When the Band Van Breaks Down

The Saturday afternoon before a large corporate show that we were producing, I looked down to see my cell phone ringing—not always a good thing this close to a show. The call was from the production manager for the band scheduled to be the Tuesday night entertainment. Three previous calls had planned this part of the show down to the smallest detail. 

This was a drive show and the band (a name you would easily recognize) was supplying backline, monitor boards and all the mics and cables. We were only supplying a FOH (front of house) board and the PA—until their production manager called. It turns out that their production truck broke down and they wouldn’t be able to provide their equipment.

The Show Must Go On

When we work with riders and the band is providing some of the equipment and backline, we always identify emergency backup vendors for both band equipment and instruments in the event something changes with the performer.

By the time the band showed up to load in on Tuesday, we had secured all of the equipment they needed and the show came off without a hitch. 

Riders that are included in an entertainer’s contract often include the specifications for a full rock show regardless of the size of the corporate performance and are often not changed by clients even when the band agrees to bring in some of the equipment. 

The time and effort to identify back-up vendors for expensive entertainment is most of the time a wasted effort, but if a truck breaks down, it may be the difference between a great show and a show that never goes on.

But No Brown M&Ms

Rock bands have long been famous with their specific and lengthy backstage requirements. These demands are found in a rider attached to their contract and can detail anything from a band’s snacking needs to lighting and sound equipment requirements. This list of requirements can be short or can go on for pages—in perhaps the most famous rider of all, Van Halen requested M&Ms with all the brown ones picked out.

Although this seems like an outlandish request, the rock group has said that it was included to see if the promoter actually read their extensive rider. If brown M&Ms were in the M&M dish, it tipped them off that maybe some of their other lighting or sound equipment stipulations weren’t attended to properly.

Riders and Corporate Events

The thing with riders is that while they are very specific, they are rarely modified to meet the needs of each particular show. A corporate event for example may not require follow spot operators or a stadium level PA system.  And when the production team for the performer starts planning the show they usually make concessions that are more realistic for the venue or event.

Many times however, those modifications are not made to the contract. The contract signed by the client or their representative often still requires the client to provide the entire rider. Many times even when asked to modify the rider in the contract the band claims it as unnecessary. 

Covering our Bases

When we finalize the equipment plan with performers we always send an email to both the client and the production manager indicating the changes and asking them to respond back that they agree to the revised plan. This final sign-off means less hassle when making final arrangements and adjustments for the equipment.