Again relying solely on a story appearing in The NY Post. Click here to read. It is claimed that “Famed Photographer David LaChapelle Sues his Ex-manager for 2.8 million dollars”. We don’t know if there is any validity to the claims. We do know that reps, agents, managers, gallery owners and agencies which sell or license intellectual property, steal often from those they represent. Photographers are victimized in high numbers – especially by their reps. For over three decades we have urged, yelled and screamed at photographers and illustrators to do their own billing and check and double check each transaction. Reps and agents steal using techniques that most photographers and any half decent accountant would discover in a heart beat.
Jack wrote the invoices and always had all checks go to him, not the agent. He pays his agent their commissions along with a photocopy of the client’s check so there is a check and balance for both photographer and agent. Jack had one friend, a fellow photographer, who let his agent write the invoices and get the payments. Not good, but then worse, he got no photocopy of the client check. Jack strongly suggested to ask for the copy of the client check. Let’s just say the photographer and agent separated a short time later.
President Reagan said, “Trust, but verify”. Reps, agents and managers who handle other people’s money are in position to steal it…and they do. There is rarely a month that goes by when Ed’s office isn’t engaged in attempting to recover stolen money from a rep, agent, gallery owner or manager. If you are uncomfortable working with numbers then have your spouse and/or an accountant review your bills, invoices and payments. Ed has had several cases where the thefts by reps from photographers went into six and seven figures. Do your own billing. Receive all checks and then pay your rep or agent their share. Beware, be careful, be in control of your business and never trust the financial documents provided to you by a rep, agent or manager. Don’t let other people hold your money.
Once the money’s gone and all the spending ends, the rep may not be ’round anymore.
#1 by Matt Timmons on January 8, 2013 - 1:57 am
Then it’s time to get Moose and Rocko to track down that rep and help him find his wallet.
#2 by Edward C. Greenberg on January 8, 2013 - 9:51 pm
Well Matt as a matter of fact that has been known to happen. Sonny Corleone going after his brother-in-law in a rather aggressive manner is hardly the stuff of pure fiction. “Older brothers” have been known to straighten out violent husbands in real life as well. As a member of the Bar (and officer of the court) who has represented many a battered woman I can’t condone that practice but I can attest to its effectiveness.
I am privy to events in more than one case where rep and photographer came to blows and engaged in fistacuffs. I have personal knowledge of situations where a party has absconded with money meant for the other and spent it on: drugs, gambling, re-hab or their kid’s tuition. In some of those situations the aggrieved party (usually a photographer) elected to keep the case out of court and away from the lawyers.
Stealing hard earned money and offering lame excuses has a tendency to make certain people well – as Michael Corlleone told Carlo, “Very angry”. This form of collection transcends all ethnic groups and curiously is most often instigated by the spouse of the victim.
The intense hatred we have witnessed between agent and artist is equaled only in divorce and custody matters. Perfectly calm, well adjusted artists have been known to throw a punch or two – I know, I’ve even seen it at a deposition and didn’t blame the guy a bit. The rep stole six figures, admitted it, had no regrets, proudly testified that the money was used for a home in a far off land where he intended to retire.
Yes it is illegal and we certainly don’t recommend physical violence off the grid iron. But it does happen because there are many who believe that violence indeed solves at least some problems.
#3 by David G. Yocum on January 13, 2013 - 3:03 pm
It may not solve the problem and can cause more problems, but speaking from personal experience, sometimes it just feels good when you lay the offender on his backside.