Festival

A music festival is a multi-artist event — typically outdoors, spanning one to multiple days — featuring performances across several stages. Festival logistics are much different than other shows — you're sharing the space with several different artists, so riders are smaller, catering is often shared, and guest list guidelines are stricter. Well-known festivals include Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, and Austin City Limits.

How festivals differ from venue shows

Shared stages with tight changeovers (20-30 minutes typical), limited or no soundcheck (line checks only), festival-provided PA systems and production, compressed rider fulfillment (smaller dressing rooms, shared backstage), specific credential systems and access protocols, and fixed set times with strict curfews. The tour manager advances a festival appearance differently than a venue show — working with festival production coordinators instead of individual venue staff.

Festival logistics

Getting in and out of a festival site with gear, ground transport, and personnel requires advance planning. Festival advances cover load-in routes, parking, backline coordination (own gear vs. provided), stage and production specs, and artist hospitality in shared backstage areas.