Tech rider

A tech rider tells the venue what the artist needs to play the set as planned. It is part of the contract, next to the hospitality rider, and goes out with the advance; the promoter confirms the setup or says what differs, before the day. A DJ’s rider fits on a page. A live act’s is longer: inputs, a stage plot, monitoring, setup time. What the promoter provides from it is the backline.

Example

A typical DJ rider for a club booth:

• 3 × CDJ-3000 or CDJ-3000X, same firmware, linked by network cable
• 1 × Pioneer DJM-V10 or DJM-A9; Allen & Heath Xone:96 as an alternative
• 2 × Technics SL-1210 with cartridges, if the set includes vinyl
• 2 booth monitors at ear height, on either side of the DJ, on the mixer’s booth output
• A stable table about 1 m high, isolated from the bass so the needles don’t skip
• Four free power sockets and light at the booth
• 30 minutes at the booth before the set, or a changeover agreed in advance

What to watch for

• Models matter, because effects, loops and workflow differ from mixer to mixer. “Or equivalent” counts only once the artist has agreed to the substitute.
• Send the venue’s equipment list with your first reply, so the gaps show early. Two weeks out, renting a missing mixer is a phone call, while on the day it may not be possible at all.
• Ask the venue where the booth monitors stand and who controls their level. A single speaker on the floor behind the DJ doesn’t count.
• Riders change. Check the date on the PDF against the one named in the contract.