A "rider" is the set of unusual contractual demands that some pop stars make of their hosts when they're on tour. Kanye West wants his chauffeur dressed in 100 percent cotton; Jennifer Lopez's coffee must be stirred counterclockwise; and the Foo Fighters want Cup o' Noodles soup, but only on Wednesdays.
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Ok, here we go, first things first: riders are stupid. No question, yes you’re allowed to have requests, warm towels, specific bottled water, etc. etc. But counter clock wise coffee and specific guacamole is too much. At that point stir your own coffee and make your own guacamole! Artists are getting too use to the diva image being the norm, and that’s somehow making it ok for them to ask outrageous things of companies and poor little interns just trying to get into the business! The venues are not only paying for you to come but they are giving you the luxuries of trailers and dressing rooms to yourself. Don’t be so greedy as to make requests that you won’t even know if they are carried out of not. Be happy that you have employment and in a field that you love. Many people, especially in our recovering economy don’t.
At first glance, Jack White's request seems ridiculous and unnecessary, but if you know anything about guacamole, you know that these specifications are not over the top. Timing is everything when it comes to mixing guacamole. It's the same as baking a cake; the ingredients have to be added at certain time and at certain amounts. Nevertheless, this article does a good job of painting musician Jack White as a needy little boy "who doesn't want to lay eyes on a banana". Now, this probably means that he doesn't want bananas, plain and simple. Sure, twist the words to portray him as a child who will throw a tantrum if he even sets his eyes on that yellow fruit. You know what, this guacamole is probably excellent. Thank god for the chef's perspective on this matter. These musicians are on the road for months at a time, and who are we to say they can't have specific foods like chicken wings and blackberries in their dressing room? If this helps Jack White give a good show, a show I paid my hard-earned money for, then I don't care. As long as he's not exploiting the labor and someone's getting paid to create his guacamole, then so be it.
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