The crazy world of backstage riders
[This was my weekly column for GlobalNews.ca. – AC]
Being on tour is a grind.
Artists travel from city to city by van, bus, or airplane. Hours and hours of boredom are only broken by the precious time they get to be onstage. And for the performance to go off as well as possible, artists must be in the right headspace. That means being taken care of at the venue. This is where we encounter the “concert rider,” a part of the agreement between a performer and the promoter about what needs to be provided to the act before, during and after a show.
The rider is provided so that any given gig goes smoothly and comfortably for all those involved, with no misunderstandings, miscues or screw-ups. The bulk of any rider deals with some pretty mundane stuff: time of load-in, arrangements regarding merchandise sales and special requirements involving staging.
But the best riders are the ones who spell out the requirements and needs of the artist before, during and after the show at the venue — specifically in the dressing room.
