(f) Re-copy a soiled manuscript as soon as it shows evidence of handling.  Keep your “silent salesman” fresh in appearance.

(g) Bind your manuscript in a flexible cover to give it a neat appearance and make it handy to read.

(h) Type your name and address in full on the outside of the cover, and on the first white page.  Thus you stamp the manuscript as your act, and it always bears your address in case of loss.

(i) Have your act copyrighted is a bit of advice that would seem needless, but many performers and producers refuse to read an act unless it is copyrighted.  The copyright—­while it is not as good proof in court as a public performance—­is nevertheless a record that on such and such a date the author deposited in the Library of Congress a certain manuscript.  This record can be produced as incontrovertible evidence of fact.  The view of the performer and the producer is that he wishes to protect the author as much as possible—­but himself more.  He desires to place beyond all possibility any charge of plagiarism.  Therefore, copyright the final version of your act and typewrite on the cover the date of copyright and the serial number.

(j) How to copyright the manuscript of a vaudeville act. Write to the Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., asking him to send you the blank form prescribed by law to copyright an unpublished dramatic composition.  Do not send stamps, as it is unnecessary.  In addition to the blank you will receive printed instructions for filling it out, and full information covering the copyright process.  The fee is one dollar, which includes a certificate of copyright entry.  This covers copyright in the United States only; if you desire to copyright in a foreign country, consult a lawyer.

(k) The preparation of a scene plot should not be a difficult task if you will remember that you need merely draw a straight-line diagram—­such as are shown in the chapter on “The Vaudeville Stage and its Dimensions”—­so as to make your word-description perfectly clear.  On this diagram it is customary to mark the position of chairs, tables, telephones and other properties incidental to the action of the story.  But a diagram is not absolutely necessary.  Written descriptions will be adequate, if they are carefully and concisely worded.

(l) The preparation of property plots and light plots has been mentioned in the chapter on “The Vaudeville Stage and Its Dimensions,” therefore they require a word here.  They are merely a list of the properties required and directions for any changes of lighting that may occur in the act.  For a first presentation of a manuscript, it is quite unnecessary for you to bother about the technical plots (arrangement plans) of the stage.  If your manuscript is acceptable, you may be quite sure that the producer will supply these plots himself.