shooting bands
 

hi,
i've starting figuring out a documentary i want to do about local bands here. there's an old grocery store that the owner rents out all the old offices upstairs. so there's at least 20-30 bands up there.

anyways, my question was, shooting them while they're playing, practicing, etc. would i need any special waiver from them? i know a couple of the bands in there are on record labels, so i don't know if i would have to go through the companies or have the band sign off on a waiver. or would this be covered under a release? i apologize if i'm not using the correct terminology. thanks for any help and appreciate your time. thanks.

matt

If the bands are on labels, you will have to go through the record companies. The band's signature isn't worth beans, as they are the property of the company. My advice is just to leave signed bands alone, unless you really really want them, and are ready to do the legal dance. I tired to get info on shooting a local signed band through the record company, and was basicaly ignored as I mentionned I was independant and not interested in paying them. :)

Unsigned bands, well they are fair game! I'd get signatures from every band member on a form explaining in much detail exactly what you are going to do with the footage.

ah, very good! yeah it shouldn't be too hard to stay away from the signed bands (2, maybe 3 at the very most). i was thinking to go through the whole place. i still might but i think it would be wiser to focus on 3 or 4 bands. thanks again.

matt