Unfortunately, the fifty states vary considerably in what they allow to be sued over, where the suit must be brought, how much can be sued for, and how formal the process is. A few states require that the defendant be a state resident or have a place of business within the state. Also, you will not be able to sue for copyright infringement because that is a federal law and there is no such thing as a federal small claims court. Typically, you can sue only for a broken contract or, sometimes, a tort. Small Business, Small Claims from Nolo Press.
Small claims can actually be fair big claims to a starving artist.
If You're Sued in Small Claims Court, But the Other Party is Really At Fault from Nolo Press. How to Prepare Your Small Claims Case from Nolo Press. Presenting Your Case to a Judge from Nolo Press. Organizing Your Small Claims Testimony and Evidence from Nolo Press. How to Appeal a Small Claims Case from Nolo Press.