Musicians pay for the special requests made by riders in their contracts. Many might have read about outlandish requests submitted to local concert venues. A rider’s purpose in a contract is to modify or add more information. If it is non-negotiable to have a three-legged Bengal Tiger in your dressing room to perform, then the rider captures that information.

What would your cause be willing to pay for from its resources to be more effective? What instruments, amenities, and upgrades might make you immensely more productive? How might your list change if the list was the production team’s responsibility to purchase? There are the ‘nice to have’ and ‘essential’ lists.

One of my epiphanies while thru-hiking was several items that I thought were essential for a multi-week backpack. A few pieces of equipment were sent home after a week because the return on investment of carrying them versus the value provided was not high enough. Had an outside agency been transporting the items, I might have kept them in the gear bag.

What must be in your backpack? What do you pack if somebody else helps you carry the load?