If you have a look at the 21 Nights in London Setlists on Housequake.com.

Now look at the stage time of each show:

August 1st 2 hrs 15 minutes stage time
August 3rd 2 hrs stage time
August 4th 1 hrs 50 minutes stage time
August 7st ?????
August 10th 1 hrs 48 minutes stage time
August 11th 1 hrs 45 minutes stage time
August 14th 1 hrs 42 minutes stage time

I see the pattern emerging - all the shows were played in August.
Interesting!
Wonder if 17th will be next, and more importantly...will it be August too?

Hmm yes they do appear to be getting shorter

no excuse for Prince to play under 2 hours.....

Although he overly made up 4 it with 2nights aftershow!
& he made a promise @ 2nights main show that at every one of the 21nights they will give they're all.

Jochem said:

I was at the 3rd Aug show - sure there was music for 2hrs but not Prince Stage time.

The first 15 mins it was just the band, Prince said goodnight london after 1 hr 5mins, came back after 5,second encore was 10 mins before he came back.

so out of the 2 hr show Prince was on stage for no more than 1hr 30 tops.

It was a great show in hindsight but painfully short by his standards especially if this is his big kiss-off....then again 21 nights is a mammoth ask

purpledoveuk said:

exactly what i was thinking!

Jochem said:

For the 7th gig, the gig lasted just over the 2 hour mark.

motr said:

Hey, I'm just quoting Housequake.com.

And the pattern continues (according to them):

August 1st 2 hrs 15 minutes stage time
August 3rd 2 hrs stage time
August 4th 1 hrs 50 minutes stage time
August 7st ?????
August 10th 1 hrs 48 minutes stage time
August 11th 1 hrs 45 minutes stage time
August 14th 1 hrs 42 minutes stage time
August 17th 1 hrs 31 minutes stage time
August 18th 1 hrs 23 minutes stage time

Jochem said:

I know. In fact, I am actually including the Houston video, so in fact, stage time would be less than 2 hours.

The average stage time for gigs (any band) is 90 minutes, so Prince is falling below the average now.

Oh dear.

Jochem said:

Yes - this is a pattern - but not of any particular relevance. I was there on the 1st and yes, it was a long show - but Prince kept playing going up and down on his lift and there was a lot of brass band solos, and felt like Prince was not on stage so much - I went on 14th and while shorter - he was on fire - and was a far better show - so much more Prince - less going up and down on stupid lift, less of his band and more of just him him him! So I'd go for short but intense any day! Mind you - I'd pay just to look at him for a couple of hours - so best not to ask me!

ctmccartney said:

I agree, this says nothing about the quality of the show.
i just thought it was interesting.

All the times for the main shows quoted at HQ are accurate - either from me being there myself or receiving live updates from someone attending.
Stage time does not include the intro video or waiting for encores ("everything after "goodnight London" or similar until the actual encore begins). It does however include time that the band is performing onstage without Prince (jazz intros, Wonderful World/The Dance etc), as it would be remarkably crass to suggest that it shouldn't count as part of the performance! The band do a great job and are certainly in my opinion an integral part of the show.

gsh said:

I'm glad you set this straight.
In HQ we trust!!

he cant possibly go under 1 hour 20 minuits. although if this pattern continues he isnt even gonna be at the 21st september concert!

gsh said:

just to say - I didn't mean to imply that the band playing didn't 'count' somehow as part of the show - the band are awe inspiring also - and I certainly would not omit their contribution to an amazing show - but when Prince has left the stage - while Maceo, Renato et al are incredibly musicians - I think most people would agree the main attraction is offstage. Whilst I would NEVER be so rude as to leave for a toilet break - and won't give arenas the satisfaction of ripping me off on stupidly expensive beer/ food that I could get any other night of the week - I would think most people agree that when Prince is not on stage - you listen sure, but you're waiting for his return. So while the show was longer on the 1st - I doubt that he was 'on-stage' for an awful lot more than he was on 14th - as he seemed to hardly leave the stage at all that night. I do wonder if we're all coming to expect too much. I know we are free to criticise - but really - are we all getting that spoilt that we're now picking on how many minutes he's on stage? It has taken 5 years for my life to get this exciting again (what I'm going to do post- Sept. 21st lord only knows!) and so I don't plan to waste any single minute of it in griping (ok - but only about the shit arena and ticketing)!

I've been to 6 shows now so tend to avoid reviewing them because I feel it's too easy to start getting blasé about setlists etc when you've seen a few.
I agree that the length of the show does not necessarily relate directly to the content or energy, but it's taking the piss for Prince to tease the audience with "we're gonna play all night" and then not even play til curfew. Sub 90 minutes shows isn't giving the audience value for money imo.

On the flipside, the aftershow on Saturday was "only" 85 minutes and "only" consisted of 11 songs of which 8 were covers.
It was however immeasurably better than the main show (which I didn't think was bad, actually) and easily worth double the £25 entrance fee.
Swings and roundabouts.

Good Lord, after nine shows the stage time has declined 53 minutes! That's average 5,8 minutes each show! That means: If this continues the last show will only last for 12 minutes!!!

RumAndRaisin said:

Avo said:



The Synth-sampler piano medley it is then...
[Edited 8/20/07 15:34pm]

RumAndRaisin said:


avo said:


Hey, but who is right then? C'mon orgers, there is more than prince in your head!

ctmccartney said:

I think u're being very "petty". It's 1 thing for certain and that is when Prince comes on stage be ready for the "ultimate" performance. "Time" is irrelevant,it's a disturbance to the mind.

I can't see the pattern continuing , anything under 1hr20 is gonna leave
a seriously miffed crowd , its also way below what I'd imagine is the average
length for any of Prince's last few international tours . Most of the Musicology shows were around the 2hr mark werent they ?

4bjb said:

erm.. wasn't that exactly the point I was trying to make? that counting minutes is rather irrelevant - it's all about the show... not sure how that counts as me being petty but each to his own...