Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry is challenged with so many issues and event planning is no exception. A majority of Sierra Leonean artists are still missing in many concerts because it takes an ecosystem of Organizers and event planners to put resources together for the staging of a successful musical concert .

For this narration, I wish to discuss a range of things that surrounds the relationship between Organizers and artists in staging a musical concert.

Musical concert can be simply defined as an event featuring amplified musical sound as the primary entertainment feature of the Event.

The first step organizers of musical concerts must have for a successful event is to find the money for the concert. An organizer needs to first find money if they may want to stage a musical concert as it would be used to finance the event and pay for invited acts for performances.

Musical concerts do happen in various forms. sometimes a brand may want to celebrate an anniversary or if it is Christmas, a company may want to hold a concert. Sometimes artists can also bring money to promote their concerts.

Event planners are normally contracted by organizers to stage shows. The event bureau usually involved lawyers to establish  legal relationship with artists for performances as best practice. There are also legal documents that spell out the terms and agreements with performers.

Meanwhile, before an organizer may break a campaign or start using the face of an artist for musical adverts, it is a best practice for them to have paid a certain amount of money. However, it may also depend on the contractual agreement between a particular performer and the event planners. Some contracts may require organizers to pay 100% upfront 70%, 60%, or 50%. Organizers may also commit a certain percentage of money to get the artiste lockdown in festive period for performance.

However, sometimes if organizers do not pay a certain level before breaking campaigns with an artiste photos, the artiste may sue the organizers or pull out from the show. The affected artist may not refund whatever commitment organizers would have made as a result of a breach of contract.

Though, this is where many a time relationship do come in. Organizers may negotiate with an artist for event planners to break campaign in order to make money from ticket sales for the payment of the outstanding balance.

Trailing behind this is the Artist’s Rider. An artist rider specifies their requirements when performing at a venue. It makes sure the artist is properly provided for during the event and sets clear expectations for what they need to ensure comfort and safety. Sections include hospitality, safety, technical needs, and cancellation policies.

Nevertheless, the payment of an artist should have been sorted before they can release their rider to event planners. Once an artist gives his/her rider indicates that there is some level of agreement. Sometimes the rider can be subjected to negotiation.

Generally speaking, riders are a standard addition to a performing contract. The document includes the details of what a performing artist (DJ, band, singer, dancer…you name it) needs to perform at their best. As a touring act, if you want to be sure that your contracts include everything you need for your safety and comfort, you should put these requirements in writing as riders to your contracts. It’s just the way things are done.

Typically, the performing artist and the event promoters sign a rider. It’s not unusual for there to be some amount of negotiations before they’re signed. Each rider includes several areas to be discussed:

What Goes Into An Artist Rider?

Hospitality

This section of the artist rider is typically where the most personal or outlandish requests may be listed. Usually, riders often include food and beverages to be available to the artists or provide a buy-out option which is a pre-arranged amount of money the promoter provides to the artist to buy meals and drinks. The rider might also include special instructions and special dietary information, or preferences for example regarding the number and type of meals to be provided and at specific meal times.
Still, in the hospitality section, rides would typically include the number of dressing rooms required, some top-level celebrities might also specify the kind of furniture they would like in their dressing rooms. If the artist is being hosted in a hotel, for example, artists can specify terms for their rooms and the number of rooms they require. Generally speaking, most artists will make reasonable requests to help make their performance as smooth and effortless as possible and to be comfortable while preparing to perform.
Although some requests can seem extravagant, keep in mind that some artists are touring or on the road the majority of the year, and they depend on promoters to offer them a healthy and comfortable experience in exchange for their performance and the money they will make because of it.

Technical

This is the most important part of the artist rider. This is where the actual equipment, sound, and DJ set-up is specified, and it’s the part of the artist rider that makes the most difference in the performance.
Many performers will not walk out on performance because they get the wrong brand of chips or beer, but an unsatisfactory technical set-up can ruin the performance. To ensure a proper technical setup, some performers will make outrageous claims in their hospitality rider to see if the promoters will follow instructions. If they face no issues with the specific and weird hospitality rider, this guarantees that they will be able to provide the artist with a good technical rider, which helps make their performance the best it can be.

Security

Typically, promoters cover the cost of security at an event, and the rider will address specific security needs. It’s common to specify what equipment will be necessary when you perform (in the technical rider) and place restrictions on where and how the show will be mixed. Security amenities are not only about protecting the artist’s body, but also about protecting gear, equipment, wardrobe, instruments, and other personal property.

Transportation

The artists might be flying into the country and would require adequate means of transportation. Although it seems like it should be fairly straightforward, even this can be a point of disagreement for some artists. This part of the rider details how the artist will travel to and from the venue, their hotel or accommodations, and other promotional stops. The artist may request that a car be provided for them to drive, and others want a driver.

Interviews & Other Requests

One of the standard rider information is that the artist’s management or representation must approve all meetings, interviews and promotional commitments. This section of the rider makes sure that the promoter should have to go through the appropriate channels before putting any additional events on the artist’s schedule.
Celebrities will also need to stay in control of their image and protect any additional rights.