Don't work with this guy. He's trying to take advantage of you.
If his dad is a lawyer, you are going to be in a trouble if you actually get into some kind of a disagreement with the guy. He can say that you did in fact have a verbal agreement and that he showed you the papers and you agreed.
$400 is very, cery little money if there is a possibility of legal fight involved and by giving you the contract he has laready showed that he's serious about the legal stuff.
It's just not worth it. There are other ideas in the world. There are other art students. There are certainly better paying, more deserving consulting gigs. Just bail now, before you kick yourself later for not bailing sooner.
If you need a list of creative excuses I'll offer a few:
-- One of your pet goldfish died and you can't work while you're in mourning.
-- You've converted to a new religion in which the Sabbath runs from Monday to Saturday. You could work on Sunday, but that's when all your homework needs to be done.
-- You need money to finance your expensive drug habit, so you got another gig that pays $150 per hour. Unfortunately, it takes up most of your time.
-- Walk around in public with one arm in a sling. Claim, sorrowfully, that you can't type anymore. Bonus points if you switch the sling from arm to arm every other day.
"-- You need money to finance your expensive drug habit, so you got another gig that pays $150 per hour. Unfortunately, it takes up most of your time."
...or the roommate may have perfectly good intentions, but his father's intervention is damaging the business relationship, and either the roommate doesn't recognize that's going on or can't tell his father to tone things down a bit.
Any way you interpret it, though, it's a warning sign.
"or can't tell his father to tone things down a bit."
If he can't tell his father that a 17 page contract for a $400 gig is inappropriate and counter-productive, then he's no business partner worth having.
If his dad is a lawyer, you are going to be in a trouble if you actually get into some kind of a disagreement with the guy. He can say that you did in fact have a verbal agreement and that he showed you the papers and you agreed.
$400 is very, cery little money if there is a possibility of legal fight involved and by giving you the contract he has laready showed that he's serious about the legal stuff.