This is not rocket science. If he announces the dates at least two months in advance, people can make travel plans and more people are likely to attend the Rio shows. The November shows were announced with two or three week's notice. The same for the December shows. It seems like there are a bunch of us that are interested in going to Vegas, but we need advanced notice to get reasonable airline tickets and time off from work, etc. Sure, a lot of people are going to attend anyway, but that will not result in long term success of the project.

It seems like almost everything he does is backasswards. He's going to tour for 3121 in the winter/spring, but the album came out last year. Just like year's past, he's doing all of this promoting with no album and once he drops an album he'll disappear. The only thing he ever did right was Musicology. I could care less how much commercial success he gets, because he doesn't need it, but some of the things that he does just aren't logical. They have to know the dates, so announce them in advance and it will generate more interest. He needs to fire whoever is in charge of these things and hire me.

Actually, things seem to be going quite well. I think there is plenty of interest.

I was there on the 8th and the 9th and it was packed both nights. All the VIP tables were sold out as well. There was a line all the way out into the casino of people waiting to get in to the restaurant for the after shows as well. As the old adage goes...if it ain't broke don't fix it. Right now, it ain't broke!

Ur going to tell Prince how to manage his 27 year career. Give me a freakin break.Like you have all of the answers.

i was there on the 8th and it was definately crowded but i wouldn't say packed. there was still room to walk around in the back of the dance floor when he was performing. and from what i saw, there were plenty of vip tables empty all night long. i also went to the restaurant immediately after, luckily got a table right next to the jazz room, and the reason there was a line was because everyone from the club, which is a much bigger space, went over to the restaurant, which is a much smaller space, so people were waiting for tables. it was an extraordinary performance, but it definately was not sold out or even close.

The man seems to be doing fine with the Vegas shows. It's no surprise to any of Prince's fans how he operates, he's just doing it his way that's all. That's what you do when you're calling the shots.

2elijah said:

CO-SIGN

There weren't any tables where I was. Also, I don't think the idea is to be packed in like sardines a la the HOB. I like the fact that I could breathe inside and wasn't being crushed.

Regardless, I think Prince is doing well for himself. It kills me how people like to criticize and tell him what he "needs" or "should do." Prince marches to the beat of his own drum and I love him for it. I remember when folks put him out to pasture when the Vegas thing was announced. Let some people tell it, Prince is a brainless musician with no business sense. I'm sure he's looking to the org for business advice. I mean his career has been so unsuccessful and all.

I was there on 8th too, in a VIP table and I can also say that they were all full, sure some people left their tables to go and dance but they sure were sold out.As for having plenty of room at the back thats because when he came on everyone moved forwards to get closer to the action.

He is doing everything right. I travelled from the UK to be there and would do it all again.

Funny that we have come to expect 'sold out' as meaning not a spare inch of room to breathe! It all depends on how many tickets are available, not the space of the venue being filled. As for the tables, I have heard it said that sometimes Prince keeps some tables booked himself, I assume this is in case any guests turn up for the show. All in all I would imagine it is not easy to say whether the shows are sold out or not.

As for Prince needing a manager, that only works when the act agrees to do what they are told and turn up for things when planned. The fact is that Prince changes his mind on a whim and all a manager could do is follow Prince's orders. Prince has no problem getting to a place on time, for instance, it's just that he reckons everyone should work on his clock rather than theirs. Similarly even if he had a manager I don't think he cares whether people have trouble deciding whether to book seeing him in advance.

The problem with Prince is that he is unpredictable, a manager would not change that.

I agree with donnyenglish 100%. Whether this is going to be a long term or short term project, it needs to be more organized. I would go on New Year's, purchase the VIP package, and stay at the Rio, but need to make arrangements a month in advance.
For people who work, with families, and busy households, who need to fly from out of state etc. it's just not do-able under these terms and conditions.
The expense isn't a problem, Prince's lack of business acumen is.
[Edited 12/16/06 9:01am]

I'll be his manager.