The Chevrolet was in front and the Ford was behind. They drove south along the road outside the school for half an hour and stopped outside a single-family warehouse in a remote neighborhood far from the city center.
"Dang-dang-dang! Allow me to solemnly introduce to you, the secret base of the Good Morning Band..."
Noah's face completely changed, and he warmly and diligently tried to please his new friends. He took out the key and opened the iron gate, and a group of people stepped in.
That's it?
Dean looked around.
The entire warehouse was very poorly decorated, with only a layer of cheap putty on the four walls and a blue iron chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A narrow staircase leading to the second floor could be seen at the opposite corner.
The only thing that can be called decoration is a dozen posters of big stars on the wall. Famous bands and singers from the 1960s and 1970s: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, those who are still active today, and those who just won the Billboard 100. The Queen band with the best single.
"Queen rules this year." Robert pointed to the poster of the buck-toothed uncle in a white jumpsuit with his chest hair exposed, "but I guarantee that with your song support, Good Morning will surpass their glory and create new ones in the future." Miracle."
Who doesn’t know how to brag?
Dean said,
Then I was attracted by the dazzling array of musical instruments right in front of the hall: microphones with stands, drum kits, guitars, basses, electronic keyboards, stereos... There was even a violin and a saxophone that didn't quite fit the band's style. Know who is using it.
"The band has limited financial resources... It is not easy to rent such a warehouse for a long time in Las Vegas where land is at a premium." Robert saw the surprise in Dean's eyes and emphasized, "Most underground bands have very poor training conditions. It’s like a sewer.”
"So how do you usually record songs?" Dean asked, "I didn't see any recording equipment."
In his mind, a decent music studio should at least have soundproof glass, a mixer, monitors, headphones, and a bunch of professional equipment that he couldn't name.
"Of course we go to a professional recording studio to record songs!" Caroline looked helpless. "We, a small band, can't afford the purchase and maintenance of equipment."
"The owners of the recording studio are all a bunch of vampires." Kadi looked pained.
"Okay! Liam, Carty, and Noah, take these two friends to play on the first floor, take good care of them, and listen to their previous works." Robert glanced at Rust and Britney,
"Luster, Britney, do you want to play the drums?"
Liam was full of enthusiasm.
"Caroline, go upstairs and discuss cooperation issues with Dean."
…
The decoration on the second floor is much better, with a quiet environment and blue wallpaper.
Dean looked around and saw a bookcase, desk, leather sofa, and water dispenser.
Two pots of pothos in the corner exude a delicate and fragrant fragrance.
"You sit down for a while while I look for something." Robert walked to the desk and opened the drawer and rummaged through it.
Dean moved his butt uncomfortably while sitting on the leather sofa.
Caroline sat very close to him, with her head lowered as if she was struggling with some major problem. Her white arms were inadvertently pressed against Dean's sleeves. Her body temperature and the scent of shampoo coming from her blond hair made Dean feel slightly agitated. Feeling restless.
"You said before that you have written many works, is there any suitable for me?"
Caroline suddenly looked at him, her big moist eyes full of expectation, her pursed red lips as soft as flowers.
Dean turned his eyes and saw that the girl's skin was glowingly white and delicate, her face was small, her facial lines were softer than those of most white girls, and her facial features were very delicate. But she has a good figure. Sitting on the sofa, you can see the undulating curves under the black vest on her chest and her snow-white waist.
Dean couldn't help but think of his girlfriend in his previous life, whose nimbus appearance was not as good as Caroline's.
"Well, there are a few songs with female vocals, but they still need to be polished."
Dean replied casually,
"Found it! Caroline, don't sit there stupidly, go make two cups of coffee." Robert put a pile of documents on the table and called Dean, "Man, are you over 18 years old?"
"I know what you are worried about. I am of legal age and qualified to sign a contract on my own."
Dean opened the document and found that it was a sample of a song transfer contract. The densely packed terms dazzled him and he could not grasp the key points.
After looking at it for a few times, he closed the document again.
“Have you ever joined the Composers or Broadcast Music Association?”
"No." Dean answered truthfully. He didn't know what the association was.
"good!"
Robert shook his fist excitedly,
"What's wrong? I didn't join the association, so I was fooled?" Dean asked with a smile.
"NO, how is that possible? I'm just happy that I can be your guide, bring you, a newly born genius, into the Vegas music scene, and help you grow into a well-known composer. This is a story worth showing off. Capital."
Robert took the steaming coffee from Caroline and took a sip.
"Do you know how difficult it is for outsiders to get in? Countless young boys and girls dream of singing stars. In order to enter the circle and become their own people, they are willing to pay any high price, money, body, everything! But 90% Nine are just daydreaming, their singing voices are mediocre, they have no talent or creative talent, and in the end they are deceived into losing everything by some shameless bastards in this circle.”
"But I am different. I am a principled professional. And for you, Amazing Day is your best stepping stone, made of pure gold... You give it to Good Morning, and after it is successfully published, the professional music association will naturally I extend an olive branch to you as the author. From now on, if you continue to write songs for Good Morning, from a legal perspective, it will be as convenient as drinking water and eating!"
Caroline rested her chin on her right hand and looked intently, moving back and forth between her familiar band manager and her new friend.
"It's okay to sing good morning." Dean nodded.
"Then let's talk about the copyright transfer of the song and the share of the rights to the singles released in the future."
said the fat agent.
Dean picked up the coffee cup, looked at Robert's eager face, and smiled.
A lawyer negotiating song rights with an outsider who has just turned 18? Treat him as a fat sheep?
But he didn't care.
"I have a few conditions. After this song is released, my name must be added. Of course, the names of other members of the Good Morning band can also be added. I don't mind."
Dean never thought about becoming fat in one go, and he was not afraid of suffering losses, but at least he had to take a step forward, just like Robert said, gain some fame in this circle and leave a business card so that he can continue to sell songs later.
He dropped a bomb.
"I will not take any of the related copyright income after the song is published."
"Man, are you kidding me?" Robert looked like a fool. He had never seen a newcomer take the initiative to give up his rights. Most newcomers were arrogant and wanted to have 100% of the proceeds from the song.
Every little bit less is cutting into their flesh, and they can chatter about it for days.
Professional sensitivity made Robert suspicious. There would be no problem with this song, right?
"Dean, there's no need to do this." Caroline shook her head hurriedly, "We never want to take advantage of you at all. We prefer to maintain a long-term and friendly cooperative relationship!"
"I'm serious. And don't worry, this song was written just two days ago. It's cleaner than a mirror. There are no copyright issues. You can register it at any time. But I ask..." Dean paused and spoke straight. Staring into Robert's eyes, he said word for word, "You must pay me a one-time fee to buy out Amazing Day."
Dean had no interest in spending a lot of time wrangling over what rights.
Besides, he doesn't want to be a big singer. Wouldn't it be better to get paid behind the scenes?
A one-time buyout is much faster than getting money in splits, and he urgently needs the first money.
"One-time buyout fee?"
Robert couldn't help but nodded. This result was completely acceptable. When the time came, he would add the names of the Good Morning members to the song.
Amazing day is equivalent to their original songs.
Shouldn’t the band sing their own songs? This is a huge plus for listeners.
But things were progressing too smoothly. Robert watched his words carefully. This Chinese man had sly eyes and was definitely not that kind of fool.
Robert tapped his index finger on the table and said tentatively,
"How much do you want?"
Dean grinned,
"Ten thousand dollars, by the way, after taxes."
Digging hair!
The calmness on Robert's face was like a dam washed away by floods, which collapsed instantly.
And Caroline's mouth was so big that she actually dared to open her mouth like a lion.
"Man, do you know the market? Do you know what a song written by a newcomer with no track record usually costs?"
"I don't know...but I am sure that the value created after Amazing Day will far exceed US$10,000, ten times or a hundred times."
"To put it another way, if I wasn't a newcomer, do you think I could get this song at this price?"
Dean blew in a confident tone.
"Buying it for $10,000 is definitely a very profitable business. You guys... made a lot of money."
"The price you're asking for is too outrageous. Let's be realistic, newcomer..." Robert added two spoons of sugar to his coffee, "The most expensive of the seven songs we bought before was only two thousand dollars, and that didn't include tax."
"Did that song help you release an album?" Dean turned to look at Caroline, "Did it help you win the championship in any of the past Vegas singing competitions?"
The girl pursed her lips and looked lonely.
"Can those songs compare with the quality of Amazing Day?" Dean asked continuously,
"I'm still saying that your demands are too high!" Robert shook his head. "If you don't believe it, you can hand this song to other bands and see if there are any scammers willing to spend more than 10,000 to buy it."
"Why not? Let's call it a day. I'll give it a try with another band, and then find a professional lawyer for consultation."
Dean stood up suddenly and strode towards the stairs in a cool and unrestrained manner, counting silently in his mind.
3.
2.
1.
"Wait, Dean, I have to remind you that your song has not been copyrighted yet, and other band managers are not as principled as me. They are a group of cunning old foxes... Do you understand? You are just one in their eyes. Lamb to the slaughter." Robert couldn't help but speak,
"You mean they will directly copy my song?" Dean suddenly turned around, his meaning was unclear, and said as if to seduce, "What about you? Will Good Morning band copy it?"
An unspeakable expectation surged in Dean's mind. If the other party really plagiarized his song and deprived him of the fruits of his labor, he wouldn't have a legitimate reason to take action and demand greater compensation.
This isn’t considered a bad thing, right?
Robert remained sullen and silent, his eyes rolling, as if he was thinking about this possibility.
"Dean, can you make it cheaper?"
Caroline ran over and held Dean's hand firmly, looking up at his face and pleading softly,
"It's hard for us to come up with that kind of money in such a short period of time. But Good Morning needs this song to open things up...for Rast and Britney's sake, okay?"
There was a stalemate for a while.
Under the stairs, there was a pleasant melody.
Amidst the sound of drums, guitar, electronic keyboard, and complex accompaniment, someone sang Amazing day...
But listening to the voice, it turned out to be that guy Rust.
Dean thought about his performance.
After all, if a newcomer, regardless of his lack of fame, submits his work to a big company or other band, he will most likely end up in trouble, and may cause a lot of trouble.
The most critical point is that only God knows whether the songs twenty years from now will be popular now.
"Okay, it seems that for Rust's sake...how much are you willing to pay?" Dean returned to the negotiating sofa.
"Three thousand dollars." Robert lit a Marlboro and handed it to Dean, "We will help you resolve all copyright issues and retain your right to authorize."
"You're sending a homeless man away. How can three thousand dollars be worth my hard work?" Dean declined the offered cigarette and said in a deep voice, "One price, five thousand dollars."
This is Dean's psychological expectation.
"You win, buddy, five thousand dollars, one-time buyout of Amazing Day." Robert took a cigarette in his mouth, chewed hard, stretched out his hand and shook Dean's hand.
Next to her, Caroline held her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. She couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it would be to let this good song go away from her.
"You have to be lucky that you met me, Robert. If it had been another agent, he would have taken advantage of legal loopholes and eaten you alive." The agent's eyes narrowed, "Don't people in China pay attention to courtesy? I'm so honest, wouldn't you? Should I show something? How about leaving the management of the lyrics and music to me?"
"We'll wait until Good Morning wins the Vegas singing competition with this song." Dean decisively refused and said instead, "Sign the contract and pay now?"
"Not so fast, first we have to register the copyright of this song!" Robert shook his head, "Write good morning and your name."
"how long?"
"With your full cooperation, and with industry insiders like me, it will take at least ten days and a half."
Dean's expression changed, it would be summer vacation in half a month.
"But I need money urgently, so you'd better give me cash."
"Young man, someone here would like to advise you, never ask for cash when signing a contract with someone. That is a practice used by black people to evade taxes. If you don't want to be visited by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), just give me a bank account, or I will give you You write a check.”
Robert explained thoughtfully, and when he saw Dean's ugly face, his heart moved,
"Let's do this. On behalf of the band, I will lend you one thousand two hundred dollars first to solidify our friendship."
"I don't have a bank account," Dean smiled innocently, "You have to help me take care of everything."
…
