Van Halen and The Brown M&M Rule
Back in the 80s, when music was real, Van Halen was hot. There are many infamous stories about their tours, but this one is my favorite.
Van Halen had a rider, a clause in their touring contract, that seemed crazy: “No brown M&M’s in the backstage candy bowl.” Critics rolled their eyes. Fans chalked it up to rockstar arrogance.
But they all missed the point.
That quirky candy clause wasn’t about being prima donnas. It was about attention to detail—and it was genius.
The Hidden Genius Behind a Seemingly Silly Request
Van Halen wasn’t just another hair metal band trashing hotel rooms. They were pioneers of massive, high-tech live shows. Their production involved complex lighting, staging, and rigging that had to be executed perfectly to avoid disaster.
The problem? Each venue received a thick technical manual outlining exactly what was required. If even one detail was missed, it could result in damaged gear, canceled shows—or worse, a crew member getting hurt.
So how do you know if a promoter actually read the manual?
Simple: Plant a tripwire.
Enter: The brown M&M.
If David Lee Roth walked into the green room and saw brown M&M’s, he knew right away—someone didn’t read the fine print. That meant everything else needed to be double-checked: the weight limits of the stage, the voltage of the power grid, the rigging safety.
Business Lesson: The “Candy Bowl” Tells You More Than You Think
Every company has its own version of brown M&M’s:
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A sales email with the client’s name misspelled
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A product shipped without proper labeling
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A contractor ignoring brand guidelines
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A team member skipping a checklist step
These “small” things aren’t small. They’re indicators—signals that tell you if someone is paying attention or just going through the motions.
Great Leaders Build in Tripwires
Van Halen didn’t just trust their gut. They engineered a subtle test to confirm reliability.
You can do the same:
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Include specific follow-through details in onboarding tasks
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Use internal “audit items” in checklists to verify thoroughness
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Watch how your team handles low-visibility responsibilities—it often reflects how they’ll handle high-stakes ones
Conclusion: Details Signal Discipline
The brown M&M rule wasn’t about candy. It was about control, safety, and professionalism. It was a test of whether the venue—and by extension, the people running it—took things seriously.
In your business, what’s your version of the brown M&M?
Because the small things...they usually point to the big things.
Ryan Giles
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