Rock band Van Halen had one of the most oddly specific requests of all stage performers – a bowl of M&M candies with all the brown ones removed. 

For years, people thought the band was making a ridiculous demand of concert organizers simply because they could get away with it. 

But the seemingly absurd request was actually a shrewd business move. 

The band’s concert rider indeed had a clause saying there should be no brown M&Ms in the backstage area, or the promoter would forfeit the entire show at full price.

The bowl of M&Ms would reveal whether the concert promoter had read the band’s complicated contract.

Lead singer David Lee Roth said, “If I came backstage and saw brown M&Ms on the catering table, then I guarantee the promoter had not read the contract rider, and we would have to do a serious line check of the entire stage setup.”

Attention to detail is a hallmark of successful marketers, people, and brands.