As a music or performing artist, what do you need to be aware of to help create a good working environment with clear agreements?

A new collaboration guide puts the spotlight on this. The guide, developed by the Danish Artist Association in collaboration with members and the board, contains good advice and a concrete checklist.

See the new collaboration guide here.

The guide can be used both between colleagues and with crew, agents, managers, producers, producers, labels and anyone else you get work from or give work to.

"We want to provide some very basic tools for those of us who operate in a complicated and complex working life,"
Chairperson Sara Indrio

Clarity leads to more well-being

Even if you're friends on stage, in the studio or in the rehearsal room, challenges, conflicts or dilemmas can arise. It can also be that it's sometimes harder to talk about differences precisely because you're also friends.

The guide aims to prevent where possible and help everyone take a shared responsibility for creating a good and safe working environment - even when something unfortunately goes wrong and an appointment, concert, performance or session has to be cancelled.

"Many of us didn't get a handbook when we entered the industry, so our industries are characterised by unwritten rules and experience-based knowledge - both good and bad. In recent years, we've increasingly realised that good work in the music industry is also about well-being and the working environment. You can't always write your way out of it legally, so we want to provide some very basic tools for those of us who operate in a complicated and complex working life," says chairperson Sara Indrio.

Roles and responsibilities

In some situations, it can be difficult to know what role - and therefore responsibilities and rights - you and others have in the project. The guide can be used both if you work for others or if you give work to others and thus have responsibilities similar to an employer.

The guide does not replace a concrete agreement, but can help you talk about important parts of a collaboration.

See the new collaboration guide here.

Are you facing challenges in your current work environment? Then contact the Danish Artist Union Counselling.

The checklist is part of the Danish Artist Association's new guide that can lay the foundation for good collaboration. Photo: Excerpt from the guide.