when they won't pay?

[seriplop]

we're in a pickle right now.
we got contacted by a band ( who we know on a personal level but aren't best buds or anything ) to do art for them. we said yes so they passed us onto their management/label to work everything out.
once we hit production , we were only in touch with the label. the label are the ones responsible for paying us.

our deal was part of the $$$ upfront , the rest on compleation. we submitted the final art and it was approved by everyone.
we invoiced at the begining of dec and were told we'd get a bank transfer next day.

FF to now , we still haven't seen a cent of the balance and our contact is ignoring all emails from us.


i don't really know what to do here.

i'm thinking of telling the band/manager , but feel that that *might* be unprofessional , even for us.

how can we get paid without burning bridges?

[steve w]

a polite letter from a lawyer?

[dspring]

any other contact at the label to speak to? go over the head of your contact if possible without involving the band? or is it a "one guy does everything" label?

resend all contact emails reminding them of their promise of a bank transfer... be firm but not unpleasant... better to get paid at some point then never at all

[steve w]

why you gotta be so materialistic, maaaan?

[andydiesel]

take it to a collection agency.

i took a&m records to collections once.

[piemel]

By all means contact the band/manager. First of all, business is business and you should try to get every cent your deserve and have a right to in this economic time. Second, the band is affiliated with a label of THEIR choosing so you can buildt leverage that way to get your fee. There is no way you should treat the band COMPLETELY seperate from their label if the label is contracting you for artwork. Third, since you know the band on a paersonal level you should be able to find a way to tell them wihtout putting the 'blame' on the band... just inform them of the troubles you are in and ask if they help facilitate in getting this ordeal to a satisfactory end. Fourth, by all means write the label a letter and tell them that you are reporting them to a colection agency which will hurt their credit status. Lower credit ratings are painful in this economic downturn and it might help getting paid.

[standard]

or very nicely explain your predicament to the band/manager, but in the form of "is this email/contact info still legit?" that will either get them on your side (they offer to say something) or maybe you'll get a good phone number/alternate email.

[seriplop]

it's a pretty big label but i'm not sure who's above our contact there.

we have emails for a few other people on staff but i'm not sure what the ranking is.

we usually get paid 100% upfront to avoid this kinda situation.... christ!

[andydiesel]

also when you take it to collections it is usually between the collection agency and the accounts payable dept. that way you usually won't burn any bridges. hopefully.

but really, why would you want to work more for someone that ignores you when you are trying to get paid.

[squeegeethree]

Bank transfers take a little time. They're supposed to be instant but they never are.