A Sample Costume Contract
A good contract is not only protection for you, but can be a selling point to your client, by proving your professionalism. Below is a copy of the contract I use. I got the basic format from a book on free lance writing.
You have my permission to copy and modify this contract for your own use. While I had My Mother The Attorney look it over, I can't make any claim as to its legality in your area.
The parts in this color are my comments. If you just print this contract and use it without deleting them, you will not look very professional.
CONTRACT
Dear (Client's name)
Our signatures at the bottom of this letter will signify our acceptance of the terms described herein regarding the design and construction of an Elizabethan court costume, to be delivered May 20th and described as follows:
Man's doublet, sleeves, slops, hat, cape and two shirts. Doublet, sleeves, and slops of burgundy leather, pinked and slashed in leaf pattern, trimmed with antique gold braid, buttons of gold cording worked over wooden forms, and the slashes and the underlayer of the slops of black silk satin. Detachable sleeves tied with twisted cords with gold filigree points. Flat cap of black velvet with natural ostrich plumes. 3/4 circle cape of black velvet with gold braid, lined in burgundy. Two shirts of white cotton. 3" neck ruff and matching wrist ruffs, edged with gold "bobbin" lace. Add gusset and gold trim to existing leather gloves. Be as detailed as possible here. Neither you or your client should ever assume that something is or isn't included.
1. Margo Anderson (hereafter referred to as "Maker") hereby provides a design sketch, fabric swatches, and description. This design remains the property of Maker. Duplicating or copying in any way is an infringement of copyright law.
This would allow you to take a client to court if he used your research and design to make the costume himself, or have it made by someone else.
2. (Client's name) (hereafter referred to as "Client" ) will sign and date the sketch and this agreement. At this time the design is approved and finalized. If design changes are requested after this approval, additional charges will be made.
3. Designer will provide swatches and samples of all fabrics and trims before purchasing.
4. The terms of payment are as follows: $_____, payable as follows: One half, to be considered a non-refundable deposit, payable on signature of this letter. One fourth, at first fabric fitting, one fourth upon delivery. (State sales tax of $____ is not included in this amount, and will be due upon the final payment)
5. A minimum of three fittings must be made. Additional fittings will take place as needed.
Protection from those imbeciles who think that since you took all those measurements, they don't really have to show up for fittings.
6. Final payment is due upon delivery. While payment signifies acceptance of costume as completed, Maker is aware that certain aspects of fit, comfort and utility are sometimes not evident until after extended wearing. Therefore, Client may return costume for reasonable adjustments at no extra charge, within a period of two weeks after delivery.
7.Costume is guaranteed for normal wear and tear for the period of one year. Alterations due to weight gain or loss, and repairs necessary due to negligence or abuse, will incur additional charges. Under no circumstances will delivery be made without payment.
8. Designer guarantees that costume will meet approval for use at the Northern Renaissance Pleasure Faire in the year 199_, but can make no guarantee that it will conform to future guidelines.
This is where I put any special clauses, such as warning about period fit, etc. Even more valuable, in the past, has been the stipulation that a costume will NOT pass costume approval for Faire!
Please sign all copies of this letter. Keep one for your files, and return two to me in the SASE provided.
ACCEPTED
Margo Anderson______________
(Client's name)_______________
Date__________________
It's a nice idea to present the contract, sketches, etc, to the client in a portfolio folder. Get the kind that has a slot for your business card in the cover, and put extra cards in the folder. Your client is likely to carry it around, showing off the sketches and, more likely than not, handing out those extra cards to his friends.
