Contract Riders Deep Dive

As your touring profile grows, you'll need a contract rider—a document outlining your technical, hospitality, and production requirements. A well-written rider protects both you and the venue.

What's a rider?

A rider is a supplement to the main performance agreement. It specifies exactly what you need to play your show: gear, power, stage setup, crew accommodations, and catering. It's legally binding and prevents misunderstandings.

Small DIY shows might not need a formal rider. But once you're working with venues, festivals, or promoters, riders become essential.

Technical rider

This covers sound and lighting. Specify:

• PA system: Mono or stereo? Minimum wattage? Do you need a soundcheck?
• Monitors: How many? Do you need individual mixes or a single main mix?
• Microphones: How many? Do you bring your own or does the venue supply?
• Instruments: Do you need drums, bass amps, keyboards on stage? What's their spec?
• Cables and stands: Specify mic stands, cable lengths, amps.
• Lighting: Do you need stage lights, spotlights, or just house lights?
• Power: How many circuits? Is power adequate for your gear?

Be realistic. Smaller venues have smaller systems. List ideal specs first, then list compromises for venues with limited gear.

Hospitality rider

This covers accommodations and catering:

• Parking: Do you need multiple vehicles parked? Is it free?
• Load-in/load-out: What time? How much time do you need?
• Dressing room: Private or shared? Temperature controlled?
• Catering: Meals? Snacks? Vegetarian options? Alcohol?
• Crew accommodations: Hotel, per diem, or do you provide your own?

For touring bands, riders often request hotel vouchers, meal per diems, or green room access. Venues with tight budgets might offer less. Negotiate in good faith.

Production rider

This outlines crew and logistics:

• Sound engineer: Venue-provided or bringing your own?
• Lighting operator: Same question.
• Stage manager: Who manages timing and cues?
• Security: Do you need security? Does the venue provide it?
• Merch table: Where can you sell merch? Do you keep 100%?
• Insurance: Who carries liability insurance?

Negotiating riders

When pitching a rider to a venue, remember they're running a business too. A small bar can't provide hotel rooms and catering. A 500-capacity theater can.

Prioritize what matters most. Maybe you need a solid PA and monitors but don't care about catering. Let the venue know where you're flexible.

Lead with a collaborative tone: "Here's what we need to deliver our best show. Let's figure out what works for your space."

Building your rider

Start with templates from other touring artists or your booking agent. Customize to your needs. Keep technical specs realistic for your touring level.

A rider should be clear but not hostile. It's a promise of professionalism, not a list of demands. Venues respect riders that show you've thought through logistics.

Common negotiation points

• Soundcheck time: Always request it. Get a written time.
• Merch: Confirm you keep 100% unless otherwise negotiated.
• Door cut: If it's a door split, clarify what counts as the door (just tickets? or drinks too?).
• Payment terms: Cash at show or invoice after? Confirm in writing.

As you climb in visibility, your rider grows in scope. A platinum artist's rider is 40+ pages. Yours might be one page to start. That's fine.

A good rider is a roadmap that says: "Here's what we've learned from touring. Here's what we need. Let's make this show great together."