Contract Defaults let you pre-configure the fields that new contracts start with, so you spend less time filling out the wizard.
Accessing Contract Defaults
Go to Dashboard > Settings > Contract Defaults.
How Defaults Work
When you create a new contract, the wizard pre-fills fields from your saved defaults. You can still change any value in the wizard — defaults just set the starting point.
Scope Levels
Defaults are organized into a cascade of scopes, from broadest to most specific:
| Scope | Description |
|---|---|
| Global | Applies to all new contracts |
| By Event Type | Overrides global defaults for a specific event type (Wedding, Corporate, etc.) |
| By Performer Name | Overrides for a specific performer name you use |
| By Venue | Overrides for a specific saved venue |
| By Client | Overrides for a specific client |
More specific scopes override broader ones. For example, if your global deposit is 50% but your Wedding event type sets 25%, new wedding contracts start with a 25% deposit.
Configurable Fields
Defaults are organized into groups:
| Group | Fields |
|---|---|
| Timing & Logistics | Start/end times, breaks, arrival lead time |
| Payment Terms | Deposit percentage, balance due date, payment methods |
| Cancellation | Cancellation preset, windows, penalty percentages |
| Equipment & Repertoire | PA system, client provides, repertoire, song requests |
| Recording & Legal | Recording permission, governing law state |
| Overtime | Overtime rate, auto-calculate, multiplier |
| Meals | Meal provision, meal count, meal buyout rate |
| Travel & Festival | Travel fee, set length, outdoor/public flags, buyer type |
| Rider | Default rider text (appears as Exhibit A) |
Smart Suggestions
When you first visit Contract Defaults, the system analyzes your existing contracts and suggests values based on your most common settings. Accept suggestions individually or dismiss them.
Provenance Indicators
Each field shows where its current value comes from — whether it is set at the current scope, inherited from a parent scope, or using the built-in default. This makes it easy to see which values you have customized and which are inherited.
Common Questions
Do defaults change existing contracts?
No. Defaults only affect new contracts created after the setting is saved.
What happens if I set both global and event type defaults?
The event type default overrides the global default for that field. Any field not set at the event type scope inherits from global.
Can I reset a field to its default?
Yes. Clear the value at the current scope and it will fall back to the parent scope or built-in default.