Remember, reading is fundamental!! It's not only fundamental in this business, it is mandatory! Contracts are staples in this industry, in place to protect you and the vendor. It, in essence, says, "I'm going to do what I say I'm going to do, and you are going to do what you say you are going to do". You are bound to the contract just as much as the vendor. If you do not understand or agree with something, speak up before you sign.

Payment schedules, services, overtime fees, cancellation/refund policies should be spelled out and explained to you prior to your endorsement. You risk breaching your contract, losing money and a service if you do not adhere. It is too late to ask questions or refuse to pay after the contract has been finalized.

Moreover, pay attention to all of the clauses. Do they sound fair? Does your contract have an escalation clause? Some vendors, mainly reception sites, have clauses which say if you book your event far enough ahead you agree to pay their future prices instead of the prices available at the signing of the contract. How do they obtain these figures? Most vendors consult the CPI, Consumer's Price Index, to see what inflation rates will be in the next few months or years.