Beware Harry Brotman

[brianellefson]

I am Harry Brotman.

[joelpatterson]

I am his brother, Bald Brotman.

[Kaoz]

I'm Troy McClure.

[Tommy-boy]

Plush,

Sorry to learn of this. Any chance you had a non-complete agreement?

-Tom

[ssaudio]

If he brings a woman the next time I'm sticking with Harry...

Cheers
Mickey

[boojum]

Originally Posted by Plush

Beware of the Chicago engineer named Harry Brotman. After training him in classical recording, he's now gone rogue and is trying to steal my clients.

The word is out on this guy. Hands off Brotman

I would sure like to hear his side of the story. It would be only fair, and quite interesting.


http://www.harrybrotmanmusicalservices.com/

[Bibster]

Sure you will, Sandy?

Deadly arsenal of potent audio tools for recording, mixing, mastering

High technologist fusing legacy techniques and boutique hardware with style and attitude

Sounds like pure bullcrap jive to me!

[2manyrocks]

Rack of Doom?

http://www.harrybrotmanmusicalservic...oom%202012.jpg

Time to find that nonsolictation agreement if one got signed.

[tourtelot]

Originally Posted by Plush

Beware of the Chicago engineer named Harry Brotman. After training him in classical recording, he's now gone rogue and is trying to steal my clients.

The word is out on this guy. Hands off Brotman

You know how it goes; if your clients love you, they will not wander. If they are booking someone new on price alone (and you didn't say that, but it is possible) you didn't want them anyway.

D.

[Plush]

My clients are not changing to a different engineer. Brotman IS trying to solicit some of them however. I have a contract with each of them.

He a backstabber, baby.

[brianellefson]

Originally Posted by Plush

My clients are not changing to a different engineer. Brotman IS trying to solicit some of them however. I have a contract with each of them.

He a backstabber, baby.

I just like saying his name.

"Damn you Harry Brotman!"

Sounds like he'd be the director of a funeral home or something.

[Kaoz]

Reminds of that Seinfeld EP - "Alec Berrrrrrrrrrg".

[ionian]

Originally Posted by boojum

I would sure like to hear his side of the story. It would be only fair, and quite interesting.


HARRY BROTMAN MUSICAL SERVICES

What the heck, did he code that website from his cell phone? The whole thing looks like one big run-on sentence.

Regards,
Frank

[GZsound]

Geez...I wish I had a nickle for every time some sound guy tries to steal a client of mine. I am constantly being under bid by some guy with some gear. I have lost some very cheap gigs because of it, but all my main clients have stayed loyal and even gotten me some new gigs.

But a back stabbing sound guy? Hmm....that's like a dog that barks.

[boojum]

Originally Posted by GZsound

But a back stabbing sound guy? Hmm....that's like a dog that barks.

Plush, if you have no legal agreements with this guy what you are experiencing is free market capitalism. It ain't always pretty.

Hunter Thompson didn't actually say this, but let's pretend that he did. It is his style,

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money
trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and
pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.
There's also a negative side.”

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by brianellefson

I am Harry Brotman.

You're not the messiah, you're a very naughty...no wait, that's Brian Brotman...

[GZsound]

Originally Posted by boojum

Plush, if you have no legal agreements with this guy what you are experiencing is free market capitalism. It ain't always pretty.

Hunter Thompson didn't actually say this, but let's pretend that he did. It is his style,

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money
trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and
pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.
There's also a negative side.”

Indeed.. It's the same in the studio business. Every day some dweeb with a computer and a microphone is offering to "record your band for FREE!".. And in some cases I have even seen offers to pay the band if they record in the basement..

The music business is just like every other business. Only the strong survive.

[coffeecup77]

Hi,

What exactly does "stealing a client" mean ?

Also, did he pay you for the training you gave him ?

Cheers.

[creegstor]

Originally Posted by brianellefson

I just like saying his name.

"Damn you Harry Brotman!"

Sounds like he'd be the director of a funeral home or something.

Reminds me of a name from one of John Lennon's poems. In fact you can slot it in there perfectly!


I remember Harry Brotman
As if 'twer Yestermorn'
Hairy Harry Brotman
Son of Mr. Vaughan.

He used to be so grundie
On him little bike
Riding on a Sundie
Funny little tyke

Yes, I remember Kathy Hairbream
As if 'twer yesterday
Katthy, Kathy Hairbream
Son of Mr. May

Arriving at the station
Always dead on time
For his destination
Now He's dead on line
(meaning he's been got by a train or something)

And so we growt and bumply
Till the end of time,
Humpty dumpty bumply
Son of Harry Lime.

Bumbleydy Hubledy Humbley...
Bumdley Tum. (Thank you)

[Thomas W. Bethe]

If you take on interns and don't have them sign a non-compete agreement I guess you have to take the consequences. I have lots of interns that I have mentored over the years that are now very good mastering engineers. Some of them live and work in this geographical area. If they are doing a good job and getting clients I say good for them.

I know it sucks but with today's financial realities and more and more people offering their services for next to nothing or doing it themselves then I guess the the reality is that we all a facing more and more competition and some of that competition maybe from people we have mentored.

I had an intern who copied my whole client list when he left here and was contacting my clients one by one offering his services. I found out about this when some of my mastering clients called me asking why I had given out their names.

I called the former intern and told him that I did not mind his going into the mastering business but that my client list was off limits and I would take legal action if he continued to try and contact my clients. He was a good intern and he said he would stop. He is now a mastering engineer in a different city and doing well from all reports.

Your client list is part of your business and I believe is protected under law. If he has your client list he has literally stolen information from your business and he can be prosecuted under most state laws if you feel so inclined. I am not a lawyer and don't play one on TV so it is best to contact a real lawyer for more information.

Outing someone on GS is probably not a good way to handle this situation but only you know what is best to do.

I wish you good luck and hope things work out for you. Sounds like a bummer situation.

[famousbass]

Originally Posted by 2manyrocks

Rack of Doom?

http://www.harrybrotmanmusicalservic...oom%202012.jpg

Time to find that nonsolictation agreement if one got signed.

This is one hell of a rack destined for a great doom (except the Lexi).
Obviously, he can get that 80s sound no problem.
Looks like Brotmann is the man for me...!

[2manyrocks]

Client lists might be protected under state law. Safest course is to have a client nonsolicitation and nondisclosure agreement signed as a condition of starting work. A geographically/time limited noncompetition agreement could be considered if you are providing training to an employee that would enable the employee to compete later, but some state laws (e.g., California) on noncompetes are problematic.

Rack of Doom v. Wrath of Plush.....

Mr. Bethe is also correct in cautioning GS not a good place to discuss litigation strategy or write things that might be twisted around as the basis for a counterclaim.

[Plush]

This is a situation where Brotman, my friend, and a Grammy winning R&B engineer went rogue.

There is an unwritten code that you don't mess with your mentor's clients.

You all should know that.

I've trained many people and been a mentor to scores of people in my career. Not once have I needed a "non compete agreement." That is because the people I chose to help were upstanding and right thinking people. They would not sooner think to solicit my clients than jump off the Empire State building.

The situation with Brotman is sad. That's because I've also lost a friend.

The reason I'm reporting him here is because he knows nothing about the classical business. He knows rap.

[Sam Walker]

Originally Posted by Plush

There is an unwritten code that you don't mess with your mentor's clients.

That's all well and good, but that is also a kind of, "Who needs contracts? We're all pals here, right?" kind of thing. One of the first things I was taught was to have contracts, even if they seem over the top or unnecessary for this exact situation.

[Plush]

I noted above that I have contracts with my clients. Please read the whole thread before lecturing me.

No, I have never needed a "contract" between a kid I was helping and myself.

I'm not new here.

Don't you know that you don't mess your nest?
You should not need a contract to know that, should you?

[nuthinupmysleeve]

Originally Posted by Plush

Don't you know that you don't mess your nest?
You should not need a contract to know that, should you?

That's it right there. For those who understand common sense, no contract is necessary. It's the rest of 'em..

[Kaoz]

Originally Posted by nuthinupmysleeve

That's it right there. For those who understand common sense, no contract is necessary. It's the rest of 'em..

I call them shit stains.

[Plush]

Thank you, Kaoz

That shid stain has fugged me for the last time. I'm forgiving so I forgave him about all the other times he did stuff to me.

Not this time. He passed his sell by date.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by Plush

This is a situation where Brotman, my friend, and a Grammy winning R&B engineer went rogue.

There is an unwritten code that you don't mess with your mentor's clients.

You all should know that.

I've trained many people and been a mentor to scores of people in my career. Not once have I needed a "non compete agreement." That is because the people I chose to help were upstanding and right thinking people. They would not sooner think to solicit my clients than jump off the Empire State building.

The situation with Brotman is sad. That's because I've also lost a friend.

The reason I'm reporting him here is because he knows nothing about the classical business. He knows rap.

Yes we should all be GENTLEMEN (or Gentile Ladies) but today almost anything goes including using someone else's pictures on your website or listing a lot of top drawer clients that you have never worked with or stealing clients from one another just because you can. I guess the only real way to end this is to call up the person, threaten them with legal action and see what happens. Before calling them up I would get with an attorney to make sure you are on firm legal grounds and what you should say and not say.

Not a good situation and I really feel your pain...