Creative Arts Mediation

SETTLING CREATIVE DIFFERENCES

Several years ago, I was involved in a lawsuit with a small record label. I had to file a lawsuit to try to get control over a project that was dying because of total mismanagement and mishandling of money. I thought contacting a lawyer was the only way to approach the situation. After a year of our attorneys going back and forth and taking thousands and thousands of our dollars, I found alternative dispute resolution. The first step was mediation, which helped in many ways and almost got the dispute resolved. Over 80% of disputes can be resolved with mediation. Ours had to go one step further to arbitration, but then it was over and done with and no more money was spent. (By the way, I was awarded everything by the arbitrator and the other party should have settled in mediation so he could have gotten some of what he wanted.)

This idea of resolving disputes before they are so draining and expensive really stuck with me. So after years of education and training, I have now become a mediator with the goal of preserving relationships when possible or ending a relationship with dignity. One of my mediation internships was with Jack Waddey of Waddey & Patterson, an intellectual property law firm. And after working in the field of casting TV commercials and television shows, as well as being a singer/songwriter and living with a wife who is a great artist, I am very comfortable helping to facilitate the unique issues that come up with those in the creative arts community.

When I do mediations in person, my style can range from facilitative to directive. I like to approach things as having the heart of an artist and the mind of a pragmatist. I like to be an active participant in the process, only in the sense that I don't just carry messages back and forth. I will help you with feedback from my perspective and give ideas, but you will always control the outcome and the plan that is reached. We will brainstorm into existence the possibilities and opportunities that may not have shown themselves before.

I am not an attorney. Many attorneys do mediation, but often they come from an advocacy background. I have over 1000 hours of training in mediation, facilitation and hopeful possibilities. My training is to remain neutral and work toward the best outcome between the parties.

Please take a look at my training and background and then contact me and we can discuss your situation and see if it is right for mediation and if I can help you.