I live in Vegas (for the unfortunate time being- due to work) and havent heard anything about it, but I can say the place hasnt been the same since P has gone. While it would make life here in Vegas much better for me, I agree, NY would be a much better place for P to set up residency!
Let's recap how things became here in Vegas. In last couple months of the residency I actually passed up free tix to some shows because things had gotten so out of control! Drunken tourists began to try to grab P; idiots spilled 90% of their drinks on others while pushing and shoving on dance floor & throughout the club, and in the aftershow line; the RIO allowed overcrowding by giving away free tix to "high rollers" who showed up a third to a half of the way through the show only to be given the tables closest to the stage while those that paid for VIP tix were crammed into the remaining VIP tables. Tables that were originally 2 person tables became 4 or 5 person tables, and tables that were 4 person tables went to 6 and UNBELIEVABLY 8 person tables! P had long quit walking through the crowd, only venturing into the band's VIP area- probably because he feared being attacked, doused in liquor and could plainly see that getting through the stage left area would be near impossible! P looked visibly annoyed as drunken idiots were able to attack him on stage, and scream for "Purple Rain" while he was singing his heart out on "Gotta Broken Heart Again" or some other some that they didnt know. Anyone that lives here knows how drunken tourists are on the strip... P had visibly lost the joy he had in the first couple months and cut down on the aftershows or abrutly ended them because of the behavior of those allowed into the aftershows.
P WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF DOING A LONG TERM RESIDENCY AT A CLUB IN NY WHERE THERE WOULD BE SECURITY, FIRE AND SAFETY CAPACITY CODES WOULD BE OBEYED AND PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO ACT RIGHT! LET ME PLEAD RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW, A RESIDENCY CAN BE DONE RIGHT IN NYC! NYC WOULD B A PERFECT HOME FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO!

P would be free to play the obscure, new music and newly interpreted music any true fan would love to hear, in NY, without having some fool scream for PR or Lets Go Crazy... JDCXC, is right, there would be great opportunity for interesting guest appearances in NY. I also think the local music scene in NY could even inspire P.

There is no creativity or real music scene at all in Vegas- couple decent blues bands, but the best music I have heard at any of the musical venues/clubs here has been jams not actual bands. (A few older musicians step out and play together) Believe when I say, my boyfriend who is a musician is "dying" this music scene is so weak here! Vegas is a place of chain restaurants, stores, planned communities, no identity other than the strip and it's "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" mentality. People only want what they know, are comfortable with, or what is currently "hot" or "it"- it is not a place where anything new, interesting, creative will originate.

Anyone who went to the first 2 months worth of shows and didnt see any of the last couple months shows can thank their higher power. The shows became shorter as P, hell, even the RIO staff, clearly were no longer having fun as the clientel/behavior deteriotated.

4bjb said:

Just because it debuted at #2 doesnt mean it did well. To date he's sold a little above 350k units. For an artist of his caliber AND for a 3 disc set its very bad.

micknme said:

in essence vegas lounge acts or wayne newton country

salaciousV said:

-----
No it is not bad for a independent CD that will never receive radio airplay.
In addtion, unlike most artist P was paid upfront by Target and I am sure received his full share of the profits from the sale of the Cd. Please do some math.

If he only receive $6.00 for each cd at 350k =$210,000.00 plus whatever he recieved from Target most artist are lucky to get a buck and they still owe the
record label money in the end.

micknme said:

micknme -- I do not know what shows or aftershows you attended but I was at a large amount of shows/aftershows and the majority of the shows and aftershows during the last few months and I am only aware of 1 case where Prince ended an aftershow abruptly and people assumed it was due to 1 male fan being up to close to him who would not move back.
I think you are greatly exaggerating based on 1 minor incident. The shows were excellent and Prince throughout his shows went through the crowd and I have no idea what "attacks" you are referring to. It sounds like you are exaggerating to make a case to have Prince perform in NY versus the reality of what really happened at the 3121 concerts and aftershows.

Just KeepinItReal

I live in Vegas (for the unfortunate time being- due to work) and havent heard anything about it, but I can say the place hasnt been the same since P has gone. While it would make life here in Vegas much better for me, I agree, NY would be a much better place for P to set up residency!
Let's recap how things became here in Vegas. In last couple months of the residency I actually passed up free tix to some shows because things had gotten so out of control! Drunken tourists began to try to grab P; idiots spilled 90% of their drinks on others while pushing and shoving on dance floor & throughout the club, and in the aftershow line; the RIO allowed overcrowding by giving away free tix to "high rollers" who showed up a third to a half of the way through the show only to be given the tables closest to the stage while those that paid for VIP tix were crammed into the remaining VIP tables. Tables that were originally 2 person tables became 4 or 5 person tables, and tables that were 4 person tables went to 6 and UNBELIEVABLY 8 person tables! P had long quit walking through the crowd, only venturing into the band's VIP area- probably because he feared being attacked, doused in liquor and could plainly see that getting through the stage left area would be near impossible! P looked visibly annoyed as drunken idiots were able to attack him on stage, and scream for "Purple Rain" while he was singing his heart out on "Gotta Broken Heart Again" or some other some that they didnt know. Anyone that lives here knows how drunken tourists are on the strip... P had visibly lost the joy he had in the first couple months and cut down on the aftershows or abrutly ended them because of the behavior of those allowed into the aftershows.
P WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF DOING A LONG TERM RESIDENCY AT A CLUB IN NY WHERE THERE WOULD BE SECURITY, FIRE AND SAFETY CAPACITY CODES WOULD BE OBEYED AND PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO ACT RIGHT! LET ME PLEAD RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW, A RESIDENCY CAN BE DONE RIGHT IN NYC! NYC WOULD B A PERFECT HOME FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO!

L4OATheOriginal said:

=====
No matter what dude does the negativity just does not stop. I suspect from the positive things people have said about the shows P did a great job as far as putting the blame on him for the enviroment in Vegas some of you need to get in touch with reality.

People come in late and are disruptive at large venues. Your always going to have drunks and people who got tickets from some promoter or radio give away and only know Purple Rain it happens and it will happen no matter what city P performs in.

micknme said:

You must have missed the Club Black FIASCO.

Until there's an official anouncement, this is just a rumor. No links = nothing.

laurarichardson said:

u call it negative but in truthfullness, if u want 2 c prince become some washed up vegas act, by all means, b my guest. i don't want 2 c him go down that route.

laurarichardson said:

Laura, I am glad you pointed this out. I really think that some people are stuck in the 1980s when it comes to analyzing sales. Sales don't matter to me, but I just wish that people would have a proper frame of reference when they speak about them. Many of the "hot" acts of today aren't selling that many copies with radio and video play as well as more expensive marketing campaigns. Also, most artists who have been in the industry for decades obviously are not going to sell like they did in their heyday, regardless of their caliber because the audiences and times change.

L4OATheOriginal said:

----
No, it is your truthfulness. It is easy for people to go to a venue that he going to be performing at for a stated period of time. The fact that it might be Vegas does not matter. P is getting older and I don't expect him to be touring as frequently as he use to for an older act a residency is great.

In addtion, your out of touch if you think playing Vegas makes you a has been.
A has been is playing at the local park for free.

salaciousV said:

-----
No it is not bad for a independent CD that will never receive radio airplay.
In addtion, unlike most artist P was paid upfront by Target and I am sure received his full share of the profits from the sale of the Cd. Please do some math.

If he only receive $6.00 for each cd at 350k =$210,000.00 plus whatever he recieved from Target most artist are lucky to get a buck and they still owe the
record label money in the end.

laurarichardson said:

If he got paid $6 each from Target on 350K CDs, then he's made a little over $2 million! There are some people who are higher on the charts who aren't making this kind of $$ because the record co charges them for promotional and marketing costs and they have to pay it back before they get a royalty check.

laurarichardson said:

prince has been a out of touch person of late ..montreaux aside, u really need 2 look at his setlists since the musicology tour and then tell me he's not a vegas lounge act

laurarichardson said:

If he got paid $6 each from Target on 350K CDs, then he's made a little over $2 million! There are some people who are higher on the charts who aren't making this kind of $$ because the record co charges them for promotional and marketing costs and they have to pay it back before they get a royalty check.

L4OATheOriginal said:

----
I have the Nokia and Conga Room shows and I don't hear a Vegas lounge act. You have not been keeping up and no one is going to sell out 20k stadiums doing music that the general population is not familar with.
It is a good thing you don't work for Prince he would be a lot poorer with your business plan in place.

wow.....3500 views all for a thread that one person started based on little or no confirmed information

nice!

DerekH said:

And don't forget the $400K or so he's made in Lotusflow3r.com membership fees. That's pure profit, baby.

L4OATheOriginal said:

Personally, I like the residencies. They're easier to plan for as you can select dates that work best for you and you can go multiple times if you want.

Of course the location doesn't always work for everyone, which is life. But, what would be great is if he'd do shorter residencies in a few more places.

RodeoSchro said:

Forgetting his 2-person (or maybe more) staff that require a salary for the site, along with monthly server and storage fees for all of the content on the site, are we?

laurarichardson said:

the LA shows were a great xample of how he can do without the 20K stadium shows silly.. if he does the "general public" type style of shows..it's like him doing a vegas lounge act ..so 4 u it's about dollars more than artistic xpression? good thing u don't work 4 him cause u would stifle his creative process always just 2 get the green

L4OATheOriginal said:

-----
What are you ? My whole point here is he can do the shows in Vegas and do them like the shows at the Nokia and Conga room. What would make you think he would go back to Veagas and do the same set up as the last time including the same set list?

And yes it is about the money and the music. You can make a living and still play the music people want to hear and over the last few years it appears that P has made a very good living doing just that.

Of course I don't expect someone who thinks that P show do a 20,000.00 seat stadium show playing stuff from bootlegs no one has heard of to have a clue.

It takes money to make money and to put out new music.

I was at the Rio a few months ago and the club is still intact. I snuck in and got some pictures. After talking to staff, the told me it was still possible he may come back for another stay.

Nothing official, just speculation of a random staff member, but with the value of real estate in Vegas, it was surprising to see it still intact.