Cholil ERK Says Complicated Riders Can Make Bands Not Invited to Perform Again

Kapanlagi.com - Ari Lasso's jibe about complicated riders from new singers immediately garnered attention from many circles, including fellow musicians. According to him, the demands of musicians during performances should not complicate promoters or event organizers.

In relation to this, the vocalist of Efek Rumah Kaca (ERK), Cholil Mahmud, also provided his response. He believes that excessive demands in riders can affect the sustainability of the musicians' careers.

"Yes, they can actually assess how their career sustainability will be if they have too many demands like that," said Cholil when met in the Kemang area, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (8/7/2025).

Cholil feels it is important for musicians to maintain good relationships with the organizers. He admitted he didn't know whether his band is classified as new or old, but he believes that a non-troublesome attitude brings more benefits.

1. Not Forced

"For me personally, I don’t know if I’m categorized by the band ERK as a new band or an old band, but I feel that bothering the organizers doesn’t bring any benefits," he said.

According to him, requests in riders are acceptable as long as they are reasonable and support the performance on stage. However, if the requests are not relevant, it is better not to insist on fulfilling them.

"We need to have needs that must be met, for example, if we are hungry or thirsty, but just as necessary," he explained.

Cholil reminded that rising bands tend to have their wishes accommodated, but this may not always be the case. If there is no longer much interest, complicated riders can actually become a reason for a band not to be invited to perform.

2. Mutual Understanding

Cholil ERK © instagram.com/sebelahmata_erk

"But later if they don’t rise in popularity or if audience requests are no longer many, eventually the things that make it complicated for the organizers will make the band not invited. That would be a shame," he said.

He also emphasized the importance of mutual understanding between musicians and organizers so that the performance ecosystem can run healthily. This two-way relationship, according to him, can help sustain live performance activities in the long run.

"So actually, if we understand the problems of the organizers more, and the organizers also understand the problems of the band, then if we mutually understand, it’s actually good for the sustainability of the relationship and the sustainability of the ecosystem," he stated.

Cholil said that ERK always tries not to make the committee troubled regarding riders. Although he is not sure how the organizers assess, he and his band always strive to keep requests reasonable.

"We try not to be a hassle. We don’t know how others perceive it. We try not to be a hassle, trying not to be strange," he said.

3. It Is Indeed Important

For him, riders are indeed important to ensure that musicians can perform at their best, but that doesn't mean they should be an excuse to ask for strange things. He emphasizes that the context of traveling to the location and tight schedules can be reasons why riders are needed.

"Riders are actually, if we are in a situation, not always when we are full. Sometimes we are on the way to a place hungry, far away, stuck in traffic, so maybe some food is quite necessary," said Cholil.

However, he himself is not the type of musician who eats a lot before performing. According to him, what is important is that basic needs are met so that performance remains optimal.

4. Could Be Wasted

"So as long as there is something proper, enough for food, drink, maybe. Actually, I also rarely eat a lot before a gig," he said.

Cholil also reminds that excessive food or requests could end up being wasted and ultimately futile. He hopes that musicians can learn to understand the conditions of the organizers so that cooperation can continue to be well-established.

"If there is too much and it gets wasted, it's actually a pity. So the band can measure, but the band also needs to understand the difficulties faced by the organizers, that is actually good," he concluded.

(kpl/far/tdr)