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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 29, 2022 17:29:08 GMT
Not wishing to pollute the ABBA Voyage thread with speculation about where this concept is going to go next. I’m sure lots of people in the entertainment industry are monitoring audience reaction very closely. So is this going to get Elvis back in residence on the Vegas Strip? The Beatles performing in a purpose built arena in Liverpool? Queen with Freddy? And not just for bands who can’t perform because members are no longer with us, how about The Spice Girls? The Rolling Stones can’t carry on touring forever, One Direction? Madonna? The possibilities are endless.
And does that pave the way for an even more elitist situation where “normal” people see a digital performance of their favourite band while only the rich people can pay astronomical prices to see the real artist?
Surely it would be naive to think that ABBA’s technology isn’t going to be replicated with other artists. Have we just seen the future?
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Post by Jon on May 29, 2022 17:34:52 GMT
The technology behind ABBA Voyage is not cheap and so it'd be difficult for the majority of artists to utilise it in the same way. This isn't replacing traditional concerts but a new experience.
It'd be harder to use this on artists who are long dead because the audience knows it's not the real artist on stage and it's kind of been done before with Sinatra at the Palladium and it's a neat concept but again you're not watching a real live artist.
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Post by n1david on May 29, 2022 18:20:46 GMT
I'm avoiding the ABBA thread for fear of spoilers, so forgive me if this has been referenced before, but ABBA apparently need to make £140m to cover the cost of this - which effectively means this running for three years in London, or moving it elsewhere, which means either heavily customising an existing venue or building something new like they've done in London. Apparently the band decided not to engage with sponsors, because of poor experiences with commercials in the past. I doubt there are many acts that could countenance such investment, and consider the possibility of such a long run. Elvis or The Beatles would do it, but they can't do the motion capture so it wouldn't give the same results. Maybe the Stones could do it, but they seem to like the physical act of touring and if they're doing it live I'm not sure there would be a demand to see a virtual version. Maybe as the technology develops it will be possible to do it more cheaply or faster, but maybe the results won't be as amazing as the reports of the ABBA shows have been. Story about ABBA's finances here (paywall): www.thetimes.co.uk/article/abba-needs-virtual-gigs-to-recoup-140m-to-cover-costs-52s3dhh3t |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 29, 2022 18:27:24 GMT
There will come a time in the not too distant that everyone who wants to see ABBA Voyage has seen it. So what after that? There’s a purpose built venue that’s all set up for the next artist/band.
The motion capture is an irrelevance I think. They used the real ABBA because they could, and it makes the “story” more compelling. But they also used body doubles who impersonated their body movements for the dance moves that ABBA can no longer do (as I understand it).
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Post by ptwest on May 29, 2022 20:41:15 GMT
I can well imagine The Jackson estate looking very closely at this with a view to creating something around Michael. It looked like MJ himself was looking at using 3d film for his “This Is It” concert series so this would be the next logical step after that.
What will be harder to replicate is the fact that with Abba being very much alive, it is their project , therefore avoiding any suspicion of a cash in. At least we know that how they look and what they “sing” is what the artists themselves have approved. Also as with everything, the more ubiquitous the use of the technology becomes the less it will dazzle. Future projects will need to up the game further.
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Post by Jon on May 29, 2022 20:57:43 GMT
I think mixing virtual performers with real performers like with say Queen would make them stand out even more since they wouldn't interact in the same way.
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Post by inthenose on May 29, 2022 21:00:02 GMT
Aren't Queen notoriously touchy about Freddie Mercury's legacy overshadowing the band as a whole? I doubt they'd do it unless they want a pay day
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Post by Jon on May 29, 2022 21:17:39 GMT
Aren't Queen notoriously touchy about Freddie Mercury's legacy overshadowing the band as a whole? I doubt they'd do it unless they want a pay day When you say Queen, you mean Brian May and Roger Taylor as John Deacon essentially left the band after Freddie died and has very little to no involvement with anything the remaining members have done. |
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Post by sweets7 on May 29, 2022 21:55:05 GMT
Aren't Queen notoriously touchy about Freddie Mercury's legacy overshadowing the band as a whole? I doubt they'd do it unless they want a pay day When you say Queen, you mean Brian May and Roger Taylor as John Deacon essentially left the band after Freddie died and has very little to no involvement with anything the remaining members have done. And Adam Lambert who pretty much is in Queen now. I don’t know I know Freddie Mercury was in Queen but I also see him and them as somewhat separate. But that isn’t a surprise as he has been gone a long time now. Queen still Perform. ABBA are in a unique position really. No one would want to see singers who have died. It’s morbid and really counterintuitive to the way we go through life. |
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Post by Jon on May 31, 2022 12:33:19 GMT
I would say the technology would be brilliant for Gorillaz who are a virtual band but the tech is too expensive and they're not anywhere as popular as ABBA.
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Post by talkingheads on May 31, 2022 16:16:24 GMT
I can think of very, very few bands big enough to make the financial outlay even vaguely viable. Queen maybe.
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Post by karloscar on May 31, 2022 16:42:22 GMT
How about a DIVA event with Barbra, Liza and Bette and guest stars in a way that would never happen in real life? Combinations of artists might be more enticing than just one band doing their greatest hits.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 31, 2022 16:45:09 GMT
How about a DIVA event with Barbra, Liza and Bette and guest stars in a way that would never happen in real life? Combinations of artists might be more enticing than just one band doing their greatest hits. Ker-ching! |
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2022 17:42:11 GMT
With Abba the active period was quite short ( under a decade) plus thir image didn't change hugely - Frida changed her hairstyle and colour a bit but even with the Beatles who were together for less time than Abba there were several different periods so cost goes up.
The ones listed above pretty much cover those who would have the finances or the demand for it. Some of the acts are still touring so no need there.
One act I did think of who will be stopping touring and is very much alive is Elton John and he'd have the finances to do it. But as he has been a prolific live performer over the years would demand be there. The only other acts who came do mind were the Zep and the Floyd but Zep are notoriously protective of their legacy and the Floyd aren't on best of terms with each other.
Also Abba have that broad across age appeal which few acts ever had.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 31, 2022 17:48:19 GMT
Kate Bush? Imagine the theatrics and like ABBA she doesn’t want to perform in person.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2022 18:10:08 GMT
Kate is the perfect type of artist for this but does she have anything like the fanbase to cover the likely costs even if costs do fall. La Streisand would seem much more likely if you wanted a reluctant performer.
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Post by Jon on May 31, 2022 19:28:53 GMT
Given Kate Bush already did a concert back in 2014, I'm not sure if a Kate Bushatar would anywhere near as successful plus I suspect she doesn't have the same global fanbase as ABBA to sustain a run.
Likewise with Barbra Streisand, she's done a few concerts in the last decade, this is very different to ABBA who hadn't done anything together in 4 decades until last year with the Voyage album and Voyage show.
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Post by intoanewlife on May 31, 2022 19:42:49 GMT
Abba will be VERY lucky to recoup in London.
They may scrape a million a week in ticket sales when the different price ranges are figured in, so that is at least a 2 year run to break even, which honestly I can't see happening.
Of course there is the bar, food and merchandising profits, but I imagine they'd be used to cover the running costs of the show and venue etc
It is not really THAT well sold, there's lots of decent seats still on sale for the next 6 months.
It's a massive outlay and I doubt beyond Jacko, The Beatles and maybe Elvis anyone would be willing to splash out that amount in hopes of making a profit.
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Post by Jon on May 31, 2022 20:09:33 GMT
Abba will be VERY lucky to recoup in London. They may scrape a million a week in ticket sales when the different price ranges are figured in, so that is at least a 2 year run to break even, which honestly I can't see happening. Of course there is the bar, food and merchandising profits, but I imagine they'd be used to cover the running costs of the show and venue etc It is not really THAT well sold, there's lots of decent seats still on sale for the next 6 months. It's a massive outlay and I doubt beyond Jacko, The Beatles and maybe Elvis anyone would be willing to splash out that amount in hopes of making a profit. I would imagine if it can move from place to place then it'll make money. Imagine having ABBA Voyage near to the ABBA Museum for example. |
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Post by intoanewlife on May 31, 2022 20:13:25 GMT
Abba will be VERY lucky to recoup in London. They may scrape a million a week in ticket sales when the different price ranges are figured in, so that is at least a 2 year run to break even, which honestly I can't see happening. Of course there is the bar, food and merchandising profits, but I imagine they'd be used to cover the running costs of the show and venue etc It is not really THAT well sold, there's lots of decent seats still on sale for the next 6 months. It's a massive outlay and I doubt beyond Jacko, The Beatles and maybe Elvis anyone would be willing to splash out that amount in hopes of making a profit. I would imagine if it can move from place to place then it'll make money. Imagine having ABBA Voyage near to the ABBA Museum for example. Oh definitely...I mean the whole thing feels like a pop-up venue, it'll be very easy for them to break down and move about. Mind now that the cost of creating is done with, I'm sure they'll eventually just create a few more and dump them in different places. |
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Post by interval99 on Jun 4, 2022 23:12:42 GMT
It's worth noting that after the platinum party at palace big live event the headlines have been completely taken by the Queen and the wonderful created digital Paddington clip at the start.
Two and a half minutes of magical entertainment and fun based as the ABBA voyage creators say merging the physical with the digital and it outshone the following two and a half hours of live physical performances.
The only thing from later in the show getting anywhere near as good press are the programmed mechanical drones light display.
I don't think anyone is fully expecting full digital created performances to suddenly overtake live performers but when the two can merge as spectacularly as Abba voyage and the Queen/Paddington clip have done it's certainly look like a new dawn of creativity is coming.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 15, 2022 13:06:03 GMT
Take a look at The Bourne Stuntacular Complete Show on YouTube. It’s the new “live” experience at Universal Orlando. Even on screen it looks incredible mixing live actors with a moving set and UHD video.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jan 4, 2023 9:39:29 GMT
They had a segment on Jeremy Vine about this the other day (my recent posts make it sound like all I do is listen to Radio 2, I promise it's not true!). Most people weren't in favour of it.
One said there was something a bit ghoulish about resurrecting dead artists. I think I agree with that. The technology was nowhere near as good, but in 2015 I saw Judy, with Louise Dearman and Lorna Luft, and I found I much preferred the sections with the live singing rather than the clips of Judy Garland. I'd happily watch those on television, but in a theatre it didn't really work for me.
The technology might work very well as a show attached to a museum, but would be far too expensive at the moment.
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Post by mkb on Jan 4, 2023 17:14:22 GMT
It reminds me of the scene in Blade Runner 2049 where Ryan Gosling's character visits the almost-abandoned Las Vegas hotel where a stageshow fires up, albeit with significant technical problems, featuring holograms of Elvis and the Sweet Inspirations singing Suspicious Minds and Can't Help Falling In Love.
I've got to admit, when I saw that, I thought I'd pay to see it. It's Abba Voyage and then some. And I love being taken back in time.
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jan 4, 2023 18:40:05 GMT
This brings back memories of when they gave Morcambe and Wise the hologram treatment back in 2012. Although I’ve always felt slightly cross for them because when they were ‘reunited’ Chris Moyles was stood in-between them!
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