Overview

The Guild’s Department of Business Affairs is committed to educating members about business and legal standards in the theatre industry while providing constructive comment to government and business leaders on balancing institutional tradition in the face of necessary innovation. Towards this end, the lawyers at the Guild draft positions reflecting Council’s position on issues of national import, track U.S. and worldwide theater business trends, and advise members on immediate business concerns.

Should a member have an immediate concern, Business Affairs can provide comment on a wide range of matters, including options, commissions, royalties, copyright, collaboration, trademark, rights of privacy, rights of publicity, defamation, so-called “life-story rights,” and agents. It also provides guidance and follows up on complaints regarding theatres, producers, publishers, agents, attorneys, festivals, and contests. 

While the Guild’s purpose is to represent playwrights, lyricists, librettists, and composers, it does NOT represent individual members. With respect to this limitation, Business Affairs aims to give each individual member the tools necessary for successfully managing the business end of being an author. As such, the lawyers in Business Affairs will not contact any non-members on an individual member’s behalf. Nor will the lawyers analyze a contract that has already been signed.

When disputes among collaborators and colleagues reach an impasse, a third-party may help to achieve resolution. Between living with the frustration of work rendered unusable per the impasse and incurring the expense of litigation is the Dramatists Guild’s Mediation Program. Mediations can be performed in-person at the Guild offices or via conference call. And because the Guild’s mediators are both licensed attorneys and trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution, the process can culminate in a written and signed agreement between the parties. Contact the Business Affairs Department to ask about our low administrative rates and the process for making an appointment.

For an examination of your theater-related contract or to discuss principles of negotiation, please email Business Affairs at businessaffairs@dramatistsguild.com, fax them at 212-944-0420, or call our Hotline at (800) 289-9366.

Sample Contracts

The ordering of sample contracts online is unavailable at this time. Please contact Office Manager, Patrick Shearer at pshearer@dramatistsguild.com for a list of available sample contracts or if you’ve ordered contracts through the previous website.  

Specific questions related to contracts, including which contracts you might need, should be directed to the Business Affairs department at businessaffairs@dramatistsguild.com

Anti-Piracy for Composers & Lyricists

Click here for composers and Lyricists Anti-Piracy Page