DOCUMENT: Celebrity

Drivers Beware: Don’t Stare At Katy Perry

Singer’s tour rider offers 23-point wheelman "policy"

Katy Perry

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Katy Perry Rider

MAY 19--As she prepares to embark next month on the U.S. leg of her 2011 world tour, Katy Perry will be carrying a 45-page concert rider that outlaws carnations, details very specific furniture requirements, and outlines a 23-point “principle driver policy” for chauffeurs in towns the 26-year-old singer visits.

According to Perry’s rider, excerpted here, the performer’s dressing room (which has to be draped in cream or soft pink) needs to be outfitted with two cream-colored egg chairs, one of which should have a footstool. It is unclear whether Perry requires original Arne Jacobsens or cheap knockoffs. A coffee table needs to be “perspex modern style.” A pair of floor lamps should be in “French ornate style.” And the singer’s refrigerator must come with a glass door.

As for the dressing room’s flower arrangement, Perry wants “White and purple hydrangeas, pink & white roses and peonies.” If those flowers are not available, Perry will settle for a “selection of seasonal white flowers to include white orchids.” However, promoters are advised, “ABSOLUTELY NO CARNATIONS.” That warning is, of course, underlined.

In a commendable effort to curb the environmental impact of plastic bottles, Perry’s rider notes that water dispensers must be provided in all dressing rooms and production offices, and that tour personnel will be supplied with “SIGG drinking bottles.”

When it comes to hotel provisions, Perry requires a “1 bedroom presidential suite” in a “5 star property.” And free Internet service and a complimentary breakfast must be provided to the performer and her touring party.

Chauffeurs, the rider notes, are not allowed to “start a conversation w/ the client.” Wheelmen are similarly barred from conversing with Perry’s guests or fans. They also are directed not to stare at the backseat through the rear view mirror. Drivers should also not “ask for autographs or pictures, and especially not while driving!” Finally, Perry’s ride should be outfitted with four water bottles (presumably in the event she forgets her Sigg).

The rider also alerts promoters that they may be required to hold back tickets for concerts so that Perry & Co. can provide the ducats to “resellers” for “distribution to the public” on the “secondary market.” In other words, Perry reserves the right to pocket some of the proceeds from the sale of tickets--not made available at face price to her fans--scalped at inflated prices by these brokers.

The quantity and location of tickets earmarked for these secondary markets will be determined by Perry’s “Personal Manager,” according to the rider, which was provided to TSG by our pal Jester. (6 pages)

Comments (88)

I'm Neil *** Diamond! Don't you dare look at me! I was in "The Jazz Singer" God damn it! What have you ever done?!?!
he's a whack job too
Common people do you really think Katy Perry sat down and wrote this document up? She has hundreds of people working for her all trying to impress her and be a good employee. Most likely these are not Perry's actual demands, instead they are what this employee thinks that she would enjoy. I'm sure she asks for a nice hotel room, water bottles in her room, and chairs to sit one. Then this gets interpreted by the employer to the document you see above. If you saw any entertainers requests you would be shocked. I've heard story's of some artists that have requests down to the sandwiches imported from Germany.
I get the nice hotel room and fresh water but, "common people"? Katy Perry would be nothing without "common people" buying her music and concert tickets. There is no way that this list of demands made it to venues without her ok. She needs to remember that as quickly as common people helped her get to where she is, they can just as easily send her back to where she came from.
I think they meant "Come on people" or "C'mon people" not common people.
To be fair, these artists (and I'm NOT a KP fan) are on the road for months at a time. Trying for a homier atmosphere is part of the gig. Plus, like the infamous Van Halen M&M rider, some of these things are so outlandish that the manager can see at a glance that if a particular item wasn't attended to, other things may have been overlooked, which can impact safety, etc. Do you really think that everything is given to the artist? Not a chance, and I worked in the music industry for 20 years.
I think its funny that so many people are bashing Katy Perry like she is the only one in the whole music industry who does this! Let me tell you, SHE'S NOT!!!! Most musicians, whether it be pop stars, rock bands or rappers, have demands that must be met before each show and most of them are much worse and much more "conceited", as someone so eloquently put. I'm sure that if any of you were in the same situation and had millions and millions of dollars, you wouldn't do any of the things she outlined or have any special requests if you were to do a show somewhere. Do I like what she's doing, of course not, but its not like her tickets were even that expensive in the first place. There are so many other artists (i.e. Lady Gaga) who are charging hundreds of dollars for tickets to her show... I am going to a Katy Perry concert and I can tell you that the cost was a fraction of that. Its just ridiculous that people will jump all over someone or something so quickly...
Show me anyone else's rider that's more or just as ridiculous as this and I'll tell you that they're an asshat too. It just works so well in the favor of people who hate her that she's untalented and has only been around for a couple years. Whether she actually wants everything on this list or not, she sure as hell doesn't deserve it.
THANK YOU!
Safety first! Katy does not want to use her built-in airbags.
Pretty standard rider. Furniture and decor is just as much to prepare the venue's staff for the artist's brand as it is to add some sense of comfort to what are usually dirty, funny smelling, fluorescent lit rooms with peeling paint and stained carpets. Keep in mind the promoters aren't always able to provide each and every item. It's doubtful that Katy would refuse to perform for a sold out show just because she got a fridge without a glass door. You go on tour for a few weeks with the type of schedule these performers keep and see how long you last. I can't stand her music either. Not a fan, just someone who's been on the road before. It sucks big time. I could go on.
I thought when she married Russell Brand it just confirmed that she had no standards. Who knew this no-talent doofus could demand stuff most people have never heard of -- just like in 5 years how people will be saying "Katy who?"
Is Katy Perry REALLY so important (or talented) that she needs to be treated like royalty? Beyond that, I read her list of demands and had to wonder if she also asked for someone to peel her grapes for her. Well ... at least I can sleep better at night knowing elitists like Perry are looking out for us, the little people.
Is it any wonder that demanding, narcissistic celebrities like her heavily support leftist causes and vote for Democrats? They claim to care about poor people, yet they flaunt their wealth in such an ugly way. Well, Working Liberal, what do you think about that?
Teabaggers hate the rich and capitalism.
Loveourvets, I happily signed up to thesmokinggun.com JUST to reply to you. narcissism (noun): extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration (also known as VAIN, SELF-LOVING, CONCEITED, EGOTISTICAL, FULL OF ONESELF, etc. etc.) Do you mean to tell me (and anyone ELSE) that it makes perfect sense to make a direct correlation between textbook narcissism and a political party you happen to disagree with....which would automatically be presented as you letting members of YOUR party off the HOOK? Did you ever think that anyone that you happen to AGREE with would either be a voter for the Republican party (or a damn CANDIDATE for said party) while publicly expressing themselves in similar ways that can best be described as narcissistic? Shame on you, sir. Shame on you for bringing politics into this. You're a fool for doing so and I hope that you feel total embarrassment. Liberals are for LIBERTY...JUST LIKE YOU. You're an asshat for trying to take sides and displaying yourself as only having an US vs. THEM mentality. You should be expressing yourself as one that would like to see us come together a bit more. No, you couldn't do that. You had to make it political for no good reason whatsoever. Some people just can't stand absolutely ridiculous comments like that and WON'T stand for them. THAT'S why I replied to you. It was extremely foolish and stupid of you to think that your comment would be on display without some sort of retort putting you in your place. This is simply the inevitability of what a comment such as yours will bring to the forefront. Don't lump all of these people into one category and pretend that the OTHER group never engages in the very same acts. You're trying to deceive people and you don't look particularly smart doing it, either. What do you think about THAT?
How very interesting that several of the commenters using different user names on this website use the same pattern of language and style. It's pretty sad for you when you don't have enough confidence in yourself to just be one person to debate someone you have allowed to get under your skin and have such hatred for. Your attempt to try to fool people on this website into believing that a majority of people agree with you is pitiful and typical of how the left operates. It's tantamount to cheating and fraud, but no surprise there...eh?
You're paranoid and delusional, but it's no surprise. Eight years of Bush and Cheney's scare tactics has that effect on simple minds. For your information, I have one and only one account at TSG and when I have something to say I will be using only that one account.
i had a good job during those 8 Bush years. so you obama *** can suck it
Don't fret it, Makeslovetoherpets thinks everything is to do with Reps vs Dems. She probably thinks that because you're edumacatid you're also a commie.
*staggers backwards after running into wall of text* (why can't we use paragraphs here?)
I was pretty ambivalent toward Katy Perry before, but now I've made up my mind. It's easy to see she's a term TSG would censor.
This is really ridiculous. Sorry I do like some of her songs but this is to much. She hadn't been around long enough to have these kinds of demands.
NO ONE has been around "long enough" to warrant this type of treatment...these A-holes who are chased around all day by bigger A-holes telling them there is no one better on the planet need a reality check...what the F%@k does ANYONE need these things in order to get by...IT IS NO DAMN WONDER WHY CONCERT TICKETS ARE IN THE HUNDREDS OF $$$$ NOW...you gotta pay for all this crap...I saw Bob Dylan in 1980 for $8.50...got the stub to prove it and he arrived in a tour motorhome...still does, it should be about the music not how much crap they can rip off for nothing!!!!
This is why I have more respect for porn stars than no-talent pretentious "pop-stars" who can't sing worth a dime without that autotune crap.
Are porn stars the type of 'down to earth' person you'd like to hang out with?
forgot to mention that tongue licking the big ice cream cone. She must be enjoying the action.
"Who in the fack is she?" Another premadonna Goddess who undoubtably beleives her shait don't smell.
'i' before 'e'. Come on, they may write riders on a typewriter, but you're obviously using a computer and web browsers have built in spell checkers nowadays.
Do they write these riders on a typewriter?? SPELL CHECK!!
she should add a proofreader and an education to her rider.
Yea really! I would be furious if this was mine.
Yes, what is up with the numerous typographical errors?
Rider Page 5 toward the bottom: "Always check the vehicle matinees before pickup." Does the limo do her afternoon shows?
As if the spelling alone isn't atrocious, they are double requests of the same items, (not In different parts of the rider, either, but literally one or two lines down from each other) and this ridiculous 'check the vehicle matinees' thing.....what does that even mean!? Plus, let us not forget to 'make sure the power is on (the car)’ when they are picking her up. That just sounds stupid. Also, driver, DON'T YOU DARE OPEN HER DOOR. She has ’people’ for that. I don't deny celebrities the right to request things that make them comfortable (although going as far as draping the room is a little out of control, not to mention asking for specific period piece lamps, coffee tables...) but when you get to the point where you're treating fellow human beings (drivers, hotel employees or whoever else they mentioned) like they're your personal servants, is really not nice. (I understand the safety implications for the driver and what not, but really.) Ridiculous.
Same page, a few lines up: "DO NOT STAIR AT THE BACKSEAT THRU THE REARVIEUW MIRROW" What?
I'd take one look at this contract and wipe my a$$ with it. Then wipe it in her stupid face. Can a human being be more conceited and haughty?
Right on, tbone! She should be put in an unlocked cell with the crazies at Walla Walla for a couple of days. Maybe that would take her down a couple of notches.