When you book a live artist, one of the first documents you’ll receive after the contract is the technical rider. For first-time buyers of live entertainment, this document can be intimidating — it’s often 5 to 20 pages of requirements that cover everything from stage dimensions to specific brands of water in the green room.
Here’s a plain-language breakdown of what a technical rider actually contains, and how to read it without panic.
What a Technical Rider Is
A technical rider is a document attached to an artist’s contract that lists the technical and logistical requirements needed to execute their performance. It’s divided into two main sections: the technical rider (stage and production) and the hospitality rider (dressing room and catering requirements). Some artists have them combined; others send them separately.
The rider is not a wish list — it’s a contractual requirement. If you agree to the performance contract, you’re agreeing to meet the rider requirements. If there are items you can’t fulfill, you need to flag them to the booking agent before signing, not the day of the show.
Stage and Sound Requirements
This section specifies the minimum stage dimensions (typically in feet or meters), the type and wattage of PA system required, the number of monitor mixes needed, mixing console specifications, and sometimes the specific brand of equipment the artist’s engineer requires.
For Latin music artists who perform with live bands, the input list — a detailed list of every microphone, DI box, and cable required for each instrument — can run 20+ channels. Your sound engineer or production company will use this to configure the stage before the artist arrives.
Lighting Requirements
Depending on the artist’s profile, lighting requirements range from “basic stage wash with a few spotlights” to “full moving-head rig with haze machines and a dedicated lighting console.” For corporate events in hotel ballrooms or convention centers, many venues have basic house lighting that meets entry-level riders. For outdoor events or raw venue spaces, you’ll need to rent a lighting package.
Backline Requirements
Backline refers to the musical equipment on stage that the artist’s band uses — drum kits, amplifiers, keyboards. Some artists travel with their own backline; others require you to provide it. A typical backline list might specify a specific model of drum kit, bass amp, and guitar amp. These can be rented through production companies.
Hospitality and Dressing Room
The hospitality rider covers the artist’s needs before and after the show: dressing room requirements (private room, mirrors, seating), catering (meals for the band, specific beverages), and sometimes specific temperature requirements or security arrangements.
This is the section most event planners focus on for the wrong reasons. The legendary stories about artists demanding specific M&M colors are outliers — for most working artists at the corporate event level, the hospitality rider is practical. They need a clean, private space to prepare, food for their crew, and enough time before the show to sound check.
What Happens If You Can’t Meet the Rider?
If there are rider requirements you can’t fulfill — a stage that’s smaller than specified, a venue that doesn’t allow certain equipment — you need to disclose that to the booking agent before the contract is signed. Most artists are willing to negotiate rider modifications if you’re upfront. Surprises on show day cause delays, tension, and sometimes cancellations.
When you book through AER Management, we walk you through the rider for each artist before you sign — so you know exactly what you’re committing to and whether your venue can handle it. Get in touch here to start that conversation.
Not sure how to handle rider requirements for your venue? Reach out to AER Management — we coordinate all technical requirements directly with your production team.