Barry Manilow ‘fighting horribly’ with hubby manager amid Broadway flop- Page 3

[DAME]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 10:29pm

This thread is highly edited and altered . And for no reason .

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:47pm

I didn't notice. Can you say how without risking further edits?

[DrTom2]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 7:22pm

I like Barry and his music and have seen him live several times. It is a shame that he's had to tour again after retiring, but that's finances for you.

I did see his UK tour earlier in the year and his voice just isn't there any more, unfortunately. You can see and hear such a difference between the songs he's singing live and those he's miming. But people still had a great time in one of the largest arenas in the UK, the music sounds good and the band and backing singers disguise everything well. The approach might be different in a much smaller venue like the one on Broadway.

The UK dates were heavily papered too, but that's a sign of the times. Still, just hearing all those classic songs on Broadway and seeing Barry in the flesh has to be worth it.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 10:14pm

HogansHero said: "This stuff is not as dense as some seem to want to make it.

I hate to sound like a broken record (no, I don't) but there are no rules and especially not when they are of the sub-ilk of "old sayings." Let's try to break this down:

Backstage gossip about has-been performers (especially fighting spouses): good

Backstage gossip about poor ticket salesand lots of empty seats for said has-been performer's show: bad.

No marketing person will tell you the latter is good because (a) it has a negative effect on demand and price buoyancy,(b) it reinforces the has-been label,(c) it makes going to the show uncool, i.e., people flock to successes and flee failures, (d) live performances are about collective energy, and folks don't want to be in an ocean of empty seats when they go do a performance, and (e) nature abhors a vacuum."

The last paragraph. How often does one turn around in their seat to check on capacity. There is a sort of self-satisfaction being part of a full house[collective energy] and then the question of why so few and how must the artist[s] feel. Black curtains all over the place where I saw Diana Ross.

Lainie Kazan--now she had Class. To a near empty Festival Hall in Melbourne--a big intro.,a grand sweep to center stage, then stopped. Thanked us all for coming and said 'we're gonna have ourselves a party here tonight'. Invited us all to get up close to the stage, waited till we all were settled, and boy, did she deliver. She sang to each and every one of us as if we were in her home and was grateful we were there.

Never forgotten that evening so thanks for bringing back that memory.

Updated On: 8/23/19 at 10:14 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 11:50pm

After seeing The Cher Show I see how touring is the only way these artists make money these days.

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 9/8/19 at 5:45pm

LA Times review of his Hollywood Bowl stint this weekend.  I found it interesting that the Post article on the New York debacle is referenced .  https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-09-08/barry-manilow-hollywood-bowl-review

 

"

That report was followed by a gossipy item from the New York Post’s Page Six that said Manilow was furious at his manager (who’s also his husband) for booking a three-week Broadway engagement this summer.

The picture that emerges, four years after what Manilow described with excitement as his final tour, is of a guy now putting on his bedazzled lion tamer’s jacket just to punch the clock."

Updated On: 9/8/19 at 05:45 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 11:16am

I was at the Bowl Friday night.  I thought he put on a good show.  I imagine it was the same program he just did in New York.  Which was kind of a mish mash of previous shows.  His voice was good.. really amplified.  Lorna Luft opened.  She was in rough voice.  She is still doing the Judy Garland stuff with the pre recorded tracks of her kids asking questions about their grandma.  It just doesn't suit her anymore and I wish her song selection had been a little different.  Still.. she held the audience.. and I love her.  So it was nice to see her.    I would say capacity was about 50% Friday night.  And it was a much older crowd than I am used to seeing at  the Bowl.  In the shuttle over some lady did reference the NY stint and the page 6 gossip.   Just the gossip.  Not the article.  I am glad Barry is still out there performing.  I would see him again any time.  

 

Oh and editing because I forgot to mention that Lucie Arnaz was to our right and Sissy Spaceck was behind us.  It was cool and they were really into it. 

Updated On: 9/9/19 at 11:16 AM

[alovingfan]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 12:36pm

I was there Friday night as well.  A geriatric gathering for sure.  And not well behaved.  The show was fun.  I agree about the opener.  I felt bad because in my section the people wouldn't stop talking over her set.