Stage Rights

Sarin has been gradually adding to his online list of rules,which is divided into two volumes — the Client Rider and the Audio Technical Rider. The latter focuses on aspects like sound check,equipment safety etc. The band experienced the need for this,first hand. “Once,our concert fell flat because our chauffeur didn’t pick us on time. As a result,there was no sound check and world class equipment was wasted,” narrates Sarin.

The band has been battling another issue — money matters. “Payment is always a big issue. So now we take the payment in advance,” adds Sarin,who spends most of the time with band members — bassist and band manager Ramit Mehra (24),vocalist Raman Negi,and guitarist Paras Thakur.

This group is not alone,as other cultural bodies have standards in place. Spic Macay,a non-profit society for promoting Indian classical music has handwritten rulebooks for volunteers,coordinators and responsibility books for schoolchildren. “We have well defined structures laid out for how to invite an artist,where to put them up,the way to go about arrangements,calculate rush hour traffic,time the distance,ensure a venue is well managed,instrument management etc,” says Shakuntala Lavasa,who manages the Chandigarh Chapter. At a recent Spic Macay Heritage Festival,Lavasa informs us how classical dancers,requested for coconut oil,proper lighting,green room and massage tables in advance.

Flautist GS Rajan’s website http://www.malabarian.com,clearly advertises the online booking and concert requirements for organisers. “It just makes things simpler and faster,” says Rajan,who learnt these little things while on the job as deputy secretary,Sangeet Natak Akademi. “We had performers,maestros with indulgences of all kinds and we had to make sure they were provided for so that the concert is a success,even if it meant smuggling a glass of red wine or brandy,” he smiles.

While ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh enjoys his drink and insists on business class travel and five-star hotel stays,Punjabi singers like Gurdas Maan and Harbhajan Mann insist on extensive sound checks for live shows. As for Daler Mehndi,he likes his entire crew to be flown to the venue.