys are necessary to the business of music — and to your career. To find an attorney appropriate to your needs, you need to begin by utilizing all available resources. These include personal referrals, lawyer referral services, music publications, music conferences, and college and adult education courses.
Personal Referrals.
The best way to find an attorney is by asking for referrals from other
musicians and industry professionals. Just be sure to consider the
source of the referral; just because a musician is successful doesn't
mean his attorney is right for you. A big league lawyer may not be able
to give you the personal attention you need if you're still in the
minors. Consider the motive of the person making the referral as well.
For instance, an individual who's an accountant may simply be returning
a favor to the attorney for referring someone to him. If a record
company or personal manager with whom you're doing business recommends
a lawyer, you must especially be careful of a situation called a
conflict of interest. In short, you not only need to use discretion
when choosing your attorney, you must also use discretion when asking
for referrals.
Lawyer Referral Services.
Another way to find an attorney is through referral services. Ask your
state or local bar association whether they've got a referral service
available in your area. The California Lawyers For The Arts, located in
San Francisco, refers callers to lawyers throughout California who deal
exclusively with the arts. In Los Angeles, you can call the Lawyer
Referral Service of Los Angeles County Bar Association, and in Beverly
Hills, there's the Beverly Hills Bar Association Lawyer Referral
Service. In New York City, you can call the Association for The Bar of
New York City, and in Nashville, there's the Lawyer Referral Service
for the Nashville Bar Association. You get the point. Operators at
referral services will listen to your legal concerns and direct you to
one of the attorneys on their panel. These operators will not, however,
guarantee the quality of an attorney's services or suggest which
attorney you should choose. It's up to you to set up a phone
consultation with an attorney and determine suitability for yourself.
There's typically a small fee for the initial consultation, with fees
for continued services discussed between attorney and client on an
individual basis. Since "heavy hitters" aren't part of referral
services (you may not be ready for one of these guys anyway), it's
unlikely you'll be referred to Mick Jagger's attorney to handle your
needs. Nevertheless, it's well worth your time to call a service in
your area to learn what it has to offer.
Music Publications.
Music publications may also be helpful to you when searching for an
attorney. Books such as The Recording Industry Source Book
(published by Cardinal Media), The Yellow Pages of Rock
(published by Album Network), and Billboard International Talent
and Touring Directory (published by the Billboard Music Group) list
hundreds of attorneys, agents, and personal managers. These resources
can all be found either in bookstores or online. Weekly trade magazines
such as Billboard magazine are also good sources of
information; they'll tell you which attorneys are signing the hottest
bands. Finally, try checking to see whether your favorite band has
listed its attorney's name and contact number on their CD artwork.
Music Conferences.
Music conferences such as the National Association of Music
Merchants (NAMM), South by Southwest (SXSW), Music and
Media Conference, and National Association of Recording
Merchandisers (NARM) are a sure way to meet people in the music
business. Attorneys and other industry professionals usually speak as
panelists which gives you a good opportunity to ask a few questions,
introduce yourself, and at the least ask for a business card so that
you're able to speak in a more relaxed setting at a later date. Keep in
mind, however, that music conferences usually draw the heavy hitters of
the business, so don't despair if they're unwilling to take the time to
help you.
College and Adult Education Courses.
Another avenue to meet an attorney is by taking college courses and
adult education courses, such as the ones offered in Los Angeles at the
UCLA Extension program (check a college near you for music-related
classes). Entertainment courses at the Extension program are often
taught by attorneys active in the business.
Another excellent education source is the Music Business Program given at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California. That six-month program alone has no less than four full-fledged music attorneys teaching regularly. Taking their class will not only teach you a great deal about the business, it will also provide you the opportunity to form new business relationships as well.
Bobby Borg is the author of "The Musician's Handbook: A Practical Guide To Understanding The Music Business," which is available now at www.bobbyborg.com or in a store near you. Contact: www.bobbyborg.com
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