Stevie's Career

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

Personally, I think she's too lazy to do an upscale Vegas gig that would generate buzz and excitement. I don't think she has it in her to hit mainstream again and create a smash hit that would conjure up new fans. She's too set in her ways and content with nostalgia.

Unfortunately, those are exactly the kind of people that Vegas attracts.

When you hit the same town again and again, that is when you have to change your set list. That is why the second leg of the SYW tour was such a suicide mission. People had just spent big money to see them a few months ago and even diehard fans didn't want to spend the money a second time for the same setlist.

But the beauty of Vegas is that you can stay the same because the audience changes all the time. So, you get those people, a new batch every week, who are there to hear Dreams and Stand Back and don't even want to hear anything else. It's kind of a lazy performer's paradise. It's very sad on one hand, but on the other . . .

I saw Cher talking about how amazing her set was going to be. I wonder if Stevie had the money to go all out on the set, a set that wouldn't have to travel, what she would conjure up. Michele

[dnightshade]

I think it would be GREAT for Stevie to play smaller venues. There would be a more intimate feel to her shows (like the VH1 Storytellers series) and I think it would add a new twist to her shows compared to her playing at larger arenas. It's only natural that as she ages she'll want to mellow out her performances a bit. Smaller theaters will allow her to do that w/out comprising her 'relationship' w her audience.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

She could definitely sell out the Hilton for the rest of her life.

Isn't Toni Braxton occupying that spot? Michele

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

Personally, I think she's too lazy to do an upscale Vegas gig that would generate buzz and excitement. I don't think she has it in her to hit mainstream again and create a smash hit that would conjure up new fans. She's too set in her ways and content with nostalgia.

I do not think they ever thought about such a show. I think they negotiated for the show we saw, which in her opinion was fabulous and, in the opinion of CP, enough to spark negotiations and, if rumors are to be believed, an offer

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Oh My God, that is so horrible to think about. That place is such a dive. She could definitely sell out the Hilton for the rest of her life.

Everytime I go to Vegas, I stay at the IP! I have more important (booze) things to spend my money on.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I do not think they ever thought about such a show. I think they negotiated for the show we saw, which in her opinion was fabulous and, in the opinion of CP, enough to spark negotiations and, if rumors are to be believed, an offer

I can't see CP thinking that show was good enough for a contract. It looked like a show-on-the-road, not a show for residency.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

I can't see CP thinking that show was good enough for a contract. It looked like a show-on-the-road, not a show for residency.

Who knows - maybe CP wanted more - but, it was not to be a permanent thing, so maybe they would have added more. I mean Bette is there pretty much all year - so, like CD, they are going to put money into the show. But, she specifically said she and her posse worked overtime and went overboard to make that 2005 show special and suitable for Vegas. I am not saying it was - I am saying she thought it was. La Nicks likely would never agree to a stage show with dancers, a la Bette's new show. But, who knows and anything is possible.

[ontheEdgeof17]

^I wouldn't mind seeing Sharon harnessed up and floating above the crowd during Landslide.


....or Jana leading the audience to a line-dance during the countrified Sorcerer.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Isn't Toni Braxton occupying that spot? Michele

No, Barry Manilow is. She is at Flamingo or Bally's.

[wolfontherun]

Doing Vegas is no longer considered to be "settling".

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

No, Barry Manilow is. She is at Flamingo or Bally's.

Oh, she is at Flamingo, but I thought that it was the Flamingo Hilton. Maybe Hilton sold it.

You know I have to laugh at the comment about Sharon flying in a harness, because when I thought of Stevie permanently installed at Caesar's I did find myself wondering what she would have floating in the air, given the chance. Celine had a bride, a bicycle . . . Stevie would have the Three Birds of Rhiannon up there, for sure . . .

Even now, in concert when Stevie simply shows old footage of herself on the back screen, it's very moving. Imagine if she did something more elaborate. I don't think I ever got over seeing Mary Poppins flying out of the movie screen when I went to see the Ice Capades as a child. So I keep thinking of Stevie emerging onto the stage, from one of her old music videos, like "I Can't Wait."

Obviously, I'm a Sonny Bono fan and the most meaningful part of Cher's show is where she pays tribute to Sonny. But she has always had a segment like that in her acts, ever since 1978. She didn't just include it when he died.

This all reminds me of the way Lindsey described the Dance cover. He made it much more interesting than the stupid picture actually looks. He says they are all forming a Matisse circle on top of 20 years worth of band rubble. I think it would be great if more meaningful band artifacts were pictured in the shot than what is actually there. Use a symbol from each album, not just Rumours. It would be interesting to put together.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by wolfontherun

Doing Vegas is no longer considered to be "settling".

That depends on how you do Vegas. When you think of The Rat Pack, Sinatra, Elvis, Vegas has never been a career pitfall. But there's good Vegas and a bad Vegas. Michele

[petep9000]

If Stevie doesn't package an interesting Vegas-style show, word-of-mouth will kill a long-term gig for her. I think the average Vegas-goer is looking for something very glam and glittering, a spectacle. If Stevie's show is just her performing the same as when she does a summer 'shed' tour, and the only added thing is the projector with the pictures, people will be bored. And the people who are casual fans only and get bored will return home and tell their co-workers, families, or other moms on the soccer field how you shouldn't waste your slot machine $$ on Stevie and to check out Cher instead.

The stage should be a rich hodge-podge of potted palms, Persian carpets, Tiffany lamps, shawls draped over stuff and lots of candles (Las Vegas FD standing by with extinguishers). Her entrance should be dramatic, and she needs to engage her audience. Think along the lines of the 'Storytellers' special, or even the sweet segment during the 'Enchanted' tour where she brought out ATGF, 'Garbo', 'Rose Garden' and 'Sleeping Angel' and gave a little commentary on each.

[David]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Even now, in concert when Stevie simply shows old footage of herself on the back screen, it's very moving. Imagine if she did something more elaborate. I don't think I ever got over seeing Mary Poppins flying out of the movie screen when I went to see the Ice Capades as a child.

You know what I'd love to see? What if Stevie, using high-tech multimedia FX, re-created the scenes of wormhole travel with Jody Foster in "Contact"? Imagine Stevie, Sharon & Jana "good to go" . . . .

[enchanted]

Does anyone have any figures on how many people were at Stevie's shows???? Those of you who went to see Stevie in Vegas were they sellouts??????