OT: Do you use contracts?

Red96TA wrote on 10/29/2004, 9:45 AM
As I'm assembling all my goodies to start business in February, it dawned on me that I'm going to need contracts.

More specifically, do you use a 'hold harmless' agreement that only stipulates that the most they can litigate is the amount paid for services and nothing more? Since I'm planning on doing weddings, I don't want anybody to sue me for a million quid if one of my DV tapes craps out in the middle of the wedding or some other 'act of god'.

What's your take on contracts? Anybody have a good site for me?

Comments

Coursedesign wrote on 10/29/2004, 9:55 AM
Quid pro quo?

That's what an agreement should cover, and more.

Local laws vary a lot, and a 'hold harmless' clause or agreement may be limited or even rendered null and void by statutes you don't even know about.

Where do you live? You need competent local legal advice.

If you don't know a business lawyer, check if you have a local chamber of commerce. This can be a good place to meet and talk with local lawyers and also to get some business depending on what fields you have in mind.

Many other possibilities, depending on where you live.
Spot|DSE wrote on 10/29/2004, 9:57 AM
www.nolo.com
The copyrights dvd we offer also comes with most of the contracts you'd need. Releases for actors, locations, shooting, business, copyright, work for hire all come on that.
Regarding a contract for services, you should ALWAYS have this as a good business practice. You should also arrange for a high deductable, low cost insurance package if you're gonna do this as a business.
General business practices apply to video editing/shooting too...nothing different than any other. Cover yourself.
In another forum, there is a huge raging battle due to ignorance of business practices. It shows up a lot.
Red96TA wrote on 10/29/2004, 10:09 AM
I live in Central California...I'm at no loss for a lawyer if need be. In CA at least, the hold harmless agreement pretty much stipulates, "If I render a service for you and something blows up, you can't sue me."

I'll look into the quid pro quo...