I personally like seeing Prince in the smaller venues but it's nice 2 see him pack those large arenas as well!

I prefer the smaller venues. ONA tour was fantastic.

elbug said:

I've seen him in both venues and while both are great, I prefer the smaller, more intimate venue.

there was a time i'd say 'smaller venues', but after seeing the musicology tour from close up and far away last year, i have to say i really don't have a preference. honestly, i like either. he has the same level of engagement with the audience and with his material regardless of the size of the stage. few people can maintain that.

Large arenas are exciting, but my seats were so good at Musicology that the concert in the round was a bit frustrating.

Generally, though, I don't care what size the arena is, I only care how good my seats are.

andyman91 said:

there were a couple of nights i didn't mind chilling in the nosebleeds and watching the jumbo screens. but that's only because i'd already been to a few shows where i had amazing seats, so i already kinda 'knew the drill'. if i'd only had nosebleeds for the last tour, i probably woulda been a little less satisfied (needless to say). i had so-so seats for the ONA tour - they weren't great but i can't complain (other than to say i woulda had much better seats if the presale hadn't gone all wonky on me, but that's water under the bridge)...i think it's unfair to judge the venue by that tour, though - i remember his performances as fairly dark/brooding/aloof...which i liked - a LOT - but it didn't lend to much in terms of an exciting rapport with the audience. unless you like getting re-named "lynch".

Small venue.
.

I don't know I've never seen him in concert so I can't say but from footage I really liked all the choreogaphy of big area productions like Lovesexy and the Nude tour.

It´s striking that most of u speak about "seats". In Europe only the balcony is provided with seats. Three-quarter of the people are in the standing room. I´ve read, that many american musicians especially like to play in Europe because often the audience is more lively.(?) However, for me a seat suits only to a classic concert or to kind of Pink Floyd type music.

langebleu said:

same here. the large venues can be fun too, but a little overwhelming.

OLA in Detroit was my best Prince concert EVER....

but...either way..it's cool

The time when he does the concerts that only have a week or so notice, like Hit N Run 2001 (and 86, too), where he just comes and rocks the fuck out of a city, and then packs up and leaves. The first concert I went to was in 2001, April, San Diego, Cox Arena, and he came out for five or six encores. Last one was Kiss, and he just stayed out for about five minutes after the hit part of the song ended and played the bass and made contact with all parts of the audience. Of all the Prince moments I have had, that one is one of my favorite. Just so freeing to see him GO FOR IT!

ONA alone in London was amazing because it was 2000 ish people in an old theatre - that doesnt come along everyday.

But I ceratinly miss the Glitz of the D&P/Gold Experience Tours....if you have a good seat.

I still get goosebumps thinking about my front row seat as Prince came out to Endorphinmachine on that cheesy but very cool conveyor belt and teh glitz of Gold for the first time

Prince always puts on a good show, big venue or small. What it comes down to is seats! If you have good seats or view, it always improves the show! Whereas if you are stuck at the back of an arena with Prince a small dot visible only through binoculars, with people surrounding you who think the last good thing he did was Kiss and can't understand why he hasn't played 1999 yet... well, there's not much atmosphere in those situations. Trust me.

metalorange said:

Very true

I prefer smaller venues to larger venues no matter who the artist is. I think the smaller the venue is, the less pressure to be too rehearsed and too strict to a schedule is. I like it when artists just kind of lay back and feel the vibe of the audience and that's hard to do when the venue is too large.

I don't have a preference! As long as I'm up front, anywhere I can Prince live is alright with me!

Well I've only been to one show and it was an arena but since I have a bit
of a fear of crowds I sure would love to see him at a small venue.

Going to the Musicology show was truely a "labor of love" for me

i loved the big arena tour, but since i've only seen him once... AND THAT WAS 1 YEAR AGO TODAY for me! -sigh- it's kinda depressing, but it was only the best night of my entire frickin life. doesn't feel like a year... COME BACK PRINCE!

i'd love to see a "with friends tour" that expands on the NAACP performance. old friends on every insturment. andre, wendy and lisa included. prince can just move around play whatever and inject his songs throughout the set. For example he can play bass on 777-9311 and then segue into the basline for lady cab driver.