From Liberace to Elvis, Celine Dion to U2, and now starting this weekend with the Eagles; the Las Vegas Residency is a unique way for artists to reach their audience without the expense and exhaustion of a tour.
Spanning just 4.2 miles the Las Vegas Strip is visited by over 40 million visitors a year intent on the type of entertainment they can't find in their home towns.
So why wouldn't a top artist set up shop in that small stretch and let the people come to the show instead of touring the show to them?
Liberace was the first; popping his first Vegas champagne bottle in 1944 and performing there for over 40 years.
How did he afford all those furs, jewels, grand pianos and chauffeurs? Some weeks he raked in over $300,000. Comedian Red Buttons once called the money entertainers could earn there "enormous."
Buttons bragged, "four weeks in Las Vegas could buy you a Third World country.”
In those days a dollar meant something. When Elvis got serious about his Vegas residencies in the early '70s, for example, $15 was the most expensive ticket you could buy and that got you some drinks, too.
The King didn't always enjoy his time in Vegas, a city he is now as tied to more than he is to Memphis.
When he first debuted in Sin City at the New Frontier Hotel in the spring of '56, he was third on the bill behind comedian Shecky Greene and Freddy Martin and his orchestra. He was put off by the fact people were eating while he was shaking his groove thang. Worse, he was ridiculed by the local press.
Whatever the opposite of viva Las Vegas is, he was singing it. Two months later Elvis would release the single "Don't Be Cruel" with "Hound Dog" as the b-side and his career would skyrocket. But he'd stay away from performing in Vegas for 13 years.
When he did return, Presley came back with a vengeance. At the insistence of his manager Col. Tom Parker, who saw the benefit of cutting costs by having the fans come to you, Elvis was contracted to over 800 shows at the Las Vegas Hilton over 8 years.
Regardless of the plaque you may see when you visit what is now called Westgate Las Vegas, it would not have been physically nor legally possible for Elvis to have performed to 2.5 million people in that Hilton showroom.
Many experts say Elvis had closer to 600 sold out gigs at what was originally called the International Hotel. Which still isn't too shabby.
If Elvis is the King, the Queen of Vegas residencies has to be Celine Dion who raised the bar in regards to sound, dance, and production quality. Her show called A New Day ran from 2003 to the end of 2007 and was a modern feast for the eyes and ears. At its heart, though, was Dion's beautiful voice and popular songs, fit for audiences of all ages.
Dion was reportedly guaranteed over $100 million plus half of the box office.
It was such a huge success for the Canadian, she returned to Caesars in 2011 for a new residency that ran for 8 years.
All told, the two epic engagements went on for over 1,100 shows and grossed more than a half million bucks a night.
While Usher's 100 consecutive sold out gigs that concluded in 2023 made news, it was eclipsed. by the new kid in town, The MSG Sphere, which launched with U2's historic residency.
Not only was the Irish legends' celebration of Achtung Baby the perfect soundtrack to show off both the audio and visual capabilities of the revolutionary $2.3 billion new venue, but it set a new standard for what big name acts to pull in on such a show.
During their 40-night run, the average gross was $6 million. The band reportedly received $4 million a night... which no doubt, led to some beautiful days.
For context, Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour grossed $17 million a night... but the expenses of such a massive world tour are massive with such a large and glorious production.
The beauty of a residency, especially in a freaky goldfish bowl like The Sphere, is an artist can divert all the production costs to the trippy video that envelops the audience as seen expertly by both Phish and Dead & Co. during their groovy Sphere residencies.
Which brings us to the Eagles who have done anything other that take it easy since reuniting after 14 years apart for the Hell Freezes Over Tour in the mid 1990s.
The Eagles' fanbase is a touch older than U2's but just as willing to spend a couple hundred dollars to hear their favorite jams while sitting down and gasping at the visuals.
There's no question their Sphere residency could be as successful as Bono & The Edge's if that was their goal, and best of all they could just pop over from California on the weekends, be treated like kings at the Venetian, and play the hits like they've been doing for decades.
While these sorts of paydays are fine for established acts, some worry that it may have spoiled current stars. Adele, for example was reportedly guaranteed over $230 million for her Weekends With Adele residency at Caesar's - which wraps this fall. This summer rumor had it she earned a little more than that during her month-long residency in Germany.
All that cash, plus a voice - beautiful as it is - that is hard to maintain, she announced last week she's taking a very long break from singing live.
And who can blame her? She's engaged, young, and wants to spend that fortune without the demands of being a touring artist for a while.
Some say Britney Spears' Piece of Me 248-night four-year Vegas residency at the Zappos Theater burned her out beyond repair. Adele is wise to learn from others' mistakes.
Keep your eye on The Colosseum's website for info on Adele's final shows there.
