Contract Rider & Check List

 

The Production Manager and staff are like scouts and are the forward observers of the entourage.  They travel in front of the crews and find out about the venues prior to the shows arrival. They take pictures get brochures about the venue and the lounging area and can give the entourage an in depth report and description of the venue and city of venue so that plans can be made prior to the arrival of the city of venue.  They are the eyes and the ears and to some degree the brains of the outfit.  And they can make tour making or tour breaking decisions and can be fired by the star for poor performance.  I cannot exaggerate the importance of this job.  Being we are using the military for logistics they can be provided a private jet for some occasions if not all, they have to stay on the move.

 

The contract rider is arranged by the Production Manager and a small team of staff, to include someone from Information Technology, to deal with technical issues and not to make senseless arrangements like having M&M without the brown ones.  This is about the accommodations of the entourage and the star of the show as well as getting the stage setup properly and promptly.  Basic entertainment is also a requirement such as cable television.

 

Issues like local staff are covered to unload the truck and stage hands and how many people will be needed and the local union rules.  As far as accommodations one thing I demand for Janet is high speed Internet Service and a certain amount of free space to setup a portable studio and cleanness of the accommodations.  I demand catered food to be delivered to the entourage unless it can be arranged for them to have a cafeteria set aside for them accessible 24 per day while at City of venue, because of the crazy schedules they may have to maintain.

 

I can agree to a middle point of limited catering and specific hours set aside for the entourage to patronize the cafeteria within reason to the schedule being maintained.

 

The contract rider is a very important responsibility and it has to be venue specific to get the best accommodations possible within personnel and cost effectiveness limitations.  There has to be a specific rider for each venue, however certain general requirements will be demanded at all venues such as enough clean restrooms, dressing rooms and  space, the amount of time to unload truck and time before the show for this to be performed in order the give the crew sufficient time to setup and do sound checks as well as room and board requirements.

 

My concern here is making sure the entourage is treated professionally with quality lounging and the show is setup in a timely manner safely.  Security is a most! The contract rider will be coordinated between the Production Manager, Live Nation, the USO and the local representatives of these promoters.

 

Check List

 

1: Truck Unloading and Uploading

2: Stage Position

3: View of Venue to include covering Scoreboards

4: Human Necessities to include restrooms, telephones and other communications

5: Safety to include barricades and crowd control & fire safety and evacuation procedures & Security of personnel and equipment & backstage security.

6: Sound Quality & rehearsals

7: Seating arrangements

8: Dressing rooms, size, number & refreshments

9: Transportation of Entourage & refreshments

10: Refreshments at Venue

11: Time to let fans in and out

12: Press Coverage and backstage passes

13: Lounging to include housing and catered food

14: Entourage Entertainment to include cable television and Internet High Speed Service & tours, club space

15: Dry Cleaners and Laundry Service prefer to have a portable service

16: Local Runner to stores and stuff or military installation

17: AC and/or heat

18: Medical and dental care routine and emergency

19: Insurance

20: Parking

21: Cost Amendment form

22:  local Transportation & stretch limousines

23: General Restrictions

24: Wardrobe Room & security

25: Light Rehearsals

26: Supplies Room

27: Schedule for all above activities

28: Continuous improvements

 

A contract rider has to be agreed upon and signed within 5 day of the concert in the worst case scenario, but should agreed upon sooner

 

 

Frank Paul Gambino