Is it just me?

[amber]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

How it always is for Stevie, or how it always is, period? There are lots of artists who don't play private or corporate gigs.

Well...Stevie. And a lot of other performers. Who books for artists who don't play private or corporate gigs? Where do they play? I mean, if they randomly play at some small club, that is still a booking, someone had to set it up. There are still fans at the venue who want to hear that person play.
Also, as far as this thing goes, with the number of tickets being offered, it is like a regular concert. There is no meet and greet.
I just don't have that snobbishness of where people play, or whatever. Stevie likes to sing, she likes to get paid for it - singing is her job.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by amber

Well...Stevie. And a lot of other performers. Who books for artists who don't play private or corporate gigs? Where do they play? I mean, if they randomly play at some small club, that is still a booking, someone had to set it up. There are still fans at the venue who want to hear that person play.

Well, with most "regular" (that is, non-private, non-corporate) gigs, artists book themselves. It's not a like a venue just calls up an artist and says, "Hey, will you play a show here?" The artist decides that they're going to tour, and then they book dates and venues based on what's available and what they want.

In a corporate gig, the power roles are reversed. The corporation says, "Hey, we'll pay you this much money, come do what we want," and the artist says, "Okay." It's just a question of how much control you have over your art and how you're "distributing" it.

I just don't have that snobbishness of where people play, or whatever.

You sure "snobbishness" is the right word for people who are somewhat put off by the idea of people paying hundreds of dollars to go to a private Stevie event?

[amber]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Well, with most "regular" (that is, non-private, non-corporate) gigs, artists book themselves. It's not a like a venue just calls up an artist and says, "Hey, will you play a show here?" The artist decides that they're going to tour, and then they book dates and venues based on what's available and what they want.

In a corporate gig, the power roles are reversed. The corporation says, "Hey, we'll pay you this much money, come do what we want," and the artist says, "Okay." It's just a question of how much control you have over your art and how you're "distributing" it.

Yeah, I see what the difference is now. But I don't get the big deal. Also, doesn't the venue in the "regular" gig scenario still have to want the band to play?
I just assumed with the whole corporate gig thing, that Stevie, or other artists, would still have the freedom to say they didn't want to do it. Also, even when Stevie played that party, she didn't have to do what they wanted, specifically with her setlist, did she? Or on the SYW tour?
Am I wrong? So in that way the corporate/private gig doesn't have control over the artist.
I worked for this smallish bar/restaurant who has live music every night, their downstairs is a "club" area. But we had a booking agent, and acts would send him...demos, I guess, or finished CD's or whatever, and then he would decide and try to book them.

Originally Posted by quim

You sure "snobbishness" is the right word for people who are somewhat put off by the idea of people paying hundreds of dollars to go to a private Stevie event?

No, I was referring to people caring specifically about where artists play, like some venues/situations are not good enough for the artist. Not the cost of going to a private event.

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Given all this hub-bub over a potential "private Stevie party/concert" in the Nicks forum, I begin to wonder:

Am I the only one here who simply would never go to such an event? Regardless of whether or not it's Stevie Nicks or the pope or Jimi Hendrix back from the dead, or whether I got to hand-pick the setlist, or whether I got to shake her hand or have her sign my ass... I just don't think I would ever even want to go to this kind of event, particularly at such a cost ($350 is the price being quoted for this particular Stevie party idea).

Is there anybody else who's just kind of scratching their head in amazement at this?

If I wasn't on another continent, I'd go in a flash.

Romy

[DrummerDeanna]

Nah - as much as I love Stevie I'd never pay that much money to go to something like that. There are several reasons. It seems that (and I'm not talking about the majority of the people here ) that a lot of the crazies come out....

And there are a lot of crazies...in fact my first thought upon seeing the private party thing was, "oh that poor woman...does she know what she's getting herself into?"

And I wouldn't want to meet Stevie for a split second while there are bunches of other crazed fans around.

Plus I have this ideal of who/what Stevie is in my head. It's almost guaranteed not to be accurate as it's put together on what she portrays in public -and well, I don't want that image/ideal messed with.

AND with my luck I'd catch her on the ****tiest day of her life and she'd be a complete bear and I'd be crushed. I've already been front-row-hand-shake-snubbed by Stevie twice...I don't need to be snubbed after paying upwards of 300 bucks

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

I would if it were....

Wow, you didn't even say you would if it were Christine McVie!

[Red]

Yeah I can't do it, I'm travelling too much this year, just bought a condo a few months ago, saw Stevie in Vegas last year, know I'll be seeing a couple FM 2007 shows AND I'm still holding out for a solo Lindsey tour. If it wasn't for all that, I'd SO be there.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by amber

Yeah, I see what the difference is now. But I don't get the big deal. Also, doesn't the venue in the "regular" gig scenario still have to want the band to play?

Well, the venue has to allow the band to play. There's no question that any venue wants to have people performing or doing something there. That's how they make money. It's just a question of whether the space is available when the artist is.

I just assumed with the whole corporate gig thing, that Stevie, or other artists, would still have the freedom to say they didn't want to do it.

Well of course, nobody has to accept the big wad of cash thrown at them to play a private party.

Also, even when Stevie played that party, she didn't have to do what they wanted, specifically with her setlist, did she? Or on the SYW tour?
Am I wrong? So in that way the corporate/private gig doesn't have control over the artist.

Well, I doubt any corporation would feel the need to tell Stevie what to play. She's already going to play everything they want to hear without them asking her to. But when you're being hired by someone to perform a show for them and they're throwing around big cash, you do what they want. I don't doubt that many corporate booking agents remind the people they hire to play their hits.

I worked for this smallish bar/restaurant who has live music every night, their downstairs is a "club" area. But we had a booking agent, and acts would send him...demos, I guess, or finished CD's or whatever, and then he would decide and try to book them.

Sure, and these are a bunch of no-name local bands nobody's ever heard of, right? That's just how it has to go most of the time when you're starting out, that's what you have to do, you're trying to sell yourself, trying to get to a point where you don't have to sell yourself anymore, where you've got the money and the power to do what you want, to play the music that you want, to make the art that you want. Assuming that the art of it is what's most important to you, anyway. With Stevie that doesn't necessarily seem to be the case these days. She's still selling herself, because she thinks she'll make too little money or become less famous if she doesn't.

No, I was referring to people caring specifically about where artists play, like some venues/situations are not good enough for the artist. Not the cost of going to a private event.

Gotcha. Although I don't think the concern is that a private party "isn't good enough" for Stevie, but rather that it's a little strange the way some people seem to be viewing her as a commodity to be bought and told what to do, and treating her as a party clown in that respect.

But as far playing corporate gigs and such, I'll say that I think an artist is as good and as respectable as the ways that they choose to showcase their art. I have more respect for a musician who doesn't play corporate events, because it shows that they have more respect for their art as art, as opposed to commerce, and for themselves as an artist, as opposed to a commodity. And of course art and commerce are always intertwined in this world, but it's a spectrum, and some people keep their art more beholden to commerce than others.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

But as far playing corporate gigs and such, I'll say that I think an artist is as good and as respectable as the ways that they choose to showcase their art. I have more respect for a musician who doesn't play corporate events, because it shows that they have more respect for their art as art, as opposed to commerce, and for themselves as an artist, as opposed to a commodity. And of course art and commerce are always intertwined in this world, but it's a spectrum, and some people keep their art more beholden to commerce than others.

I think Stevie just wants to work, period. I can't remember if it was Mick or Sharon (or Dick Van Patten), but someone said that when Stevie isn't working, she feels worthless.

I'm sure that, to her, a gig is a gig, and as long as people are enjoying the show it doesn't matter if they're diehard fans or businessmen.

[irishgrl]

I'm not being cynical, I'm just being cheap!

aaaahhhhh thats different! cheap, I understand! I cant afford todays concert prices either! for that matter, I couldnt afford YESTERDAY'S concert prices!

[irishgrl]

Stewie, General Zod, that sounds familiar....what movie is that from? wasnt it a futuristic kind of movie? (GAD! experiencing brain farts!) I seem to recall the movie trailer showing a spiked metal ball traveling along in mid-air without any help onward toward an unknown destination.....sorry thats all I recall, but I could be WAAAAY off here)

Edit: I AM way off, I just did a search and Zod is from Superman. Ok.
but now I want to know what movie it was that had that damn spiked ball zooming thru the air toward a distant target...???

[David]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Although I don't think the concern is that a private party "isn't good enough" for Stevie, but rather that it's a little strange the way some people seem to be viewing her as a commodity to be bought and told what to do, and treating her as a party clown in that respect.

It seems a little weird for fans to be able to "summon up" Stevie so that she appears at their bidding. It seems un-Stevielike. She is too mysterious, too mystical--she rules her life like a bird in flight, after all--to be "summoned" by any party but Clear Channel or Bill Clinton.

That's what's weird about it. The mystique of Stevie, the allure of Stevie are deflated when a bunch of fans can just throw down some cash & make her appear in person.

It's weird, man .... it's weird ....

[sparky]

Originally Posted by David

That's what's weird about it. The mystique of Stevie, the allure of Stevie are deflated when a bunch of fans can just throw down some cash & make her appear in person.

It's weird, man .... it's weird ....

Get on the phone, make an order, pay, and get the goods.

She's like pizza.

Except she won't be delivered to your door in 20 minutes, and the best you can count on is side door delivery. That is, if you have the proper performance space in your house.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Am I the only one here who simply would never go to such an event?

No. It's a waste of money to me and no different than seeing a performer on tour other than the higher price tag involved. Wow, she's going to be in a smaller room. Big whoop. That $350 is a third of my rent. Why would I want to pay that much to see anyone, especially someone who tours constantly with the same damned show? Granted, I'm not nearly the fan I used to be, but even if I still was, I wouldn't hesitate to laugh at the idea of dropping that kind of steak for one measly concert.

[amber]

I see your points. I think I have a different take on what you call commodification. I think of it in a less negative connotation in regards to Stevie. I think of it more literally - her voice is a commodity, meaning it is how she makes her money, and the same for all artists.
I see your point about how artists can choose who to work for and that some artists choose who they play for in ways that meet your particular standards, perhaps ways that you perceive to have more integrity. I get that. I don't like to see people I like playing fairs, and like that. But I rarely think the worse of the artist to the degree that you seem to. I try to find out the circumstances of why they are doing that, and I usually see the point - they need the money.
With artists that seem to have enough money, my judgment of them "cheapening" their work does get more stringent.

Then there is the other factor:
I think Stevie loves to sing, has Stevie ever stopped working? Not really. and copy here what Johnny Stew said in his post.

And I think the fact that Stevie likes to work, combined with a mid size fan only event (who wouldn't want to play in front of a bunch of people who are very passionate about their work? In fact, it is everything a performer does want. Am I wrong? ) combined with meeting her contractual fee, which is hardly venue slumming level, or creative freedom constricting - It's a recipe for the OPPOSITE OF A DISASTER!

My biggest boo hoo hoo is would that she would grab hold of her opportunity for creative freedom. If she ever had the biggest, fattest, juiciest, hanging change up pitch right up the middle to hit out of the fricking park, this is it.
and that, my friends -

THAT -

would make or break an on the fence financial decision for me (theoretically).
But I'd definitely urge everyone who could to buy the initial ticket if they can - then you can just decide later if it will be worth the airfair and accomodations. It's very simple, really.

And who knows, maybe the lady will swing at this one.