The short version
A good tech rider example is short, dated, and says what is essential. Each of the six below fits one page, opens with the things the act cannot play without, and names mics with "or similar". They are the presets in the tech rider template, so any of them opens ready to edit.
01 What to copy
What these tech rider examples have in common: five habits.
- A facts line at the top. Inputs, monitor mixes, power drops, who mixes. An engineer can size the job before reading a sentence.
- The short list first. "We cannot play without" is one or two lines. Everything after it is a preference.
- Requests, not demands. Mics are named with "or similar", and the room's own engineer is trusted to choose.
- What the band brings, apart from what it needs. If it is not on the list, the venue will not supply it.
- A date, a page count and a show-day contact. Old copies of a rider are the complaint engineers make most.
Where that comes from, with the engineers' own articles, is on the stage plot maker page.
02 Rock band
Band tech rider example: a 4-piece rock band.
The rider most club bands need. They carry all their backline, ask for three vocal mics and a set of drum mics, and say plainly that three monitor mixes will do if the room does not have four.
We cannot play without
3 vocal mics on stands, 1 DI for the bass, and 3 monitor mixes. The rest we can work around.
Lineup
1. Lead vocal, electric and acoustic guitar 2. Guitar, backing vocal 3. Bass, backing vocal 4. Drums
Schedule
Set length: 45 min (75 min if headlining) Sound check: 20 min; a line check is fine if we are not on first Load-in: 4 people, one van, 15 min to set up backline
We bring
All backline: drum kit with cymbals and hardware, bass head and cab, guitar amp, pedalboards, instrument cables, and stands for our own guitars.
We need from the venue
PA and engineer suited to the room. 3 vocal mics on boom stands (SM58 or similar). Drum mics: kick, snare, hi-hat, two toms, overhead pair. 1 active DI for bass (post-amp is fine). 1 SM57 for the guitar amp. 4 wedges on 4 mixes; 3 mixes minimum. Drum riser 8 x 8 ft if the room has one, not essential.
FOH and power
House engineer mixes; we do not travel one. Power: 3 drops, stage right (bass), stage left (guitar and pedals), upstage center (drums). Standard outlets, one duplex each.
Lighting
House wash is fine. No strobes during the acoustic song (song 6). We do not travel a lighting person.
Hospitality
Water on stage for 4. A green room or a corner for cases. 4 guest list spots where possible.
Open this rider in the template Download it as a PDF (2 pages) See its stage plot
03 Big band
Tech rider example for a 7-piece band: keys and horns.
More inputs, same length. The essentials line does the work here: five DIs and four mixes are the floor, and the rider says which players can share a wedge when the room is small.
We cannot play without
3 vocal mics, 5 DIs (keys and bass), 2 mics for the horns, and 4 monitor mixes.
Lineup
1. Lead vocal 2. Guitar, backing vocal 3. Bass 4. Keys, backing vocal 5. Drums 6. Trumpet 7. Sax
Schedule
Set length: 60 min Sound check: 30 min; there are seven of us on stage Load-in: 7 people, two vehicles, 20 min to set up
We bring
All backline: drum kit, bass rig, guitar amp, keys with stand, horn stands, all instrument cables.
We need from the venue
PA and engineer. 3 vocal mics on booms. Drum mics as per the input list. 5 DIs (4 for the two keyboards in stereo, 1 for bass). 2 short stands with SM57 or clip mics for the horns. 6 wedges on 6 mixes if possible; 4 mixes minimum (horns and keys can share). Drum riser welcome.
FOH and power
House engineer mixes. Power: 3 drops, stage right (bass), stage left (guitar and keys), upstage center (drums).
Lighting
House wash. Something warm for the ballad. No strobes.
Hospitality
Water for 7 on stage. Green room or a safe place for cases. Parking for two vehicles at load-in.
Open this rider in the template Download it as a PDF (2 pages) See its stage plot
04 Duo
Tech rider example for a duo: two people, five inputs.
Two sets in a restaurant or a winery. The rider admits that the keys can run mono if the house is short of DIs, which is the kind of line that gets a small act asked back.
We cannot play without
2 vocal mics, 1 DI for the acoustic, 1 input for the keys, and 2 wedges.
Lineup
1. Lead vocal, acoustic guitar 2. Keys, vocal
Schedule
Set length: 2 x 45 min Sound check: Line check, 10 min Load-in: 2 people, one car, 10 min to set up
We bring
Keyboard and stand, acoustic guitar with onboard pickup, cables.
We need from the venue
PA and engineer. 2 vocal mics on booms. 1 active DI for the acoustic, 2 DIs for keys (mono is fine). 2 wedges on 2 mixes. 1 stool.
FOH and power
House engineer. Power: 2 drops, keys (stage right) and the acoustic side (stage left).
Lighting
Whatever the room has. No preferences.
Hospitality
Two waters. Nothing else needed.
Open this rider in the template Download it as a PDF (2 pages) See its stage plot
05 Solo
Solo acoustic tech rider example: the shortest one worth sending.
One mic, one DI, one outlet. It still earns its page: the venue knows to have a boom stand and a wedge ready, and that a ten minute line check is all that is needed.
We cannot play without
1 vocal mic on a boom, 1 DI, and 1 power outlet.
Lineup
1. Vocal, acoustic guitar
Schedule
Set length: 45 min, can stretch to 2 x 45 Sound check: 10 min line check Load-in: 1 person, 5 min to set up
We bring
Acoustic guitar with pickup, cables, a small pedal (tuner and reverb).
We need from the venue
PA and engineer. 1 vocal mic on a boom. 1 active DI. 1 wedge. 1 stool. 1 power outlet.
FOH and power
House engineer. One power outlet near the stool.
Lighting
Whatever the room has.
Hospitality
Water. Parking for one car if there is any.
Open this rider in the template Download it as a PDF (2 pages) See its stage plot
06 Jazz trio
Jazz trio tech rider example: a quiet stage.
Written for a listening room. It asks for the house piano to be tuned if there is one, wants only a kick, a snare and an overhead pair on the kit, and tells the engineer to keep the monitors low.
We cannot play without
1 DI or mic for the bass, 2 inputs for the piano or keys, and 2 monitor mixes kept low.
Lineup
1. Piano / keys 2. Upright bass 3. Drums
Schedule
Set length: 2 x 60 min Sound check: 15 min Load-in: 3 people, one van, 15 min to set up the kit and bass
We bring
Small jazz drum kit, upright bass with pickup, digital piano and stand if the room has no piano.
We need from the venue
PA sized for a quiet stage. If the room has a piano, tuned please, with one or two mics or a pickup. Kick, snare, and an overhead pair on the kit. 1 DI for the bass (a clip mic is nicer). 3 wedges on 3 mixes, kept low.
FOH and power
House engineer. Power: piano (stage right) and bass amp if used (center). Nothing needed at the drums.
Lighting
Warm and low. No moving lights please.
Hospitality
Water for 3. A small table for merch if possible.
Open this rider in the template Download it as a PDF (2 pages) See its stage plot
07 DJ
DJ tech rider example: the table, the lines, the power.
A DJ rider is about the booth. Table height, two lines to the house, booth monitors, four outlets, and an offer to use the club's own players if the models are named in advance. There is more on this in the DJ tech rider template.
We cannot play without
A stable table, 2 lines to the house, 2 booth monitors, and power at the table.
Lineup
1. DJ
Schedule
Set length: 90 min, can extend Sound check: 10 min line check Load-in: 1 person, 5 min; the table needs to be in place when I arrive
We bring
Laptop, controller, all cables, headphones.
We need from the venue
A stable table about 40 in / 100 cm high. 2 x XLR (or 2 DIs) from my mixer to the house. 2 booth monitors. 4 power outlets at the table. If the club has CDJs and a DJM mixer I can use those instead: tell me the models.
FOH and power
House engineer or the room's system tech. Power: 4 outlets at the table on one drop.
Lighting
Club lighting is fine. No cues.
Hospitality
Water at the booth. Guest list for 2.
Open this rider in the template Download it as a PDF (2 pages) See its stage plot
08 Yours
How to turn a tech rider example into yours: ten minutes.
- Open the example closest to your act in the tech rider template. Each one above has a button.
- Change the band name, the venue, the date and the contact to someone who will be at the show.
- Rewrite "We cannot play without" for your act. Keep it to two lines.
- Fix the lineup and the gear. On the Stage plot tab, move what is different; the facts line and the input list follow.
- Download the PDF and send it a week or two ahead. Send a new one when anything changes.
If you would rather work in a document, the template page has a Word and Google Docs version with the same sections.
09 Quick answers
Tech rider examples: common questions.
- What does a tech rider look like?
- A tech rider is one page of short boxes: who is in the act, how long the set is, what the act brings, what it needs from the venue, where it needs power, and a line on lighting. A second page carries the stage plot and the input list. The six examples on this page are laid out that way, each with a PDF to download.
- Can I copy a tech rider example?
- Yes, that is what these are for. Open the one closest to your act in the LiveEPK tech rider template, change the names, the gear and the date, and download your own PDF. Do not copy a famous band's rider: engineers say inflated lists copied from bigger acts are one of the things they trust least.
- How long should a tech rider be?
- One page of text plus one page for the stage plot and input list. Engineers and production managers say riders longer than two or three pages do not get read. Each example here is two pages in all.
- What is the difference between a tech rider and a technical rider?
- None. Tech rider, technical rider and tech spec are names for the same document. A hospitality rider is a different one: it covers food, rooms, guest list and parking.
- Is there a tech rider example for a DJ?
- Yes. The DJ example on this page covers the table, the two lines to the house, booth monitors and power, and offers to use the club's own players. The DJ tech rider template page goes further into club and festival sets.
Pick the closest example, make it yours.
The tech rider template is free and needs no account. Your rider is saved in your own browser, and the PDF is yours.
Open the tech rider templateAlso free: the stage plot maker, the hospitality rider template and the setlist maker.