A Las Vegas residency is when an artist or group commits to perform at a specific venue in Las Vegas for an extended period of time, typically for weeks or months. Residencies have become a major part of the Las Vegas entertainment scene and attract huge stars to perform regularly in the city.
When did Vegas residencies become popular?
While entertainers have long had recurring shows in Las Vegas, the concept of a Vegas residency as we know it today really took off in the 1990s and 2000s. Some key moments in the rise of Vegas residencies include:
- In 1993, Tony Bennett became the first star to do a residency show in Las Vegas, performing at the Sahara Hotel.
- In 2003, Celine Dion signed a landmark deal for a long-term residency at Caesars Palace. Her show, “A New Day…,” performed over 700 shows and grossed over $400 million during its nearly 5 year run.
- In 2009, Cher launched a massively successful 3-year residency at Caesars Palace.
- In 2013, Britney Spears began a residency at Planet Hollywood that ended up running for nearly 5 years.
- In 2015, Jennifer Lopez kicked off a residency at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood that has now spanned over 6 years and over 120 shows.
As these residencies proved successful, more and more stars signed on to do regular shows in Vegas. Now it’s common for major artists across genres like pop, rock, country, and hip-hop to have Vegas residencies.
What are some of the most popular Vegas residencies?
Some of the most popular and successful Vegas residencies by top-grossing box office numbers have included:
Artist | Residency Show | Location | Run Dates | Gross Box Office (approx.) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Celine Dion | Celine | The Colosseum at Caesars Palace | 2011-2019 | $296 million |
Britney Spears | Britney: Piece of Me | The AXIS at Planet Hollywood | 2013-2017 | $137 million |
Elton John | The Red Piano | The Colosseum at Caesars Palace | 2004-2018 | $131 million |
Jennifer Lopez | Jennifer Lopez: All I Have | The AXIS at Planet Hollywood | 2016-2018 | $101 million |
Other major stars who have done residencies in Vegas over the past decade include Cher, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart, Boyz II Men, Bruno Mars, and more.
Why do artists do Vegas residencies?
There are several key reasons performing in Vegas has become so appealing for major artists:
- Huge fan base – Many musicians have massive fan bases who are willing to travel to Vegas to see them perform regularly.
- Production quality – Vegas venues invest heavily in state-of-the-art stages, lighting, video screens, and effects allowing for spectacular concerts.
- Profitability – Headlining a Vegas show can be extremely lucrative for artists as the overhead costs are lower than touring but fans will pay premium ticket prices.
- Schedule – A Vegas residency means performing in one place repeatedly so it allows artists to settle in with their families rather than live on the road touring.
- Prestige – Landing a Vegas residency has become a major coup for stars as it signals their enduring popularity and career heights.
How do artists prepare for Vegas residencies?
Preparing for a Vegas residency can take months of planning and rehearsals to perfect the show. Key elements artists may work on include:
- Setlist – Crafting the song selections and order to create an exciting pace and include fan favorites.
- Production – Developing elaborate lighting, sets, choreography, and effects throughout the show.
- Costumes – Designing a series of visually striking costumes, often with several per show.
- Rehearsals – Intensive band, dancer, and technical rehearsals to get the show performance ready.
- Promotion – Advance promotion and buzz-building before ticket sales begin.
Putting together a Vegas show allows artists creative freedom to develop exciting concert experiences for fans from start to finish.
What are the typical contract deals?
Vegas residency contracts vary, but some typical terms include:
- Length of commitment – Often 2-5 years of performing a certain number of shows per year.
- Frequency of shows – Can range from dozens of shows per year to a couple shows per month.
- Revenue split – Artist may get 70-90% of ticket sales after expenses.
- Merchandise sales – Artist often gets majority share of merchandise revenue.
- Advance pay – Artist may get an upfront advance payment from the casino.
- Buyout clause – Contract may include an early buyout option for the casino or artist.
The overall residency deal value can reach hundreds of millions for top stars based on ticket sales projections over the contract term.
Where do Vegas residencies take place?
Most major Vegas residency shows take place in a handful of large-scale venues on the Las Vegas Strip designed to host A-list concerts and productions. Some of the main Vegas residency venues include:
- The Colosseum at Caesars Palace – Home to residencies by Celine Dion, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Cher, and more. Seats 4,300.
- Park Theater at Park MGM – Hosts Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Janet Jackson. Seats 5,200.
- The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian – Where Gwen Stefani, Barry Manilow, and more perform. Seats 1,815.
- The AXIS at Planet Hollywood – Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez have headlined here. Seats 4,600.
- Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas – Home to residencies by Usher, Christina Aguilera, Garth Brooks and more. Seats 1,800.
Several casinos have invested heavily in renovating or custom-building state-of-the-art theaters aimed at attracting big name artists to perform regularly on their properties.
What goes into a typical Vegas residency show?
While every artist puts their own spin on it, some classic elements you can expect in a Vegas residency show include:
- A visually spectacular set with multiple stages, ramps, trap doors, and projection screens.
- Dramatic lighting effects and laser lights.
- Changing themes, costumes, and energy throughout the concert.
- High-definition video close-ups of the star projected on screens.
- Confetti cannons, pyrotechnics, and other special effects.
- Carefully choreographed dance numbers.
- Guest appearances by other stars.
- Sing-alongs, costume changes, and banter to engage the crowd.
- The artist’s biggest hit songs often spaced strategically through the show.
The overall production level is on par with the best arena tours but focused into an intimate Vegas theater setting.
How are Vegas residency shows marketed and promoted?
Vegas residencies deploy massive marketing campaigns to promote ticket sales and create buzz. Promotion may include:
- Teaser announcements and ads building anticipation.
- Digital and TV commercials in the months leading up to ticket on-sales.
- Press releases announcing exclusive behind-the-scenes details.
- Star interviews on talk shows and entertainment programs.
- Billboards and signage in high-traffic Vegas locations.
- Social media campaigns and video trailers.
- Contests and pre-sales for fan club members.
By the time tickets actually go on sale, demand is supercharged. Most shoes sell out quickly, even at high ticket prices.
How has the residency trend evolved over time?
As the Vegas residency has become more popular, it has evolved in some key ways:
- More genres – Pop/rock stars were first to do residencies but now you see country, hip-hop, and other genres headlining.
- Shorter runs – Where headliners once committed to dozens of shows per year for years, runs now are sometimes as short as a handful of dates.
- New venues – Several venues have been built or revamped specifically to accommodate residency shows.
- Higher production values – Lighting, video, and effects have gotten even more cutting edge and immersive.
- Top of career – Artists no longer wait until late in their careers to do residencies but now view it as a way to grow their stardom.
As the money, creativity, and flexibility offered by Vegas residencies continue to improve, it has never been a more appealing proposition at all levels of stardom.
What does the future hold for Vegas residencies?
Some predictions for what’s ahead in the world of Vegas residencies:
- Hybrid schedules – More artists balancing limited residency runs with tours rather than one or the other.
- New venues – Continued investments in new theater spaces custom-built for residencies.
- Residency revivals – Stars bringing back or evolving successful residencies years later.
- Shorter stays – Committing to less shows per year as big stars squeeze residencies between other projects.
- New destinations – Other cities stealing some residency business but Vegas remaining the top draw.
- Virtual residencies – Artists doing livestreams or VR concerts to “virtual residency” fanbases.
Whatever form they take, Las Vegas residencies have proven a game-changing model for both artists and fans that will continue reshaping the live music landscape for years to come.
Conclusion
Las Vegas residencies offer musicians a new creative outlet that is also reliable and lucrative. Fans win with regularly scheduled access to spectacular shows from their favorite stars. Meanwhile, Vegas venues can count on residencies as ongoing star attractions. As this dynamic model continues to evolve, residencies have cemented their status as a core component of the live music experience for top artists as well as audiences.