Expert: Phil Nemy - 5/2/2009

Question
I have a question about 'job descriptions'. I signed a 3 year contract with a "personal manager" for my minor son. He happened to get a theater job rather quickly, and I was required to sign with an agent as well (I'm not really sure why). Since then, however, the Manager has taken ill, and has passed the contract to a closely related partner to handle. I have requested several times that my son continue to go out on auditions in order to keep momentum going. However, this is not happening - and I KNOW that there were several commercial auditions he could have been sent on. Can you tell me the "chain of command" in this instance? Thanks so much.

Answer
Marie,

Thanks for writing. This is a tricky one. Without having seen your agreement with the management company, it's really difficult for me to comment on what you can and cannot do or, for that matter, what the chain of command is inside the management company. I can tell you that an agent's job is NOT to get you work, but rather when YOUR SON gets himself work, the agent will negotiate the best employment terms possible. The talent manager is there to help your son find work, so if he's not doing that, or if the person who is supposed to be doing it for the ill manager is NOT doing it, then you should look for an "out" clause in the agreement that allows you to terminate your agreement in writing.

If you're uncomfortable reading legal documents, have an attorney review it for you and advise you on what legal remedies you have for getting out of the agreement if you're unhappy with the performance of the management company.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil