Rider
A rider is an attachment to an artist's performance contract that lists what the artist needs to play the show. The technical rider covers stage, sound, light and backline; the hospitality rider covers catering, dressing room, accommodation and care on show day. Attached to the signed contract, the rider is part of what the promoter agreed to.
The technical rider
The technical rider tells the venue and its crew what the show needs on stage. It typically includes a stage plot showing where performers and equipment stand, an input list for the sound engineer, PA and monitor requirements, the backline the promoter provides (amps, drums, DJ equipment), lighting notes, power and stage dimensions. For DJs it is often short: mixer and player models, booth monitors and a stable booth. The venue answers with its own tech spec, and the two documents are compared during advancing. Where the room cannot meet a point, both sides agree a substitute in writing before show day, so the crew is not improvising at load-in.
The hospitality rider
The hospitality rider covers how artist and crew are looked after from arrival to departure: food and drinks, dietary needs, dressing room, towels and water on stage, hotel rooms, ground transport between airport, hotel and venue, and guest list spots. Some of it can be a buyout instead of a list, where the promoter pays a fixed amount per person in place of catering. Hospitality costs money, so it belongs in the show budget from the offer stage onward. A rider is negotiable like any other term, and points that do not fit the room or the fee are commonly struck or adjusted before the contract is signed.
Riders on bbn.music
In the BBN Agency Suite, each artist on the roster carries their tech and hospitality riders next to documents like stage plots and press kits. When a booking is advanced, the riders are among the ten checks that show what is still open. In the BBN Event Suite, promoters and venues collect the same details through advancing: one structured request gathers tech and hospitality information from artists and venues, and everyone works from the current version.
Frequently asked questions
Is a rider legally binding?
Generally yes, once it is attached to or referenced in the signed contract. Points both sides struck or changed before signing no longer apply, so keep the final version with the contract.
What is the difference between a tech rider and a hospitality rider?
The tech rider covers the stage: sound, light, backline and layout. The hospitality rider covers the people: food, drinks, dressing room, hotel and transport.
Who pays for the items on a rider?
The promoter, as part of the show costs, unless the contract says otherwise. Check the riders against the budget before you confirm the offer.