A rider is not a diva wish list. It is a working document that tells the venue what you need to deliver a great show. There are two parts: the technical rider and the hospitality rider. The technical rider covers sound, stage, and gear. The hospitality rider covers food, drinks, and the green room. Keep both realistic for the rooms you actually play. Asking a two hundred capacity club for imported water and a private chef gets your email deleted.
Your technical rider should include a stage plot, an input list, and your monitor needs. A stage plot is a simple diagram showing where each person and instrument goes. An input list tells the engineer how many microphones and lines you need. Send these at least two weeks before the show, not the day of. The engineer who gets your plot early will actually read it. The one who gets it at load-in will resent you.
For hospitality, ask for what keeps you performing well: water, simple hot food, clean towels, and a private space to warm up. Skip the alcohol demands early in your career. Venues honor riders from artists who are easy to work with and draw crowds. Build that reputation first, and the rooms will start asking what you need instead of you having to fight for it.
Send your rider with the initial booking confirmation, not as an afterthought. Venues plan staffing, catering, and stage setup weeks ahead, and late riders get ignored. Confirm receipt and ask if anything is a problem while there is still time to adjust. On show day, bring printed copies for the stage manager and the engineer. If something on the rider cannot be met, negotiate a substitute calmly rather than demanding the impossible. Flexibility from you earns goodwill that pays off when you really need a favor.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.