SANTA FE, N.M. — Ana Sutton, a 38-year-old musician who is currently on tour, recently changed all the demands in her rider to “enough chairs for me and the audience” in a move industry insiders are calling monumental for “aging road warriors.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I really need more actual money too,” said Sutton. “I used to ask for $750, dinner, and a place to crash, but those days dried up. Then I just asked for a cut of the door and a functional PA, but streaming basically turned tours into self-funded vanity projects. So the least I can ask for is a place to sit down so I can save on orthotic insoles, and even that seems like too much sometimes.”
Following the switch, Sutton’s fans have shown their appreciation for the streamlined demand.
“Really, she’s helping both me and herself,” said 41-year-old fan Erik Terrell. “It’s tough to gauge how much damage I could do to my back, knees, and ankles if I’m forced to stand for an entire show. I know I’m going to end up sitting at the bar after a song and a half if they don’t have chair available. Or better yet, sit in my car, which will take me to my bed. And then I can lie down, which sounds really nice right now. Actually, do you think she can add cots to the rider too?”
Despite this positive response, some within the music industry are not pleased about the new rider.
“What kind of operation does this brat think we’re running?” said Valentina Mcgee, a director of local venue The Slime Archive. “This is a DIY space. Only a self-entitled, stuck-up venue would just have chairs around. Like, we have a plastic bucket that someone can turn upside down. I could hose off some of the cinderblocks in our back alley and those could work in a pinch. And I’m pretty sure this step ladder can sit maybe 12 people, but chairs? Come on.”
“Oh wait, only 8 people said they’re attending on Facebook,” added Mcgee. “So I think we’re good.”
As of press time, 12 of the venues on Sutton’s tour implemented a $10 chair rental fee.