Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

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Magic Newswire
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Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Magic Newswire » April 4th, 2010, 11:05 am

I've held off on posting this until it was confirmed in spite of numerous emails and messages saying that it was in the works. Lance Burton has decided to close his show at the Monte Carlo rather than making cuts to the show as requested by management. More info here: http://bit.ly/b8cmEh

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby CraigMitchell » April 4th, 2010, 11:24 am

Lance's show unfortunately wasn't a fit for the new, 'edgier' Vegas ... it was a throwback to the 90's family friendly Vegas that has now long gone.

Will be very interesting to see whether Lance retires or attempts to find a new property which I somehow doubt ...

S&R gone, Lance Burton gone ... and so the strip loses yet another in magic's 'golden era' of production shows.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 4th, 2010, 12:06 pm

That's pretty shocking since it was a big deal for him to re-up rather than going elsewhere.
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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Michael Kamen » April 4th, 2010, 4:28 pm

Unless there is more to the story, this may have more to do with the economy than with an "edgier Vegas."
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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby CraigMitchell » April 4th, 2010, 4:33 pm

Economy definitely plays into it ... with declining audiences across the strip. But with limited spending cash available - punters are going to be far more discerning in what they go and see. I doubt that a 'family magic show' is going to be on most people's must see list in today's Vegas.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 4th, 2010, 4:34 pm

I have heard that Lance's show has been struggling on many nights to get more than 300 audience members into the theater. So, the requested budget cuts should not have been unexpected.
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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Greg Phillips » April 4th, 2010, 5:06 pm

Thought this was funny as an after thought in light "edgier Vegas" comments. THis is from an announcement at the end of 2009. Note the words "Family Friendly!"...
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. a family friendly comedian-impressionist Frank Caliendo will take to the stage with impressions of the likes of John Madden... What do we do here? Frank topless?
He's Funbelievable!

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Rick Ruhl » April 4th, 2010, 7:20 pm

Richard, how many seats are in his theater?

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Joe Pecore » April 4th, 2010, 7:34 pm

Rick Ruhl wrote:Richard, how many seats are in his theater?

This site http://www.onlineseats.com/venue/lance- ... -carlo.htm says its 1,500 seats.
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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Rick Ruhl » April 4th, 2010, 7:49 pm

Joe Pecore wrote:
Rick Ruhl wrote:Richard, how many seats are in his theater?

This site http://www.onlineseats.com/venue/lance- ... -carlo.htm says its 1,500 seats.


Durn, only 1/5 of the seats being filled. Well we know it's not Lance, at all, has to be economy, promotion, etc.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby CraigMitchell » April 5th, 2010, 2:42 am

So the bigger question is - how soon until Cirque du Soleil commandeer The Monte Carlo, too ;-)

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Tim Ellis » April 5th, 2010, 5:40 am

I thought it was odd that Criss Angel was filling his theatre while Lance was struggling for audience numbers until I was told that it's compulsory for Cirque staff to fill empty seats every night.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby pixsmith » April 5th, 2010, 11:13 am

Another thing to think about is that the casino model of paying for a show is pretty much dead. Lance's show was kind of an anomaly, and it wouldn't surprise me if the budget cut was a tactic to get the show to close so the room would be open to a four wall deal. It does seem to me that the casino's point of view was the same as someone booking a gig for $1000 and then telling you that since attendance was down, they wanted you to do it for $600.

(Disclaimer: percentages have nothing to do with anything other than illustrating a point)

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby T Baxter » April 5th, 2010, 2:07 pm

Are the really big names 4-walling it in Las Vegas?

I'm curious to know if Copperfield is.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Magic Newswire » April 5th, 2010, 6:32 pm

It is no longer a rumor. Lance officially announces the closing of his show after September 4th, 2010 :: http://bit.ly/a674wm

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby CraigMitchell » April 6th, 2010, 7:16 am

"People get married and get divorced every day, and a lot of times when people get divorced, they'll say it's 'irreconcilable differences,'" Burton told The Associated Press. "That's kind of what we have here. I think we've just grown apart, we have different philosophies, and we're going in different directions."

Burton declined to elaborate but said he and casino officials had different philosophies about how to put on a show.

"The question that I have to ask myself is, 'Do I stay in this relationship and potentially be very unhappy in the long run?' Or do we just say, 'You know what? It's time for us to move on,'" he said. "And that's what I decided to do."

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby CraigMitchell » April 6th, 2010, 7:18 am

Robin Leach:

Another entertainment expert told me: You could sort of see the beginning of the writing on the wall when impressionist Frank Caliendo moved into Lances theater as a second attraction to boost revenue. Lance warmly welcomed him, but now it was two acts splitting a similar pie. Franks show was a lot less costly to mount. There were no expensive illusions, dancers or large cast, thus tickets could be cheaper. It put Lance in a difficult situation.

In the end, the necessary corporate bid for economies and bigger entertainment profits made up the decision for him. He decided to leave on a high note with an incredible record of great success rather than watch it slowly get more and more watered down to a trickle over time as more and more cuts were made.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Brian Marks » April 6th, 2010, 12:14 pm

Frank Caliendo will now do impressions of Lance Burton with an impression of a juggler during the intermission.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby rkosby » April 6th, 2010, 9:23 pm

That's very disappointing news. I saw his show last month. The theater seemed full (I couldn't see into the balcony but I could hear them). It was a terrific show.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 7th, 2010, 8:03 pm

In Vegas, cheers and applause you hear may very well be pre-recorded on the soundtrack with the music.
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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Tabman » April 8th, 2010, 3:39 pm

Lance Burton has worked hard and come a long way from the mush mouthed hillbilly that opened a show for us, The Urban Cowboy Band, at Six Gun Territory in 79 or 80. I expect he will do just fine.

It's my understanding that rather than cut his staff, many of whom had been with him a long time, he chose to pull-out.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Edward » April 8th, 2010, 11:13 pm

Tabman wrote:Lance Burton has worked hard and come a long way from the mush mouthed hillbilly that opened a show for us, The Urban Cowboy Band, at Six Gun Territory in 79 or 80. I expect he will do just fine.

It's my understanding that rather than cut his staff, many of whom had been with him a long time, he chose to pull-out.


That doesn't make sense. Now all of his staff is out of a job.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Richard Kaufman » April 8th, 2010, 11:31 pm

Not if he reopens the show somewhere else.
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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Richard Hatch » April 9th, 2010, 9:02 am

September 4th, the stated closing date, is the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Do Vegas shows not do well on Sundays of a 3 day weekend? Seems like an odd day to close, but maybe weekly payroll cycles or other factors are at play.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby M.Lee » April 12th, 2010, 10:11 am

Word round the campfire is Lance may hit the Road (Tour)



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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby John Signa » April 12th, 2010, 11:04 am

Richard Hatch wrote:September 4th, the stated closing date, is the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Do Vegas shows not do well on Sundays of a 3 day weekend? Seems like an odd day to close, but maybe weekly payroll cycles or other factors are at play.


Lance's show is dark Sundays and Mondays.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Rick Ruhl » April 12th, 2010, 2:54 pm

Tabman wrote:Lance Burton has worked hard and come a long way from the mush mouthed hillbilly that opened a show for us, The Urban Cowboy Band, at Six Gun Territory in 79 or 80. I expect he will do just fine.

It's my understanding that rather than cut his staff, many of whom had been with him a long time, he chose to pull-out.


God we were kids then. 19 or 20. That was the time when magic was on TV at least twice a year. (henning and Copperfield)

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Magic Newswire » April 12th, 2010, 6:28 pm

For those that have forgotten, it is interesting to see the appearance of Lance on TV during that time:

1977:
Doug Henning's World of Magic 3
The Magic of ABC Staring David Copperfield

1978:
Doug Henning's World of Magic 4
The Magic of David Copperfield I
The Mike Douglas Show: David Copperfield

1979:
The Magic of David Copperfield II

1980:
The Magic of David Copperfield III: Levitating Ferrari

1981:
The Magic of David Copperfield IV: Vanishing Airplane
Johnny Carson: Lance Burton (Oct)
Johnny Carson: Lance Burton (Dec)

1983:
The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty

1984:
The Magic of David Copperfield VI: Grand Canyon
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: Lance Burton

1985:
The Magic of David Copperfield VII
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: Lance Burton

1986:
David Letterman: Penn & Teller
The Magic of David Copperfield VIII: The Great Wall of China

1987:
David Letterman: Penn & Teller
The Magic of David Copperfield IX: Escape from Alcatraz

1988:
David Letterman: Penn & Teller
David Letterman: Penn & Teller
The Magic of David Copperfield X: Bermuda Triangle
Johnny Carson: Lance Burton

1989:
David Letterman: Penn & Teller (May)
David Letterman: Penn & Teller (October)
The Magic of David Copperfield XI: Explosive Encounter
Johnny Carson: Lance Burton

1990:
The Magic of David Copperfield XII: Niagara Falls Challenge

1991:
The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express
Johnny Carson: Lance Burton

1992:
The Magic of David Copperfield XIV: Flying: Live the Dream

1993:
The Magic of David Copperfield XV: Fires of Passion

1994:
David Letterman: David Copperfield
The Magic of David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic
The World's Greatest Magic I

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Gord » April 12th, 2010, 9:20 pm

I think he means "Magic on TV during that time."

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Magic Newswire » April 12th, 2010, 10:26 pm

That's what I was illustrating.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Pepka » April 13th, 2010, 12:20 am

Does anyone have footage of Lance on Carson? I've heard stories that he was originally only alotted 4 minutes but when Johnny saw the rehersal, he told the director to give him as much time as he wanted. It would be fun to see that young Lance again.

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Magic Newswire » April 13th, 2010, 12:20 am

I'm sure that most of you have already heard this, but.. just in case... Lance was my guest for the 100th episode of the Magic Newswire Podcast. You can listen here: http://bit.ly/b7cXu5

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Rick Ruhl » April 13th, 2010, 3:41 pm

Pepka wrote:Does anyone have footage of Lance on Carson? I've heard stories that he was originally only alotted 4 minutes but when Johnny saw the rehersal, he told the director to give him as much time as he wanted. It would be fun to see that young Lance again.


Give the kid the whole 12 minutes was what Johnny said. it was Oct, 1981 but no one seems to have a copy of it, and it is part of the Carson estate and hasnt been release by Carson productions.

http://www.magictelevision.org/portal/i ... tober.html

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Richard Hatch » April 13th, 2010, 10:00 pm

Rick Ruhl wrote:
Pepka wrote:Does anyone have footage of Lance on Carson? I've heard stories that he was originally only alotted 4 minutes but when Johnny saw the rehersal, he told the director to give him as much time as he wanted. It would be fun to see that young Lance again.


Give the kid the whole 12 minutes was what Johnny said. it was Oct, 1981 but no one seems to have a copy of it, and it is part of the Carson estate and hasnt been release by Carson productions.

http://www.magictelevision.org/portal/i ... tober.html


The entire 12 minute clip is being shown in a video wall panel at the Magic Exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. I assume that they got the clip from Lance. At the end Johnny says, "Beautiful, just beautiful!" (or something very close to that).

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Ross Hironaka » May 23rd, 2010, 1:07 pm

I'd like to see Lance's last show in September but the link to Ticketmaster from his website currently only shows tickets available through August. Anyone know if these haven't gone on sale yet, or is there some other way to get tickets?

Thanks,

Ross

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Magic Newswire » May 23rd, 2010, 1:26 pm

Have you called the box office at the Monte Carlo? I know that's a bit "old school," but it might work. ;-)

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Re: Lance Burton To Close Vegas Show

Postby Ross Hironaka » May 28th, 2010, 10:36 pm

Thanks for the reminder, Dodd. It's been so long since I've called anywhere to order something, that option never entered my mind! (A bit like being fooled by a magician-fooler trick?)

BTW, tickets to the September shows are finally on sale.

Thanks,

Ross


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