The hospitality rider is the part somebody has to go shopping for. Most of it is bought days ahead, so accuracy matters more than ambition.
What it covers
- Dressing rooms: how many, lockable, with power and a mirror
- Catering: a hot meal for the number of people arriving, with dietary needs listed
- Drinks: water, coffee, beer, and what is not wanted
- Towels, usually dark ones
- Parking for the van, and hotel rooms with a check-out time that suits a late show
- Ground transport between hotel, venue and airport
Getting it right
Give a headcount, not a band size. Say which items can be swapped and which cannot. Put allergies and dietary needs at the top rather than inside a list of twelve drink preferences, because that is the line that has to be read.
Cash instead
Many artists take a Buyout for the meal rather than trust a venue kitchen at 17:00. Agree the amount per person while advancing, not at the door.