Christine McVie pleases tiny turnout
 

Review from the Pittsburgh Press about her 05/11/1984 concert. I was there and agree with most of what he wrote but the ending sums it up perfectly. While one of the scarcest turnouts for a concert, it was no doubt one of the best concerts of the year.
At the end of 1984, this writer did not forget those words. He recapped all the shows he saw in Pittsburgh in 1984. There were huge acts like Bruce Springsteen, etc but he mentioned this concert again as being one of the best. 721 is a very dismal turnout for her star quality. But believe it or not, I would have guessed it was fewer. But right after Too Much Is Not Enough, the crowd (including me) ran and overwhelmed the orchestra pit. You really saw her and her band's faces light up. They finally got to see the people they were playing for. For about the last 4 songs, they really thrived off the audience, even though it was not many. You have to give kudos to Chris for not cancelling these gigs. It was not about the money for her. She let her band get paid and even the opening act (Baxter Robinson band). I bet she sacrificed for their cause. This review is a treasure to find online.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1001...estinyturnout/

That’s not how that works. The artists have a minimum that they’ll play for when they’re shopping around for shows and the promoters who take on the shows offer guarantees to the band. So, let’s say that Christine‘s people set the amount at $25K, and a promoter from a city decides to offer them $30K. The tour would get no less than that $30K. The band can make more, but there’s a set minimum they’ll make. Also, the opening act gets paid a fixed rate. The band I worked for gave the opening act $250 a show.

So, the promoter probably lost his ass on the show. Christine and the band got their guarantee. What probably hurt was not getting much merch money, but that’s not money you can bank on.

Oh please Steve OMG
Dont want to debate you on nonsense. For the love of God, please stop trying to prove everyone wrong every second of your day.
Her solo tour was not commercially successful and was not even breaking even on many nights. Tours make money Steve. Ticket sales and merchandising are huge. When you don't have crowds, you don't make money.
My point remains. Kudos for Chris not cancelling these gigs.

Thanks for this post. I saw her in Boston at a half filled Orpheum Theater. Took advantage and moved from the balcony to the third row, awesome show! Here’s a review from the Miami Herald mentioning tour attendance (archived at stevienicksinfo site).

https://stevienicks.info/1984/06/a-f...in-fine-voice/

Wasn’t trying to prove you wrong, just explaining how that works based on my experience.

I’ve been in the van for the “Only 150 tickets have been sold, but the promoter is expecting a very strong walk-up”/“Okay, we’ll do it if he’s prepared to possibly lose his ass” conversation. And, of course, the “tonight’s show is off, we’re going to New Orleans!!!” conversation.

When she comments "this tour I expected more people" is quite the understatement. Like you, I too took advantage of a mostly empty theater and left my seat for about 10 rows back during Say You Love Me.
Her iconic status of being in one of the biggest bands ever and all those hits let alone a hit record currently on the charts is a bit odd.
Lindsey pretty much had the same experience if not worse for his Out of the Cradle tour.
I just wish I had a time machine and could go back in time. I would have been a groupie and showing up in the front row every night. Tickets only about $14.00 back then.
She toured by bus in 1984 and her tour bus was named "The Challenge". It was a very colorful and professionally painted bus that had the name painted on it. Saw it parked about 2 blocks from the theater the night of the concert. Gosh why did I not bring a camera.
I felt embarrassed at the turn out. There is a recording of Ask Anybody on Youtube where she exclaims "Its so quiet here" to the audience. It was from St Louis.
But we saw history and a fantastic concert. Funny story about the show that I am surprised was not mentioned in this concert review. She came to the stage and said "How are you Detroit" After Say You Love Me she apologized over and over and made a joke of it and said "I knew I was going to get that screwed up somewhere" Pittsburgh is not Detroit :)

It’s amazing how Christine and John got back to a place where there was a sweetness between them.

Nice review. I wish I was there, truly.

Two quibbles: "Songbird" was not an "unusual" set closer. And I've heard live performances of "One In a Million"--her voice sounds great in that context.

But, hey, here's to a review that DOESN'T mention Nicks. Not once.

Too Much Is Not Enough and Guitar Bug... do we have recordings of those? First I’m hearing of them!

“Guitar Bug” was on Billy Burnette’s “Try Me” album.

ETA: It was a song he and Todd Sharp wrote.

I was at that show!! Still have my ticket stub and the review in the paper (probably The Phoenix)

I agree. One thing that made One In A Million so special and rare is Chris sung the song at center microphone. If my memory is correct she sung at least 2 maybe 3 songs there while Eddy hopped behind her keyboards. His praise of Todd Sharpe is spot on. I had equal thoughts that he was going to be a big star. I have always said this but he would have been a better pick to join Fleetwood Mac in 1987. Sadly, he was not asked.

I was in the third row at that show, on the left side. Maybe we were sitting next to each other? A memory I have of that show is a young man with a bouquet of flowers jumping up on the stage at the end of the show and handing them to Christine. She seemed startled but not frightened. Security must have escorted him off although I don't remember that detail.

The show was absolutely great and I had no idea the place was only half filled. I don't think I turned my head once to look at the crowd; I was focused on Chris. My favorite moments of the show were when she did the "Bob Welch era" songs, "Spare Me a Little" and "Just Crazy Love."

The tour was so good. I wish I could go back in time and see it~

Christine played Universal on June 15. Was that her last show? Mick traipsed in midway through and sat in the front row. I got a nice long-sleeve T-shirt with piano keys on it. Some ladies in the audience were wearing furs and cocktail party dresses. Viva l'eleganza!