HOSPITALITY RIDER

3-Page hospitality rider for Mary J. Blige

If you're considering booking Mary J. Blige for a concert or TV appearance, be prepared to make a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond. 

That's because the 40-year-old R&B singer's performance contract stipulates that her dressing room include a "private toilet (with new toilet seat)."

Blige is equally demanding when it comes to the rider her people forward to hotels, where she checks in as "Mrs. Jefferson." 

In that separate document, Blige requires a presidential suite and asks that the hotel not rent a connecting room if there is one. 

She demands that her "Do Not Disturb" sign be honored by housekeeping personnel and this is such an important point that it is driven home with 26 exclamation marks (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

And forget about operating any vacuums or noisy equipment in the hallway outside Mrs. Jefferson's suite. 

Blige & Co. even want to be apprised of any "construction or redecorating" occurring "in or near the hotel." If such work forces them to decamp, "relocation...will be at expense of the hotel."

Hmmnnn....celebrity life can be sweet;demand for what you want and you get it at the snap of your fingers! I will get there too!

Let me go on to proper explanations of what a hospitality rider means.

The hospitality rider is a list of requests for the comfort of the artist on the day of the show. 

Common requests are:

• Specific foods and beverages (typically water, but sometimes alcoholic beverages)
• Fresh towels
• Transportation and hotels
• A runner (person or persons hired to act as personal shopper for band and crew needs and as personal driver for band and crew needs.)
• A number of complimentary ("comp") tickets or guest lists (free tickets for friends and family)
• Security personnel and/or locking rooms
• Access to a private bathroom and/or shower
• Ice, etc

A hospitality rider should be prepared separate from a technical rider.