Personal Manager Agreement

This Deal Point Checklist is designed to highlight areas of importance when entering into a Personal Manager Agreement. Attorney Michael Norman Saleman offers these Deal Point Checklists as a courtesy to users of this website. Contact Mr. Saleman if you need help with any of your project’s legal documentation.

Download (Personal-Manager-Agreement.docxPersonal Manager Agreement | Deal Points Checklist | MovieLaw.net) and use this checklist when negotiating a Personal Manager Agreement to assist you in reaching an agreement on major deal points. Return this Word document with the details to facilitate the drafting of your agreements.

  • Duties
    • Exclusive Manager
    • Sole Manager
    • Length of term
    • Options to extend (mutual or one party only)
    • Milestones (e.g. client must earn more than “X” in first year or can terminate)
    • Services
  • Expenses/Reimbursements
    • Type
    • Limits
    • What needed to verify (e.g. canceled check, receipt, etc.)
    • Consent of client if over certain amount
    • Pre-approvals of certain types of expenditures
    • Deduct from income
    • Statements
    • Receipts
    • Mode of travel (coach vs. first class, hotel vs. motel, compact vs. luxury car rental, etc.)
  • Fees and Percentages
    • How much.
    • What if fired?
    • What if new manager? Paying two managers?
    • Limits of how long fees to be received after termination of agreement.
    • Does old manager share in improved terms negotiated on a prior agreement by new manager?
    • Are songwriting royalties to be excluded?–Musicians only
  • Other Clients and Activities
    • Manager may have other clients or be exclusive to client
    • Manager may have other activities, such as being a Producer
  • Power of Attorney
    • Authority to sign or not sign agreements without consulting client
    • Sign, deposit or cash checks
    • Separate escrow accounts for monies received by manager, or deposited into general account
    • Final approval on photos and publicity-who has
  • Loans From Manager to Client
    • Yes or no
    • How paid back
    • Interest, if any
  • Key Man Clause
    • If manager is at management company and leaves, does contract terminate, go to new management company, or is new manager appointed?