Oct 27, 2026 · 39 min · 11 segments
(00:00) What Do Celebrities Eat on Tour? (01:00) Why Artists Need Backstage Riders (03:16) Epik High's Surprisingly Simple Backstage Demands (04:03) No Sugar, No Alcohol, and Very Specific Beer…
Allow me to first explain to you what the rider, the artist rider is.
So it's not like a horse that you ride.
It's basically a list of things you need backstage and also on stage.
So on stage, it's called a tech rider, right? For us, we need like turntables and DJ equipment.
We need, you know, mics.
We need like in-ears, things that we can't travel with.
So the venue has to provide things for the stage.
And then we have backstage riders, which is what we have in our dressing room, right? And here's why artists need riders.
It's not just a perk.
It's not like just these... lavish demands what these riders are for is that for one thing not all people can uh eat certain things right they might be allergic to certain things and these riders exist for the ben not just the benefit of the artist but for the benefit of the teams that have to set it up So if they need to ask every single time, like, what can this person eat? What can this person not eat? It's just really bothersome for them.
And also, artists are usually traveling with a bunch of different people, right? So a writer is not just for the artist.
It's encompassing everything that other people need as well, like the staff and crew.
So by having this one fixed rider, no matter what city you go to, and because every city you go and every venue you go, there's new people that you're working with, right? That are meeting you for the first time and working with you for the first time.
And they obviously don't know what your needs are.
So by having this one fixed sheet of things that you need, it's just... makes it easier for everyone involved on the tour.
Epik High's list is notoriously short because you know 20 something years in we stopped needing things like we're old like you know when you're old you just you stop wanting things you just just want empty space like You wanna open your fridge and just have like, you know, water.
Before I delve into the list of food demands, backstage VIP food demands from very famous people, I am gonna reveal exactly what I texted my tour manager before I went on this US-Canada tour.
My tour manager texted me saying, I live in K-town and can get K-snacks and instant noodles if you guys want.
Just let me know specifics.
My response was, we all work out and eat healthy now.
We need protein-rich food and veggies.
We don't need sugary shit, is exactly what I texted him.
He responded, awesome.
Me and Aaron getting fat for you guys.
Allow me to first explain to you what the rider, the artist rider is.
So it's not like a horse that you ride.
It's basically a list of things you need backstage and also on stage.
So on stage, it's called a tech rider, right? For us, we need like turntables and DJ equipment.
We need, you know, mics.
We need like in-ears, things that we can't travel with.
So the venue has to provide things for the stage.
And then we have backstage riders, which is what we have in our dressing room, right? And here's why artists need riders.
It's not just a perk.
It's not like just these... lavish demands what these riders are for is that for one thing not all people can uh eat certain things right they might be allergic to certain things and these riders exist for the ben not just the benefit of the artist but for the benefit of the teams that have to set it up So if they need to ask every single time, like, what can this person eat? What can this person not eat? It's just really bothersome for them.
And also, artists are usually traveling with a bunch of different people, right? So a writer is not just for the artist.
It's encompassing everything that other people need as well, like the staff and crew.
So by having this one fixed rider, no matter what city you go to, and because every city you go and every venue you go, there's new people that you're working with, right? That are meeting you for the first time and working with you for the first time.
And they obviously don't know what your needs are.
So by having this one fixed sheet of things that you need, it's just... makes it easier for everyone involved on the tour.
Epik High's list is notoriously short because you know 20 something years in we stopped needing things like we're old like you know when you're old you just you stop wanting things you just just want empty space like You wanna open your fridge and just have like, you know, water.
Before I delve into the list of food demands, backstage VIP food demands from very famous people, I am gonna reveal exactly what I texted my tour manager before I went on this US-Canada tour.
My tour manager texted me saying, I live in K-town and can get K-snacks and instant noodles if you guys want.
Just let me know specifics.
My response was, we all work out and eat healthy now.
We need protein-rich food and veggies.
We don't need sugary shit, is exactly what I texted him.
He responded, awesome.
Me and Aaron getting fat for you guys.
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