As Scamper makes its plans for fall and winter shows, we're starting to get some really cool events lined up. Everything's hush hush at the moment, but no worries - all will be revealed as soon as the ink on the contracts dries. Let's just say that come autumn 2006, there are going to be some Scamper shenanigans. Perhaps even involving a filthy panda or two. That's all I'm at liberty to reveal at this time.

I will let you in a little bit of insider fun - we're very close to signing for a show at a college in the area and they're offering us our first hospitality rider. For all y'all who don't know, check it out - a hospitality rider is the part of the contract where we request certain specific things to be backstage. Food, beverages, etc. In the biz of show, the hospitality rider ranks right above "herpes-infected groupie" in the pantheon of rock star perks.

I'm sure you've all heard those "green M&M's" stories which highlight the indulgent, infantile side of the rock star life. But really, there's a practical reason for it all - artists will usually include something unusual in their rider to ensure that their contract is carefully read by the other party. Even the anti-rock John Tesh requests an action figure of the WWE's The Undertaker in his dressing room, just to make sure everything else is being followed to the letter. And there's the more practical side of it - when our producer Tom Polce was touring with Letters to Cleo, he detested doing laundry (as you would if you smelled like him), so he'd order white socks and black t-shirts be there backstage for him before every show. So it's not just about being bitchy, spoiled and/or fucking with people.

Of course in our case, Scamper is primarily interested in being bitchy, spoiled and/or fucking with people. This is our first rider and quite possibly our last, so we want to make the most of the opportunity. We've got all the practical food/beer/Vitamin Water stuff covered, but if we only played it that way, we would really be pissing away a great chance. I'm thinking about getting something for my mom for Christmas or possibly those Elvis commemorative water wings I've had my eye on since my trip to Graceland.

Any ideas, Scamps? For what should we ask?