Music as 'buisness'- Elizabeth Walton

Subject: RE: Will you go Christmas Caroling this year
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Walton
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 07:09 AM

Actually, i have something rather more exiting planned. After emailing Music Produces in London about my Musical over the weekend, i recieved a reply from a Producer. I think he is intrested in my work. If i enter into a contract with a Producer my work will then be officially solicited. Then i will be in a possition legally to enter into partnerships with established names if i chose to. Andrew Lloyd Webber could't previously enter into partnership with me because my work wasn't solicited and he could not do so for 3 years on those grounds, but he can enter into partnership with me with at any time if my work is solicited.. which it soon will be in addition to my working independantly as an established artist..more revenve. Would mudcat kindly put my messages back up on facebook and pass on my regards to Max.

Subject: RE: Will you go Christmas Caroling this year
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Walton
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 08:03 AM

I've been pondering on how mudcat.org opperates, the service it provides and their strategy concerning revenue connections and i have a buisness plan that is pheasable with the right planning, funding, publicity campaign, buissness contacts and multi-party co-opperation. An investment into a new buisness plan that would generate profit (which would solve the long-term problem of funding system upgrades that would re-occur over the years) apose to making a non-returnable donation that would only serve to resolve the present funding crisis. To transform the current Non-Profitable Organization into a Profit-Making Organization that would still provide a service to the public in Traditional Music. To broaden the range of services that would then accomodate profit for the Company.

Subject: RE: Music as 'buisness'- Elizabeth Walton
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 12:37 AM

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Sir Andrew *is* a producer.

Subject: RE: Music as 'buisness'- Elizabeth Walton
From: mg
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 12:45 AM

I think you will find it is just an exchange of ideas, most of which are about the music itself and not really about the revenue, although you will find that from time to time.

Subject: RE: Music as 'buisness'- Elizabeth Walton
From: Howard Jones
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 06:08 AM

I suggest you take legal advice before signing anything.

Perhaps the music industry uses the terms differently, but in most businesses "solicited" simply means that the business has invited people to submit proposals, as opposed to "unsolicited" where people submit proposals speculatively in the hope that a business will like the idea and pick it up.

I suspect that Andrew Lloyd Webber receives hundreds of unsolicited proposals and probably simply refuses to consider them. His Really Useful Group's website makes it very clear that they are unable to accept proposals for musicals. I don't understand how contracting with another producer will suddenly make it "officially solicited", except perhaps by that individual producer, or why that should make a difference to ALW or Really Useful Group.

In your position I would only sign a contract with a producer if they actually intend to produce the show. Perhaps you should be looking for an agent who will know how to submit your idea to the most suitable producers. In either case I would take independent legal advice.

Subject: RE: Music as 'buisness'- Elizabeth Walton
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 01:44 PM

I think that Howard has an important point--whenever someone offers you a contract, independent legal advice is critical.

I am not sure how it works in the UK, but in the US, both ASCAP and BMI have programs that help writers to create works for the musical theatre. They do this, because every year, Broadway needs new shows. If you serious, you should find, and participate in programs of this type.