Technical Riders & Stage Layouts
Technical Riders (Tech Specs) and Stage Layouts are incredibly useful documents to have when looking to perform live in a venue (Figs. 2 & 3). They enable you to share your technical requirements with venue staff and engineers in a professional manner, helping to ensure that preparation for your performance includes the correct equipment and staging. It gives venues and engineers a chance to see if they can accommodate all of your requests ahead of your gig/concert, gives you the artist the opportunity to go through all aspects of your live set- up, and in turn assists with making sure the show runs as smoothly as possible for all parties.
With input from a variety of sound engineers, we have provided examples of a technical rider and stage layout that should be applicable for any performance in the UK.
Below are a few tips to help with putting these documents together:
- Keep things simple – don’t over complicate your tech rider or stage layout. In many cases, you can likely just supply one or the other. If you have a large ensemble, it may be easier to supply both, but ensure you don’t overdo the detail.
- Provide names on your stage layout – this helps the technical team/engineer learn your names and avoids people being addressed by the instrument they play.
- Indicate any equipment you hope to have provided by the venue – this would normally be agreed in advance of the performance. Make sure you clearly outline any equipment you can’t provide, or anything you would like the venue or other performers to source.
Fig 2
Hospitality Riders (Backstage Rider)
These documents are used to outline an artist’s non- technical requests when performing at a venue. This will often include the provision of clean towels, drinks and sometimes food items. For unestablished acts, you can usually expect these basics to be provided without sending a rider request.
Hospitality riders for more established artists (commanding larger fees) will list many more requests such as accommodation specifics, luxury goods and other assorted services.
Be aware that if you do have specific hospitality rider requests, the cost of providing them may be deducted from any available performance fees.
Dependant on the venue and promoter, an artist may be offered the option of a ‘Buy out’ within their hospitality rider. This refers to funds that are to be allocated towards buying food provisions. This may replace any other items, or be in lieu of onsite catering facilities.
James Warrender
Enterprise Coordinator, Leeds Conservatoire
