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How to Cancel a Contract With an Talent Agent

Talent agents represent performers, artists, entertainers and musicians, securing bookings in return for a financial commission. Most contracts between artists and their agents cover a specific time frame (usually between one and three years) which makes it difficult to cancel a contract that is still legally binding, unless there is a legitimate reason to do so. However, you may have grounds to cancel the contract if your agent fails to generate bookings or behaves unfairly or illegally.

Instructions

    • 1

      Hire a lawyer who has experience in the arts and entertainment industries. Ask the lawyer to examine the contract, to determine if there is a legitimate reason to terminate it. A legal professional can find loopholes or identify contractual failures on your agent’s part that give you the legal right to cancel the agreement.

    • 2

      Write a letter to your talent agent explaining that you want to cancel your contract and specifying the date when you want the termination to take place. Outline your reasons for doing so, citing relevant clauses. If, for example, the contract states that your agent should secure a minimum number of bookings annually and he fails to do so, he has broken the conditions of the contract.

    • 3

      Establish whether the contract is lawful and complies to state and federal laws. The state of California, for example, requires that talent agencies be licensed by the state’s Labor Commissioner and should maintain written records of all funds received on their artist's behalf. If your talent agent is operating outside the law, you may have legitimate grounds for canceling the contract.

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