Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 208 Praise the Sun!

In 19th-century France, "notary" was a very important profession.

Unlike today's "notaries," notaries in France at that time served multiple functions, including legal advisors, property managers, and investment advisors. They were state-authorized legal professionals who had to obtain a license issued by the government to practice.

Their signatures and seals have legal effect and can make contracts, wills, and sales agreements "officially effective".

In French society at that time, notaries were highly respected and were generally considered trustworthy individuals to whom one could entrust their life's wealth.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lionel did not immediately present his request for a commission. Instead, he asked a question: "Mr. Delacroix, before considering establishing a long-term working relationship with you, may I seek your professional advice?"

Delacroix responded calmly, "Of course, Mr. Sorel."

Lionel gathered his thoughts before continuing, "Here's the situation: the Comédie-Française wants to sign a three-year exclusive licensing agreement with me, granting them the exclusive rights to perform 'The Chorus' in France."

In return, they were willing to increase my share of the box office revenue to 6%.

At the same time, I also received letters from several important theaters in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and other places, expressing a strong desire to obtain performance rights, each with its own attractive terms.

He paused, observing Delacroix's reaction, but the other simply listened quietly without any change in expression.

Lionel posed the difficult question: "Should I accept the exclusive deal with the Comedy Theatre now, or should I instead sign separate contracts with several local theaters?"

What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of these two options? Which one, in the long run, is more in my best interest?

Lionel was assessing whether the notary before him possessed the business acumen he needed, rather than just a clerk who could stamp documents and keep accounts.

After a moment of silence, Delacroix slowly spoke: "Mr. Sorel, you have initiated a business decision-making consultation, and it is a very complex one."

If it's just a simple document notarization or basic legal consultation, I could easily give you the answer right now, consider it a small gift for our meeting..."

He paused briefly, carefully choosing his words, before continuing, "But at Delacroix's firm, any in-depth professional analysis and strategic advice comes at a price."

Regarding the 'multiple-choice question' you raised, if you would like a comprehensive, detailed, and actionable analysis of the pros and cons and recommendations, the consultation fee is 150 francs.

Regardless of whether you ultimately adopt my advice, and regardless of whether we establish a long-term client relationship, this fee needs to be paid before the advice is issued.

His words were calm, direct, and even somewhat cold, making no attempt to hide the fact that his professional knowledge was priced.

Lionel was not offended at all; on the contrary, he was quite pleased.

He needs a partner who is transparent about finances.

He took out his wallet from his inner pocket, counted out 150 francs, placed it neatly on the table, and pushed it toward Delacroix.

Lionel replied casually, “Very reasonable, Mr. Delacroix. Knowledge and service deserve appropriate compensation.”

This is the consultation fee. Now, I'd like to hear your professional analysis.

Delacroix glanced at the banknotes on the table, but did not put them away immediately; he simply nodded slightly.

Once a monetary contract is reached, professional barriers are removed.

He sat up straight: "Very good, Mr. Sorel. Let's first analyze the pros and cons of accepting the exclusive licensing offer from the Comédie-Française, starting with the advantages—"

First, it provides a stable and substantial long-term income. This ensures a continuous cash flow for the next three years, facilitating your personal financial planning.

Secondly, your exclusive partnership with the Comédie-Française is itself a significant enhancement to the value of "The Chorus" and your status as the author.

The intangible reputation gained from being a regular feature of the Comédie-Française sometimes even surpasses the short-term monetary benefits.

Third, it saves you time and effort. You only need to deal with the comedy theater; all performance arrangements, box office calculations, and revenue payments are handled by their large professional team, allowing you to focus all your energy on new creative work. Fourth, it mitigates risks. You avoid the contract disputes, payment risks, and potential damage to the reputation of your production caused by dealing with multiple theaters.

The comedy theater boasts top-notch production quality and commercial reputation.

Lionel nodded in agreement: "And what about the downsides?"

Delacroix's tone remained calm: "The downside, firstly, is that we give up the higher one-time licensing fees or revenue-sharing agreements that we could have obtained by collaborating with theaters in other cities."

Especially in large cities like Marseille and Lyon, the market potential is enormous.

Secondly, there is a loss of flexibility. For three years, you will not be able to independently arrange the choir's performances in other parts of France.

Comedy theater tours certainly can't cover all potential markets, especially small and medium-sized cities, but they can still offer good returns.

Third, you are at the mercy of others. Your income will be deeply tied to the operational capabilities of the comedy theater.

Future changes in theater management or ineffective promotion could directly impact your revenue.

Lionel laughed: "Then, from a revenue standpoint, I should probably turn down the exclusive deal for the comedy theater."

Delacroix shook his head: "You do have the potential to get more than 6% in several major cities, the short-term cash returns could be amazing, and the market coverage is broader, allowing you to recoup the full commercial value of the play faster."

However, you will also face management nightmares, and may even need to hire a specialist to negotiate, sign and supervise the execution of dozens of different contracts with several or even dozens of theaters at the same time.

This requires extremely strong legal, business, and time management skills, and is highly prone to disputes and bad debts.

Furthermore, financial risks must be considered; receiving payments from multiple sources means greater financial risk and more complex tax issues…

Delacroix meticulously analyzed every aspect of both proposals.

He even mentioned the possibility of future copyright transfers, publishing revenue, and international performances, demonstrating his expertise in literary brokerage and his long-term vision.

Finally, he concluded: "In conclusion, Mr. Sorel, my professional advice is—accept the exclusive licensing agreement with the Comédie-Française."

Lionel was somewhat surprised, because from a financial perspective, Delacroix, as a "notary," earned his income through contracts and a share of the profits.

Signing contracts with more theaters would certainly be more cost-effective for Delacroix.

He asked with a smile, "Why?"

Delacroix remained unfazed: "For a writer like you, in the prime of your creative career, the value of time far outweighs any potential extra monetary gain."

By entrusting the tedious business affairs to the comedy theater, while securing a long-term, stable, and high share of revenue, and using the saved time to create new successful works, the overall benefits far exceed those of personally managing a nationwide performance network piecemeal.

Moreover, the brand prestige and risk mitigation capabilities of comedy theaters are unmatched by other theaters. This is undoubtedly the most prudent and far-sighted choice.

After listening to this detailed and insightful analysis, Lionel's doubts vanished: "Very good, Mr. Delacroix, your analysis completely convinces me."

I got my money's worth in spending those 150 francs.

He paused, his gaze becoming serious: "Now, let's talk about a long-term partnership. I wish to engage Delacroix & Co. as my long-term legal and financial full-service representative."

Not only was I responsible for negotiating and signing this agreement with the Comédie-Française, but I was also responsible for managing all the revenue generated from it, and handling all future contractual matters related to my works.

This time, Delacroix finally smiled, stood up, and shook hands firmly with Lionel: "Rest assured, our notarized contract will eliminate all legal risks for you!"

Lionel couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out, "Praise the sun!"

(End of this chapter)