040: DEVELOPING Strong Legal Foundations for Your Creative Business with MAGI FISHER

January 20, 2021

Today on Dare to Develop we’re so excited to welcome Magi Fisher of The Artist’s Lawyer and Magdalena Studios. We’re talking all about contracts, what you should have in them, what you shouldn’t, and how you can get started if you haven’t yet. 

MAGI FISHER DARES YOU: Review your legal documents, it’s like going to the dentist. You don’t want to do it unless you have to, but I’m going to dare everybody to review their contracts. Think about some gaps or situations that have come up or that clients have been worried about coming up. Write those things down and get in touch with an attorney or just evaluate. You’re a contractor yourself, especially during this time, it’s only gonna benefit you. And I always say if you can sleep soundly over, keeping a deposit, any investment, legal protection is worth it.

FAST FACTS ABOUT MAGI FISHER

What’s your favorite tool in business: I have these spreadsheets that I created for myself, and I actually sell them as tools in my contract shop, but they’re like admin spreadsheets, so I can plan out my goals and my income and like projected and com referral sources. All of that stuff at like a big picture glance.

This is how I organize all of my wedding clients. So I can look at everything and I use those every day. I have used these spreadsheets for five years or so in my business so now I can look back and see how many bookings I have for each month. 

I also have this company called Bench that I love for bookkeeping. I did not jive with QuickBooks since I don’t like doing my own books. Bench does all of my accounting for me, all of my categorizing of expenses and income. So I can just look at everything in the big picture.

 I have a discount code for Bench on my website for it, but it is awesome. It’s been such a game changer and stress relief, not worrying about that kind of stuff.

What’s your favorite post-wedding or event snack? Usually, at the time that we’re leaving a wedding, everything’s closed down and my husband and I are both vegetarians. So we were so excited when McDonald’s put out the beyond burger, impossible burger sandwiches.

What’s your favorite wedding/creative pump up jam? Anything Taylor Swift, for sure.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of your business? Puppy snuggles.

And then home stuff since we’re always redoing stuff in our house. My husband’s super handy. Also  walks on the beach, watching him surf at the pub, anything with the dog really.

What is one daring leap you’ve taken in your business? I think starting The Artist’s Lawyer was a big leap for me or starting our team and transition, like letting go of control.  I think that’s really hard for a lot of photographers and it stunts growth. If you aren’t outsourcing your editing, if you’re not open to bringing on associates, especially right now in a COVID world. I think you have to push yourself outside of the box and taking on a team, letting go of control was one thing. Then the same with the Artist Lawyer, like jumping outside of that typical law firm career life that I thought I was going to have was interesting for sure.

What is one thing you feel like you’re really great at in your business? My contracts

and just like in general I’m an organization fee like efficiency and organization. So. You’ll notice this, if you have my contract templates, they’re, hyper-organized like, they’re just formatted in a different way than any other contract where it’s just more readable. It makes more sense. And just everything in my life like needs organization. And I think that has allowed me to grow too, because it’s like, everything has a place. 

Where can our listeners find you?

The Artist’s Lawyer Website: https://theartistslawyer.com/

Magdalena Studios Website: https://magdalenastudios.com/

The Artist’s Lawyer Website: https://www.instagram.com/theartistslawyer/

Magdalena Studios Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdalenastudios/

Do you have any special announcements/offers for our listeners? I actually made a discount code for your audience. It’s 15% off if you enter the code DARE on any contracts or tools. So that’s just exclusively for you guys and whoever’s listening. Thank you so much. We appreciate that.

RESOURCE LINKS:

OTHER D2D EPISODES YOU MIGHT LIKE

We dare you to check out the other Dare to Develop Podcast episodes including 000: Welcome to Dare to Develop where you get to meet your hosts Kristine Herman and Ashley Baumgartner.

SHARE THIS STORY