I’ve heard of various seemingly fussy contract stipulations that rock stars require at a show, like a bowl of m&ms — but there must be no brown ones. On the surface this just sounds eccentric — or arrogant — but I remember reading that one of the reasons for weird stipulations that are easy to check is that, if those are conscientiously followed through on, then less obvious details are probably taken care of too (things that might affect the quality of the sound, say).
Maori musical artist Mihirangi says she includes an interesting (and heartwarming) requirement in her contract.
“Whenever she performs abroad, [her] contract stipulates that the organisers must facilitate a meeting with local indigenous groups, to learn about their culture and land and to request permission to perform on that land. ‘I actually can’t perform unless I meet with the local indigenous elders. It’s a cultural thing for me, it’s who I am, it’s my spirituality. It’s really empowering, when you go on stage you feel like you’re becoming part of the local family and that you have a right to be there. You’re connected through the family you’ve met who’ve supported you and nurtured you by opening this space for you. I suggest everyone do that, not just indigenous people.’ … One of [Mihirangi’s] first such experiences came from a meeting at a festival in Canada. ‘The local indigenous people had never had that sort of meeting happen before. They were so honored by it that they came to the festival and caught salmon in the local river and fed the entire festival. … Just that little act alone gave them responsibility, gave them a sense of purpose and empowerment of their own culture, of their own land.’
source:
“The Power of Language” by Jim Hickson
Songlines
#155, March 2020
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