C.V. Rhodes served as the keynote speaker at the Festival. The title of the speech was "Follow Your Dreams, but Take Care of Your Business". Since Evans and Rhodes are both authors and playwrights, in that speech important suggestions were made for those who aspire to become writers.
If you choose to follow these suggestions, no matter what type of creative artists one might, remember that your work is valuable. Know your worth. Live your dreams, but take care of your business.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CREATIVE ARTISTS
·
Copyright your work (own your work in case of future disputes) Go
on line to the U.S. Copyright Office Official site and register your
work. It cost $35 to $85.
·
Have an attorney review contracts ask questions regarding what you
don’t understand on those contracts (Legal Shield membership will provide such
services)
·
Playwrights, you own your work and when a producer wants to put
your play up all you are doing is giving permission for that producer to do
your work for a limited time. You should receive rights and royalty
monies. Every time that play hits the stage you should receive royalty
money. Never give permission for a producer to do your work without a
written contract.
·
Authors when you get a book contract, even if you have an agent,
you should understand every right that you’re giving up, especially your
digital rights (ebooks, audio books, streaming of any kind anything to projects
your rights for the future ). Giving up too much for too long can cost
you.
·
If you’re an author with a publishing contract, (whether you have
an author or not) learn how to read a Royalty Statement (question anything that
looks suspicious, be willing to challenge the publisher regarding it)
· Playwrights
and Authors know how much you’re willing to give away to get produced or
published
