Pavarotti needs a golf cart, a lack of ‘distinct’ odors, and sofas on six-inch risers. Christina Aguilera needs Flintstones chewable vitamins, soy cheese, and a roll of film. Aretha Franklin needs a hotel room below the sixth floor and a $25,000 cash downpayment on her fee, handed directly to her. David Copperfield needs grilled boneless chicken breast with Teriyaki sauce ”at a moment’s notice.”<\/p>\n
No, these are not Christmas lists to Santa, but contract requirements of touring artists, as laid out in their backstage contract riders, lovingly collected and preserved by The Smoking Gun<\/a> (thanks for the link, Derek).<\/p>\n For those who don’t work with professional touring artists, backstage or contract riders are attached to performance contracts, and outline exactly what’s expected during the artist’s visit, and who will provide it. Quirky rider requests are legendary in the business — such as a bowl of only<\/i> green M&Ms or dressing rooms appointed entirely in white. A quick read of a rider can offer an interesting and bizarre glimpse into an artist’s psyche.<\/p>\n While it’s easy to write off the odd demands to hubris or vanity, an associate of mine who books these artists suggests: ”You<\/i> try living your life in a different place 150 days of the year, and see what sort of environmental demands you<\/i> make.”<\/p>\n