TNA Charging "booking fees" for outside bookings

[Guest OSIcon]

From Buck Woodward at PWInsider:

 

NWA TNA has implemented another policy for their contracted wrestlers that will no doubt sit about as well with them as the recent decision to not let the talent take paydays from Ring of Honor.

 

Sources inside the company have told us that the internal management team has decided that starting with shows in June, all contracted talent that is booked on a non-TNA show will be subjected to a 15% booking fee, payable to TNA.  In addition to that, TNA is also implementing a 50% deposit, due to their company, once a promoter books a talent.  So, if a wrestler is signed to work a show for $1,000, there will be a $150 fee payable to TNA, raising the total outlay for the promoter to $1,150, and $575 will be payable the day the booking is made (even if the actual show does not take place for months down the line).

 

For instance, Raven tells people that he gets $1,500 per indy appearance, which means Raven will either now need to get $1,725 from the promoter to net the $1,500 that he got before, or he will have to pay the $225 to TNA himself out of his regular fee, and thus lose 15% of his money to TNA.

 

In addition this, by having a deposit paid to TNA via check up front, any wrestler who in the past was paid in cash and didn’t report that cash as income on their taxes now will have no choice but to do so.  Now there will be a paper trail with the checks that the individual promoters send to TNA, thus creating a record of at least half of their booking fee for each show that they do, making them liable for the sum on their taxes on said money when in the past they could have been paid totally in cash and only reported what they wanted to report.

 

Obviously, this will not be a popular move with the talent.

[Michrome 0]

Oh my god, that's just fucking gold. Does this count Japan too?

[Guest OSIcon]

Does this count Japan too?

 

That is a really good question. If it doesn't, then that creates the problem of wrestlers who have a gig in Japan being even better off financially than they are are compared to their peers who just work US indy dates. I can't see that sitting well with the wrestlers. If they do charge a booking fee (and deposit) to promotions in Japan, I can't see those promotions being very happy about it. It would be real interesting if it caused guys like Chris Daniels to chose between Japan and TNA (or if it would cause TNA to cave in).

 

No matter how you look at it, it is another bonehead move by TNA.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

Is this only for shows that TNA books talent for through their office, or is this for any show that a guy works? HUGE DIFFERENCE. There's a difference between TNA booking Kid Kash for some indy in Tennessee and AJ Styles working for 3PW.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I can see why they'd do this if the TNA office got them the booking. If it's just for any booking then that's a rather shitty idea. Though I admit if I were a worker I wouldn't mind the deposit idea.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

TNA is not having a good run in the "keep the talent happy" department. Stupidity kills promotions people. Sadly TNA may be the next one on the list.

[Michrome 0]

It's so clear and obvious where this is all going. There were reports a month ago or less that TNA wanted to now book every Indy show through their office anyway. So if Chris Daniels makes 10 grand on a tour, does he have to demand 1500 more from Inoki, or choke it up himself? And if not, doesn't that create a huge double standard?

[Guest OSIcon]

It's so clear and obvious where this is all going. There were reports a month ago or less that TNA wanted to now book every Indy show through their office anyway. So if Chris Daniels makes 10 grand on a tour, does he have to demand 1500 more from Inoki, or choke it up himself? And if not, doesn't that create a huge double standard?

 

Not to mention, is Inoki going to send 5,000 dollars to TNA as soon as he books Daniels?

 

The whole thing is really dumb and I would be really surprised if it doesn't bite them in the ass.....

[Guest duck420]

they are hurting for money this badly? why dont they get me to buy the damn ppvs. the last one i bought was becuz icp was on it for chrissakes(im poor or id buy every single one on multiple tvs just to piss vinny mac off)

[1234-5678 0]

I'm just concerned this will affect 3PW. I go see em every month, and they regularly book Raven, Sabu, and Jerry Lynn. This month they have Styles vs. Daniels.

[Guest JacK]

all contracted talent that is booked on a non-TNA show

 

 

That sounds like it includes everything . . . which if it does is some serious bodginess right there. I could understand if it's shows they've got the talent booked for, but other than that I don't quite get it.

 

And what's the point of the deposit anyway? Usually a deposit is incase you steal what your borrowing . . . but do they get to keep the money if the promotion takes the wrestlers, loads them up into a truck and drives off into the sunset? Even in the case of an injury, a deposit makes no sense. It's way to small to be adaquite compensation for an injury.

Edited May 5, 2004 by JacK

[Michrome 0]

Bob Ryder: "Excuse me Mr. Inoki, but we're told you're paying Christopher Daniels 10k for the BOSJ. We'd like you to up his pay to $11,500, but if you don't, never fear, it will come out of his pocket anyway. Either way, make sure to have a deposit of half of his salary sent to us by the end of the week. Thanks."

 

Inoki: "...."

[Guest MikeSC]

Legitimate question:

 

With TNA apparently changing the work rules on the boys repeatedly (no way the "no ROH" rule and this clause were in their contracts) --- how much further can they go until their employees complain that what they signed and their current work conditions are not the same thing and demand out of their deals?

-=Mike

...Honestly, if the WWE wants somebody, they can likely pursue this line of reasoning in court

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

There was an AJ Styles interview recently (which I can't seem to find right now) where he was asked about the RoH stuff. He wasn't exactly tap dancing over the situation...but his response pretty much put down the idea that he was mad enough to push or question it at this point, in my mind. So I think that situation is pretty much settled.

 

On this topic...when I read about this initially a few weeks back...the story was that they wanted to do this for the shows they booked their talent on. That way...it makes some sense since there's probably and agent fee of some kind...and it probably usually comes out of the talent's end (which this wouldn't).

 

If it's for every booking...then that's stupid.

[Youth N Asia 0]

TNA is starting to become the worst thing to happen to indies since...well, the WWE.

[JST 0]

Well, fuck. Guess I should treasure my sig pic.

[syxx2001 0]

Its bad, but only cause its new. Its like renting a contracted worker. WWE could do the same thing, charging a promotion money to use The Rock or Rey Jr.

[thuganomics 0]

So, when the year is up on these contracts, how many stars are going to ditch out on TNA?

[Guest MikeSC]

Its bad, but only cause its new. Its like renting a contracted worker. WWE could do the same thing, charging a promotion money to use The Rock or Rey Jr.

I imagine WWE contracts have this kind of thing pretty explicitly stated.

 

And a lot of the guys make enough to not need to work indy dates.

-=Mike

[eirejmcmahon 0]

I'm with BPS on this one, it sounds like they're only charging for dates booked through TNA, which makes sense as they're serving as an agent for the talent in question.

 

Well, it makes sense to a degree, this half up front thing sounds a bit suspect to me.

[Michrome 0]

I'm with BPS on this one, it sounds like they're only charging for dates booked through TNA, which makes sense as they're serving as an agent for the talent in question.

 

What part of the above story gives you that impression at all? Further, acting as an agent and taking 15% from guys that are having no problems getting bookings themselves is so sad it's funny. Couple this with the story from a while ago that TNA eventually wanted to do all outside bookings through the office, and it's obvious what's going on.

[Guest hunger4unger]

Good for TNA. TNA have these guys under contract so it's only fair that they get something out of it. I imagine that the companies that the workers work for, for example ROH, will pay the fee to TNA themselves rather than have the worker do it.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

So, when the year is up on these contracts, how many stars are going to ditch out on TNA?

I would doubt many, even with this side crap it's still promised dates throughout the year and no other indy fed can give them that.

[Michrome 0]

Good for TNA. TNA have these guys under contract so it's only fair that they get something out of it. I imagine that the companies that the workers work for, for example ROH, will pay the fee to TNA themselves rather than have the worker do it

 

Thanks for the comedic relief.

[Guest Donners]

If they have chosen to sign such open contracts that TNA can legally introduce such new clauses, then this cannot come as such a huge shock. With the increased number of bookings and and amount of exposure they'll get from the TV deal, I doubt they'd be much worse off at all.

[Guest hunger4unger]

Good for TNA. TNA have these guys under contract so it's only fair that they get something out of it. I imagine that the companies that the workers work for, for example ROH, will pay the fee to TNA themselves rather than have the worker do it

 

Thanks for the comedic relief.

Nothing comedic about it, it's a simple fact now. If other companies want to hire TNA workers they'll have to pay one way or another - either direct to TNA or pay the worker more who then pays TNA.

 

Infact, what was so funny anyway?

[Guest TDinDC1112]

If TNA actually gets a wrestler booked through their office, they should get money for it. But they should not if it's an outside booking. That's the bottom line here.

[Michrome 0]

Nothing comedic about it, it's a simple fact now. If other companies want to hire TNA workers they'll have to pay one way or another - either direct to TNA or pay the worker more who then pays TNA.

 

Infact, what was so funny anyway?

 

It's funny because it's so clear that you don't know jack shit about the Indies. You think John Zandig will book Dutt months in advance if he has to pay half up front? He doesn't have that money to put up. Indies barely scrape by, they are not going to be paying these guys 15% more, and they especially can't afford to pony up 400 to 500 dollars months in advance of booking AJ, Daniels, or someone else.

 

If TNA actually gets a wrestler booked through their office, they should get money for it. But they should not if it's an outside booking. That's the bottom line here.

 

Oh c'mon Tom, you're smarter than this. These aren't wrestlers coming to TNA, asking them for help with bookings, in exchange for a 15% cut. This is TNA appointing itself as a bookings agent for talent that has NO PROBLEM GETTING BOOKINGS. Promoters cannot afford to pay the 50% months in advance, no way. The extra 15% on some guys is dealbreaker too for promotions that barely scrape by. These guys are going to sit at home on weekends far more often than they did before.

 

If this applies to Japan, this is so beyond the pale it's ridiculous. If it doesn't, they have an unfair double standard. I predict they just decide not to do it.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

If TNA actually gets a wrestler booked through their office, they should get money for it. But they should not if it's an outside booking. That's the bottom line here.

 

Oh c'mon Tom, you're smarter than this. These aren't wrestlers coming to TNA, asking them for help with bookings, in exchange for a 15% cut. This is TNA appointing itself as a bookings agent for talent that has NO PROBLEM GETTING BOOKINGS. Promoters cannot afford to pay the 50% months in advance, no way. The extra 15% on some guys is dealbreaker too for promotions that barely scrape by. These guys are going to sit at home on weekends far more often than they did before.

 

If this applies to Japan, this is so beyond the pale it's ridiculous. If it doesn't, they have an unfair double standard. I predict they just decide not to do it.

I'm with you on this. I assumed TNA was acting as a booking agent for some guys because otherwise it would be absolutely ridiculous. I know how business works, and I know the 50% thing is impossible. It's just TNA's indirect way of once again forcing talent to work nowhere else.

 

Now how is this legal though? Did these guys actually sign contracts that somehow gave TNA this right? Otherwise, they can tell them to fuck off. It's not like the ROH thing where at least TNA can say "they're competition." But on that note, I guess TNA can just turn around and label everyone else competition. This is just a joke, anyway you slice it.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

And now this from Mike Johnson:

 

"Yesterday, Buck Woodward reported that NWA TNA is going to implement a policy where they take a 15% booking fee for any date that their wrestlers take from third party promotions. We have more information on what TNA is planning to do.

 

*As Buck reported yesterday, TNA will charge the "promoter" a 15% booking fee, which is internally being called a "management" fee. Obviously, if a third party promoter won't pay the extra fee, it will be the talent who does so.

 

*TNA will assign certain people in the company to handle the different wrestlers third party dates. There will not be just one person handling all of the talents. For example, Bob Ryder will handle Chris Harris and James Storm. Bill Behrens will handle AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels, etc. The talent/promoter must ask, in writing, for the dates that they want. The person in charge of the talent must then approve any and all third party bookings, in writing. Until the TNA rep returns the date in writing, the company will not consider it booked (so a promoter better not advertise the talent until they have the date in writing).

 

*The wrestler must tell TNA, again in writing, how much they will be paid for the date. TNA will then charge their 15% "management" fee and also get 50% of the booking fee immediately. While TNA will get the 50% in advance, the talent will not be paid that money by TNA until after the date is worked. The talent is also expected to get the other 50% of the money prior to working the show.

 

*Since the events are now booked through TNA, the clauses in their TNA contracts carry over to the third party shows. They are expected to act at these events in the same manner that they would at a TNA show. Also, if the talent is involved in any angles at the third party show or has a match finish that goes against something TNA is doing on their shows, the worker has to get approval from TNA on it.

 

*As you would expect, TNA will have the right of first refusal over any and all dates for the talent.

 

Also, for those who wondered, TNA can put this program in place because of the writing in the contracts that the talents signed with TNA. We were told at the time that the contracts were very much in the favor of TNA. As we have seen over the last month or so, that certainly appears to be the case.

 

We have also learned that TNA had planned to explain the new procedures to the talent at their meeting today before their weekly PPV. Since word of this story broke yesterday, writers at PWInsider.com have spoken to a number of the affected talents and to say they are not happy about these changes would be an understatement. Today's talent meeting should be very interesting"

 

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I'd have to say the thing that bothers me is these guys would sign contracts that would allow this. I know TNA is being totally bush league by doing this, but what the hell is wrong with these wrestlers?