Working with other creatives.
WHY IT PRODUCES DISPUTES
Contributions are difficult to quantify and expectations are rarely discussed.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH BEFORE STARTING
Who contributes what How ownership is divided How decisions are made How money is divided What happens if someone leaves Who may use the work afterwards
WHY BEFORE
Agreement after success is impossible.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
The split, in writing, however informal the relationship.
WHY IN WRITING
Recollections diverge exactly when money appears.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT GROUP WORK
Whether the group name belongs to the group or to individuals What happens to it if members leave
WHY
Disputes over names are common and destructive.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT DECISIONS
What requires agreement from everyone and what does not.
WHY
Requiring unanimity for everything paralyses the project.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT MONEY
Who receives it, and how it is distributed.
WHAT TO AVOID
One person holding all income informally.
WHY
It creates suspicion even where none is warranted.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Transparency: everyone sees what came in and where it went.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT DEPARTURE
Agree in advance what a departing member retains.
WHAT TO ADDRESS
Existing work Future income from it Use of the name Ongoing obligations
WHAT TO RECORD
Contributions as they are made.
WHY
It is the evidence when shares are questioned later.
