Performance Agreements and Riders for Speakers, Musicians, Actors

by: Peter Cusimano
Business Lawyer - Barrister & Solicitor

If you are a musician, actor, speaker, dancer, or someone engaged in a performance, it is important that you have a performance agreement available to provide to anyone who wants to hire you such as companies, organizations, clubs, music halls, music festivals, and stage theatres to perform at their event or venue.

You should enter into a detailed written performance agreement with the party that wants to hire you. The agreement will describe in writing the obligations of the performer and the organizer of the event such as performance date, performance specifics, payment terms, etc. The agreement will also have a section referred to as the "rider".

Usually in the rider will be found a list of certain items you wish to be provided to you in your dressing room or on stage or certain actions be taken by the event organizer for your benefit.

Although almost anything can be found in a rider depending on your personal desires and requirements, typical items usually found in the "rider"portion of the performance agreement deal with matters such as:

catering of certain food or beverages be provided in the dressing room pre- and post-performance including the type, quantity, timing, along with any special preparation requirements
dressing room arrangements including furniture, lighting, temperature
provision for overnight accommodations such as hotel room
vehicle transportation from hotel to venue for performer
transportation of equipment
security specifically for the performer
certain types of equipment or musical instruments on stage
table beside the stage to sell promotional items before or after the performance

If you are a performer and require your existing performance agreement reviewed and updated, or if you require a new performance agreement including a "rider", please contact my office. I will meet with you and prepare an agreement that fits your needs.

I have experience in the preparation of performance agreements including "riders" and I understand the legal provisions that should be included in a "rider" from the perspective of the performer. I will meet with you to discuss your needs and provide you with legal advice to ensure you have a performance agreement that has been properly prepared by a lawyer.

To get started, please contact me today.