New York City is one of the premier cities in the world for comedy, theatre and performance art.  Whether your work is interactive, part of an installation, or in the world of dance and theatre, having an attorney working on your behalf can help protect your body of work.  

The right attorney will assist you in drafting, reviewing and negotiating collection and live performance agreements and managing licensing and venue contracts.

Lindsey offers a wide range of services for performers, theatre professionals and visual artists, which may include:

• Negotiating live performance agreements and rights on behalf of performers, comedians playwrights, composers, and other rights holders;

• Assessing copyright and publicity issues on behalf of directors looking to include other works in a performance piece;

• Drafting and reviewing service agreements for directors, designers, performance, and staff; and

• Working closely with you to understand the image you would like to project and ensuring your merchandising, speaking agreements, and rights respect your artistic vision and your personal values and financial interests.

Licensing Agreements

Potential Liabilities for Performers, Comedians and Visual Artists

It is common for live performers to reference other people or work as part of their act.  You deserve to be protected from any risk or liability that may result.

Sometimes directly referencing a person—or indirectly referencing them in a way that is easily identifiable—can open you up to risk if your target is unhappy with how they are depicted.

Having an attorney like Expand Law review your work and asses your potential liability for things like libel and defamation, and put forth defenses such as truth or First Amendment rights, can make a huge difference both in your financial liability and in your ability to perform your works in the future.

Venue Contracts

A venue contract helps determine when and where your work will be displayed and the terms for that show.  

The right venue contract ensures that you are getting a space that suits the needs of your work.  Through Expand Law, Lindsey helps NYC performers and visual artists negotiate deals that suit their needs, including technological needs, rehearsal schedules, and cancellation policies.

Lindsey also helps performers, comedians and visual artists work with venues on compensation, technical riders and hospitality riders, and force majeure and protection from liability under unforeseen circumstances.

You and your venue may also want to work out a deal relating to the marketing and merchandising of your work.  Lindsey can walk you through the process of negotiating selling your merchandise with the venue, which includes ensuring you keep the rights to that work and any video or audio recordings that might take place in the venue.

An Attorney That Protects You and Your Work

Professionals in the NYC Entertainment market are at risk of mistreatment from people who are supposed to be working on their behalf.  Whether that means an agreement is broken, an account goes unpaid, or an entertainer becomes the subject of fraud or negligent misrepresentation, having a knowledgeable legal partner can have tremendous positive outcomes on navigating these difficult situations.

Whether you need to litigate or prefer to handle your situation more discretely and expeditiously, Lindsey has experience as a litigator and in negotiating and mediating private deals that work for individuals dealing with sensitive disputes.

Expand Law guides you through the legal aspects of your work as entertainment law pertains to it, including:

• Drafting, reviewing, and enforcing contracts;

• Safeguarding intellectual property against infringement and theft of ideas;

• Pursuing royalties and profit participation;

• Dealing with instances of libel or defamation; and

• Issues that pertain to your First Amendment rights as an artist.