Today we’d like to introduce you to John Seay.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
First of all, growing up, music was a huge part of my life, both listening to it and playing it. I also wrote music features and album reviews for a few newspapers and magazines. I did some creative writing and even briefly attended an MFA program. I played in bands that toured around the southeast and spent some time on the road with some bands as a tour manager. So, before deciding to attend law school, I’d already spent a bunch of time in the entertainment industry. At a certain point, around the time I turned 26, I realized I wanted a more stable career for myself. A friend posed the idea of going to law school and becoming an entertainment lawyer. That seemed like the perfect marriage of my lifelong passion for the arts and my desire to have a stable career.
So, I went to the University of Georgia for law school, graduating in 2010, at the height of the last recession. I spent some time doing contract work for other attorneys and had a stint doing software-as-a-service contracts for a huge healthcare company, before quitting to take a short-term gig at Turner Broadcasting and start my own firm, which I did officially in late 2011. Shortly after the Turner gig ended, I became Of Counsel in the entertainment group of Loeb & Loeb, working out of their Nashville office. “Of Counsel” means I did work for Loeb, about 20 hours a week at first, while also growing my own law firm. Through Loeb, I got trained and got to work on deals for some of the biggest artists in the world. That work slowly tapered off as my law firm grew until I just didn’t have the bandwidth to take on any more work with them, which happened in around 2016. I am very thankful to them for the opportunity to really get into the field and learn the ins and outs of the practice.
Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great mentors. I wouldn’t be where I am without them, and also without the support of my friends and family, especially my wife, Jennifer. I’ve also had some luck along the way. Since starting my firm, I’ve always only practiced entertainment law.
Today, I represent artists who are signed to all the major record labels and the biggest independent record labels. I work with producers who have produced tracks for some of the biggest artists in the industry. I’ve helped dozens and dozens of people start and grow their own record labels. I do a little bit of film and television work as well and have served as counsel on a few film productions over the years. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do this kind of work. There isn’t a single other job I’d rather have than what I’m doing right now.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a business is very hard. It takes several years to get any business off the ground. During my years as a writer and musician, I learned how to “hustle” – when I needed money for rent, I’d contact a bunch of different publications and try to churn out a quick article. Or pick up little side gigs here and there. Some of my side gigs during those years were tutoring and teaching. I had to be resourceful and persistent. The skills I developed during that lean period of my life played a big part in enabling my success as a business owner.
In fact, during the first year of my law practice, I also picked up little side gigs, one was working as a document review attorney, which is maybe the most boring side hustle you could possibly do. But, it gave me just enough extra cash to make my dream of having a law practice work. I also had some luck in my early years, getting a few big payouts that supplemented my regular income until the work got steadier. There were a few times I thought I might have to give up the dream, but I stuck it out until about three years in when things really started to click. It was like someone turned on the faucet at that point, and then by the time I was five years into my practice, I had a full, thriving law practice. I’m 8 years in now.
Although I made my first hire last year, having a solo practice can be difficult as well. I didn’t have someone in the office next to me, for example, to bounce ideas off of, or to get advice from. But I did – and do – have a bunch of great mentors who are very generous with their time, which has really been a help.
The other big challenge is managing my workload. It’s just me and my assistant at the office, and my Of Counsel attorney, Jared. So when I go out of town, it’s hard to ever really unplug. I would never leave a client in the lurch, which means I’m essentially always on call, even when I’m out of the office. Which is something I’ve had to work on to get some better separation during the times I’m with my wife and kids. Fortunately, they also understand that I sometimes have to work in the evenings to get something knocked out for a client.
The Seay Firm – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Some people don’t know what “entertainment lawyer” means, so I tell people that I’m a small business lawyer, but all of my businesses are arts-related. I’m like the in-house counsel for hundreds of small businesses, which, as I mentioned above, can be a real challenge from a time-management perspective! I do nothing but entertainment law, and at this point, it’s probably 90% music, along with some film and television and other odds and ends (I represent a few models, podcasters, writers, etc.). I draft, review, and negotiate all manner of agreements in the entertainment industries, and then also handle business incorporations and agreements, and copyright and trademark registrations.
Because of my background as an artist, I take a different approach with my clients. I love the flexibility, as a business owner, of deciding when and what to charge a given client. I tend to bill on a sliding scale and try to do flat fees where possible. I encourage my clients to keep me posted on what they’re working on. I’m a lover of the arts first and foremost, so I’m always excited whenever a client sends me a track they’re working on, for example. I think my background as an artist, and the sensibility that comes along with that, is one of the things that sets me apart. Additionally, I’ve worked hard to maintain and grow my contacts in the industry. Connecting good people to other good people is truly one of my favorite parts of the job, and something I never charge for.
The thing I’m most proud of is when a new client tells me they asked around for a good entertainment lawyer, and multiple people recommended me. I care deeply for the arts community and I think that shows in my work. I hope that my commitment to my clients is something that stands out to them.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I’m a success if I’m respected in my field and loved by my friends and family. I take the trust of my colleagues and clients very seriously and work to maintain that trust and grow it on a day-to-day basis. Part of how you do that is by treating people fairly and transparently. Making people feel at ease when they come to you with a problem. If you do good work and treat people fairly, and stick out the early lean years, all while being – in my case – a good husband, father, son, brother, and friend – then you’re a success, in my opinion. Being a success – in whatever form or definition – is something everyone should constantly strive for, and there is always room for improvement.
Contact Info:
- Address: 750 Piedmont Ave. NE
- Website: The Seay Firm LLC
- Phone: (404) 913-4232
- Email: john.seay@theseayfirm.com
- Instagram: @theseayfirmllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSeayFirmLLC/
- Twitter: @theseayfirmllc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-seay-firm-atlanta
- Other: www.theseayfirm.com
Image Credit:
For the picture of me in front of the file cabinets and me in front of the brick wall (in the same outfit), Photos by Bonnie J. Heath Photography. No credits for any other photo. For the photo of me with a mic wearing a pink shirt, Photo by Erin Schopf.
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