sections of MTI contract

[Beanmatt]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 12:58am

Recently got a contract from MTI and found the following item interesting:

COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS: You agree as a condition of this license to reserve two (2) complimentary tickets (if requested) for the use of MTI and the Copyright Owners for each performance and MTI agrees not to sell such tickets.

Also the stuff about sending them copies of the program, as well as a sworn statement about actual number/location of performances and their access to all your accounting records for the production.

Has anyone ever had MTI request these comp tickets to see a show you produced? Or had them inspect your accounting records? Do they get mad if you don't send them a program?

Just thought I'd ask, as we've only delt with Tams-Witmark before and so all of this, while completely understandable, was a bit surprising.

[StuckToTheStage]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 3:27am

Yes, they usually request the comp tickets as a standard in their contracts. I would suggest sending the program in because it's in the contract and if you don't, it's breeching a contract. I didn't cover the accounting stuff..Sorry, can't help you there.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 8:26am

I work for a performing arts school in Richmond, VA, and we've produced musicals and licensed from MTI for over 20 years, and never sent in (or been required to send in) one single program, or set aside any comp tickets for MTI repts/copyright holders. I'm not sure what this new clause is. We recently licensed "Little Shop of Horrors", and there's nothing in the contract about that.

[Tom148502]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 8:33am

It doesn't matter if it's not in the contract you saw, Jason. Anything in a signed contract needs to be taken care of. I don't even know why anyone would ask about it on here. Just do it.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 9:02am

Well, it's a good thing I'm not the one in charge of the signed contracts around here! LOL

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 10:03am

Updated On: 6/14/07 at 10:03 AM

[Kringas]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 10:14am

Do they get mad if you don't send them a program?

Unless your program is going to show them something they shouldn't see, why is it even an issue? Why wouldn't you just send it to them?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 11:23am

I've never had MTI invoke the tickets clause in over 20 years of productions, sometimes 2-3 with them in a year. I'd actually love it it they did, just so I could tape off a seat for them, and label it Mort Guffman.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 12:08pm

I've dealt with MTI for 30 years, and have never sent a copy of a program, and they have never asked for it. It is in the contract so in the event they DO ask for it, you can't say no.

The same with the comp tickets. The rule is in the contract so that in the rare event someone from MTI happens to be in town and wants to see your production (or in case they were tipped off that something in the production was against copywright), they can call up the theatre and say "I'm from MTI and I want to see the show tonight" and you can't say,"Sorry - we're sold out. You can't see it".

[me2]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 9:16pm

I wouldn't recommend sending the program. I sent them my program from my production of THE PAJAME GAME. They were really upset with my interpolation of "On My Own" for Hines.

Some people just don't get art.



Okay seriously, I think I stopped reading all that info after "don't record" and "don't make copies." I never did any of that stuff. If they wanted accounting records, I would have had to send them all the ticket stubs.
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[kyleorlando]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 9:52pm

I seem to remember that being an issue for the first regional production of "The Goodbye Girl", but its fuzzy.

I do remember that comps were set aside for Bernadette Peters who was performing locally and they were never used.

[Beanmatt]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 10:28pm

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I in no way meant to imply that we were considering not following the contract, just that this was our first contract through MTI, found that section interesting (and, again, completely reasonable), and so wondered if anyone had had experience with those things actually happening before. Thanks!

[Switz78]

Posted: 6/14/07 at 11:23pm

Back in 94, my high school was the first school to get the rights to Once on This Island and we did in fact have a MTI rep show up 10 minutes to curtain and ask for a seat. We had to shuffle some folks around because we were in fact sold out, but all was fine.