That's right, quoting myself today.
I've talked in the past about the business side of the business in terms of promoting and marketing yourself. Now, let's get clerical. Let's get bureaucratic. Let's get anal.
There's a lot of heresy in the theatre world and I attribute that to the tendency many of us have to use "verbal contracts" and trust each other. Since we think of theatre as a family, we tend to feel strangely about signing a contract or something similarly cold with someone we consider not just a coworker, but a friend. Most of the time we've worked with these people for years and years!
I will now write in all caps: ALWAYS HAVE A CONTRACT! ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS! ALWAYS LEAVE A PAPER TRAIL!
Contracts
A lot of people don't get themselves contracts if the work is non-union. It is even more important for you to get a contract in that case. You have no one to back you up, to represent you if the rights you've outlined with the company are violated. Here's a standard contract I had with an off-off Broadway company. They sent me a contract and then I sent back some changes I wanted to make and we signed. It's all boiler plate but necessary. (name of the company and dates blacked out)
Having this makes everything smoother. I know what is expected of me and due to me. Your relationship with the company will be better protected than if you chance getting into a feud over things you have to evidence you promised or were promised.
Receipts
I cannot stress enough the importance of receipts. It always shocks me when someone doesn't keep track of them. You can't expect anyone to give you something for nothing and most of the time, the board of a theater is the final say on this. Unlike your director, they don't know you and couldn't care less about your cell phone bill getting paid. Hold onto your receipts and make sure you know what they're for either by writing right on the receipt or keeping a detailed list. Know the date, know the reason, know the amount. And always make sure it states in your contract what you get reimbursed for.
Paper trails
We can't all be best friends all the time. People see events and situations differently. It is vital to hold onto all of your emails and voicemail. Say that a designer claims that you never told them they had to be at strike. You better be able to pull up the email you sent out detailing the strike protocol and their "K" response. (As a side note: things can get nasty very quickly over email. Always take the high road. It can be tough to choke down your indignation at someone calling your "an uptight bitch" but you'll be laughing later when you can show your artistic director how very civil your own response was.)
Be brilliant, be happy and cover your ass!
