small business owners, as well as musicians, have a problem when it comes to attorneys:
they don’t hire a lawyer until they need one to fix whatever problem has reared its ugly
head. Finding a lawyer who’s a good fit for your business and building a relationship with
them before you need them to fix problems is wise.
Like your other business advisors, begin by asking trusted friends, other bands, equip-
ment suppliers and similar associates for referrals and recommendations. Finding one
with entertainment industry experience and, ideally, knowledge of music-related legal is-
sues will help to ensure their advice is on target.
Although it can be tempting and seem easier to use your personal lawyer, it’s most
likely not the best idea. They might be a friend, but they may also lack the specific skills
and knowledge required by a music and entertainment-oriented business. It’s important to
evaluate whether your problem, whatever it might be, needs a specialist or can be handled
by a lawyer with a general practice. For example, suppose you haven’t been paid for a gig
that you successfully played. Any lawyer with a general practice should be able to handle
this for you. But, what if you’ve been offered a record label deal for a CD recording or
three? Here you’d be wise to find a lawyer with a special understanding of entertainment
law and its subtleties. In essence, your legal provider should be a tight fit for your poten-
tial legal challenges and needs within the field music and entertainment. They should also
be able to refer you to other attorneys for specific needs and challenges, such as trade-
mark registration for your band logo, name registration for the act’s name and such.
Which, by the way, you should have for both your logo design and your band’s name.