Re: Help me understand 'Riders'
I hardly ever get a rider so when I do, I read it carefully. Some years ago I was somehow called for a BIG national act (sold out MSG more than once) doing a stop over show in a ~250 person bar. (I have no idea why they were hired or I got called.) It was incredible:
Meyer preferred
Capable of reaching 130 db at FOH
8 bi amp monitor mixes (for 3 people)
Many moving heads
spotlight
HUGE lighting
separate LD able to read and follow the cue sheet
It went on. I called the contact and said "You do know this a local bar that holds maybe 250 people and the stage is 12x15 right?" The guy said yes. I told him I had nothing like he asked for and went into why it didn't work on that stage and in that room. When we were done, he said "You passed. We sent the arena rider, you noticed it didn't fit and why. Now I trust your judgement. What do you have?" I told him I had an SRX system that could blow the walls out for anything approaching sanity, 4 honking loud monitors, a GL2200/434 console, and enough lights that they would be easily seen but that I was a one man operation with no LD, and would be a little too busy to follow a cue sheet. It would never go dark on them and I catch the solos when they step out front. He hired me and never asked another question.
Just being able to tell that the rider was wrong and why was enough for him. Since then, the few riders I have gotten are always considered by me as a starting point for discussion, and will almost never be what is actually used. I know that changes for the big boys, but not at this level. It is a good way to weed out those who have some idea what they are talking about even if the PA they bring comes in a tow behind trailer with one guy.
In hind sight, they were so loud that a few more monitors and watts would have helped, but the show went over fine. Everyone got paid. Promoter was happy. A good time was had by all.
