i think i'll go 2 vegas 4 my birthday.

rastoma said:

Yo Dawg you are right on point...

I do a lot of work out in Las Vegas and stay at the Rio all the time. I also know a lot of the management there so I got some inside info… So here’s the deal…

As most of you already know Prince is working out a deal with Harrah’s Group Inc. (they own the Rio) to create an “Entertainment Management Proposal and Consulting Service” for the Rio Hotel. For some you that don’t know the Rio recently went through a complete redesign. Harrah’s logic was simple. They wanted to create a venue that would bring a more youthful, progressive, and upscale clientele that would hit the target market. This target market is essentially the “Next Generation” a term used to describe those of us that were born during the Vietnam and post-Vietnam era (circa 1966 through 1978). The target market demographics put them in the upper middle to lower high class bracket income levels that have:

Own homes with an average value of $350,000 to $1.2M
Income brackets of $55,000 to $250,000
Disposable income that is 25% of salary
Etc….

This is very similar to what Atlantic City did in attracting a younger clientele to the casinos there. Anyhow the program that is being created is to bring more progressive, positive and affluent musicians to the Rio that is primarily focused in the R&B, Jazz and Soul genres. The Hard Rock (only a few blocks away) is doing the same thing but for the Rock and Alternative music genres.

So what’s Prince’s take on this? Well Prince Acts more like an entertainment consultant overseeing the design (both the front and back office) as well as the entertainment bookie (lack of a better word). My understanding is that once the legal aspects where completed he put out a call to a number of artists asking if they were interested in partaking in this little experiment. My partner who works there and shall be nameless (don’t everyone calling the brotha…) said that the response was out of this world. Quote, “we have enough commitments to book for the first year”. Also Prince gets to play certain dates (without restraint) and gets a cut on ticket sales…

The club will not have live entertainment every night. Most nights the club will be open for the usual dancing, etc. Although they will have different selections of music each night. The really kewl aspect is that any artist that plays there will have “free and unrestricted” access to do whatever they want (as long as it doesn’t break any laws). So the sets are most likely going to be “raw”…

They already started doing a lot of the demolition and redesign (at least they were when I was there last month. Will be back in Vegas in two weeks so I can give an update when I get back). There are of course the legal aspects that still need to be worked out, pay the mob off, that kind of stuff….

I've been for a few posts that everyone should not be concerned and dissapointed for his stay in Vegas. Prince has always been a visionary bringing his talents and uniqueness to almost everything he does. Everybody keeps pointing out the pitfalls of past and present acts that include being tacky, out-dated, lame, and side show/freak show. But Prince is different he has a tendency to think shrewdly and come up with ideas that I haven't thought of. So I am sure the Vegas/3121.com scene will impress and catch most of us off guard and for some it will dissapoint. But let the man be a man and do what he does best, create. Our job is to watch and listen and enjoy.

Heading over to the Rio tonight for what I hear is a great buffet. Will look around for signs of anything. I hope to see a big bulldozer with Prince behind the wheel.

Thanks to Dafunkyou and Rastoma for the heads up. I never doubted brotha man P for one second,,,look at that lineup! Mint Condition, Maceo Parker, Kip Blackshire, Katt Williams, Floetry, Patti, Chaka...

People actually thought Prince was gonna go Vegas cheesy?

Now the only thing I have to decide is will I go BACK to Vegas or wait for a show here in Mia after the Superbowl.

If Prince doesn't play OFTEN this will not work. Would you reall book a trip if you didn't know in advance Prince was playing. It's a lot of money to fly across the country and stay in one of the most expensive cities in the world to see Kip or whover.

Actually I would book a trip but I like Vegas but I'm talking the casual plan.

vinaysfunk said:

Exactly. I didn't complain because I felt he had a purpose in mind with all the networking he's been doing. I prefer to just chill and trust that the man knows what he's doing.

rastoma said:

Yo Dawg you are right on point...

I do a lot of work out in Las Vegas and stay at the Rio all the time. I also know a lot of the management there so I got some inside info… So here’s the deal…

As most of you already know Prince is working out a deal with Harrah’s Group Inc. (they own the Rio) to create an “Entertainment Management Proposal and Consulting Service” for the Rio Hotel. For some you that don’t know the Rio recently went through a complete redesign. Harrah’s logic was simple. They wanted to create a venue that would bring a more youthful, progressive, and upscale clientele that would hit the target market. This target market is essentially the “Next Generation” a term used to describe those of us that were born during the Vietnam and post-Vietnam era (circa 1966 through 1978). The target market demographics put them in the upper middle to lower high class bracket income levels that have:

Own homes with an average value of $350,000 to $1.2M
Income brackets of $55,000 to $250,000
Disposable income that is 25% of salary
Etc….

This is very similar to what Atlantic City did in attracting a younger clientele to the casinos there. Anyhow the program that is being created is to bring more progressive, positive and affluent musicians to the Rio that is primarily focused in the R&B, Jazz and Soul genres. The Hard Rock (only a few blocks away) is doing the same thing but for the Rock and Alternative music genres.

So what’s Prince’s take on this? Well Prince Acts more like an entertainment consultant overseeing the design (both the front and back office) as well as the entertainment bookie (lack of a better word). My understanding is that once the legal aspects where completed he put out a call to a number of artists asking if they were interested in partaking in this little experiment. My partner who works there and shall be nameless (don’t everyone calling the brotha…) said that the response was out of this world. Quote, “we have enough commitments to book for the first year”. Also Prince gets to play certain dates (without restraint) and gets a cut on ticket sales…

The club will not have live entertainment every night. Most nights the club will be open for the usual dancing, etc. Although they will have different selections of music each night. The really kewl aspect is that any artist that plays there will have “free and unrestricted” access to do whatever they want (as long as it doesn’t break any laws). So the sets are most likely going to be “raw”…

They already started doing a lot of the demolition and redesign (at least they were when I was there last month. Will be back in Vegas in two weeks so I can give an update when I get back). There are of course the legal aspects that still need to be worked out, pay the mob off, that kind of stuff….

babynoz said:

Hey babynoz, didn't go to Vegas in May which I'm too sorry, but you know I'll be making that Miami to Vegas trip as well!! OMG I can't wait!!!!

I'm not getting it, why so many people are getting so freaking excited about this! I presume the people overjoyed at this are the people for whom getting to Vegas isn't a huge problem.

It seems that basically, if you can get to Vegas for these shows then hurrah! But if, like 90%+ of Prince's fans, you won't be able to, then this is all pointless. Then, to top it all, we're getting people criticising us for thinking that this is all a load of crap?

It reminds me of the legendary Year 2 of the NPGMC where members who were able to go to the live shows couldn't work out why members who couldn't were pissed off about Prince not delivering on his original 4 CD promise.

'I'm alright Jack, don't give a shit about you' syndrome.

Lospigg said:

:::cues up The Wiz soundtrack to "You Can't Win":::

RitaQoS said:

Im VERY excited about this and believe me..I know for sure I wont be able to make it. Im excited for all of his fans who have been waiting and will get to see him and the others. It's just exciting news.

I'm not getting it, why so many people are getting so freaking excited about this! I presume the people overjoyed at this are the people for whom getting to Vegas isn't a huge problem.

It seems that basically, if you can get to Vegas for these shows then hurrah! But if, like 90%+ of Prince's fans, you won't be able to, then this is all pointless. Then, to top it all, we're getting people criticising us for thinking that this is all a load of crap?

It reminds me of the legendary Year 2 of the NPGMC where members who were able to go to the live shows couldn't work out why members who couldn't were pissed off about Prince not delivering on his original 4 CD promise.

'I'm alright Jack, don't give a shit about you' syndrome.

DanceWme said:

Well that's nice for you. I wish I got that excited about things that I won't be able to experience myself and will only be available to people whom I don't know who clearly have lots of $$$.
Do you get excited for complete strangers who you'll never meet who win lots of money on the lottery? Just curious.