Just sitting here randomly thinking about he is a pioneer in not only music but how he Co ordinates himself. For example:

1. Leaving WB years ago and releasing his album online - a lot of people do it now more noticeably Beyoncé releasing with no sponsorship or anything 15 years later but then it's like he gets bored as a lot of people start releasing stuff online so he stops.

2. The 21 nights residency at O2 - MJ came in to "top that" which sadly did not happen. He has never done anything like it since.

3. He does this hit and run tour.. who else is gonna follow next? But also looks like he thought either 1. This was always the plan so see out Feb in London or 2. Perfectionist as he is he has been watching concert footage back and isn't happy so going back to rehearse more or 3. Done what he has always done and caused mayhem thinks job done and now is bored.. next.

I had a bigger list last night as I lay awake thinking about past few weeks and what has happened and how well.. randomly it happened..It was like BOOM. .no notice, no months of waiting for the day to arrive with tickets in my hand.

I have moaned about things but god I have loved it. We are a privileged bunch. No other living artist like him.

I think he pioneers well. If you consider the maths behind the KoKo.

1430 punters paying £70 each = £100,000 take

Add a second concert and that's a decent night's work.

I'm sure Prince's UK visit is doing well to break even, but big artist and smaller venue without charging several hundreds of pounds per ticket can work.

Also pioneering to have no tickets, cutting out the touts. There's pros and cons, as those who need to travel like to have guaranteed entry. But until entry by purchaser becomes standard and employees of ticket agencies are stopped from touting, what else can an artist do?

I've been awaiting an auction. Eg the venue has 1000 capacity. 7 day auction, top 1000 bids get tickets. Could be 1p or £1000. maybe I should keep this idea to myself. People might not resent the cash-in if the artist took a maximum take and the excess went to a nominated charity. I sympathsize with an artist charging £40 and knowing many people paid >£100 and feeling that they've been cheated from income.

andymacfunky said:

I think he pioneers well. If you consider the maths behind the KoKo.

1430 punters paying £70 each = £100,000 take

Add a second concert and that's a decent night's work.

I'm sure Prince's UK visit is doing well to break even, but big artist and smaller venue without charging several hundreds of pounds per ticket can work.

Also pioneering to have no tickets, cutting out the touts. There's pros and cons, as those who need to travel like to have guaranteed entry. But until entry by purchaser becomes standard and employees of ticket agencies are stopped from touting, what else can an artist do?

I've been awaiting an auction. Eg the venue has 1000 capacity. 7 day auction, top 1000 bids get tickets. Could be 1p or £1000. maybe I should keep this idea to myself. People might not resent the cash-in if the artist took a maximum take and the excess went to a nominated charity. I sympathsize with an artist charging £40 and knowing many people paid >£100 and feeling that they've been cheated from income.

Auction would just mean suddenly it's £500 minimum to see Prince...

Nickelback, on the other hand. That'd be cheap.

I was thinking back to 2006 over the weekend and even the Las Vegas Rio residency was an eyebrow raiser.

I know lots of music stars do it but usually much later in their careers and/or at the very end of their careers.

Seems like Prince sort of did it to tick it off, try it out, and then move on to new ventures.

He's certainly not the first to constantly try and re-invent himself but his attempts at musical re-invigoration certainly seem unique to me. They're not always successful either in terms of his "boredom" threshold or how they are viewed by us fans but you've got to admire his musical drive.

KeithyT said:

Exactly

I know a lot of people seem to think he has made a loss on this tour charging £10 etc.. Thats not true. He has no massive stage like at the o2, it's just him and the three girls plus a few more like the KIran's of this world, hotel and travel cost. OK didn't make him millions but i do 't think that he walked alway at a loss.

Anyway back to topic i mean remember that interactive game? That was a first too.

KeithyT said:

I was thinking back to 2006 over the weekend and even the Las Vegas Rio residency was an eyebrow raiser.

I know lots of music stars do it but usually much later in their careers and/or at the very end of their careers.

Seems like Prince sort of did it to tick it off, try it out, and then move on to new ventures.

He's certainly not the first to constantly try and re-invent himself but his attempts at musical re-invigoration certainly seem unique to me. They're not always successful either in terms of his "boredom" threshold or how they are viewed by us fans but you've got to admire his musical drive.

The residency at The Rio and also the 21 nights at the O2 were all about maximising profit and minimising costs. A residency is the way to do this as there are no transportation costs and smaller set up/break down costs. At the time of the Rio Prince was once again needing a bit of a cash injection and this worked perfectly for him.

I am not saying there was no artistic decision made but I expect it was mostly financial.

andymacfunky said:

I've been awaiting an auction. Eg the venue has 1000 capacity. 7 day auction, top 1000 bids get tickets. Could be 1p or £1000. maybe I should keep this idea to myself. People might not resent the cash-in if the artist took a maximum take and the excess went to a nominated charity.

That would only be acceptable if it was for charity, so it is preferable to make as much revenue as possible.

In any other case, tickets should never go to the highest bidder. It would just lure the rich and famous who want their place at such an exclusive show, driving the price up and taking them out of the hands of the average person/fan. Good for the bank account, bad for everyone else.

Also..

strawberrybubblegum said:

1. Leaving WB years ago and releasing his album online - a lot of people do it now more noticeably Beyoncé releasing with no sponsorship or anything 15 years later but then it's like he gets bored as a lot of people start releasing stuff online so he stops.

This is something that too many people forget. I read an article recently about his UK visit, claiming he was "a latecomer to the digital age" - Pretty sure Prince got there before almost anyone else.

KeithyT said:

So Britney is at the end of her career.
Good!