Las Vegas is the Entertainment Capital of the World. Why is it skipped by so many artists?
Written by Tina Brice
Las Vegas has long been heralded as the entertainment capital of the world. From live music events to unique performance pieces, there is always something going on in the city. With the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights to the National Hockey League, the acquirement of the Las Vegas Raiders from Oakland, CA, and the 10-year contract with Formula One, Las Vegas is making their name known in the world of sports. Beyond the big names and flashy events, Vegas could have so much more to offer, but there are many obstacles that need to be overcome.
For smaller bands, it can be extremely difficult to book a venue. Las Vegas is extremely lacking in small- to medium-sized venues. The main venues that are promoted are places like the House Of Blues, T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena, and Dolby Live at Park MGM. The artists who play in these places are usually on the larger side. Residencies for these locations have included Lady Gaga, the Jonas Brothers and Bruno Mars among others.
With the scarcity of smaller sized venues, bands need to book their tour dates at least 6 months in advance. For many smaller artists, this isn’t feasible. Between having to keep up with their regular nine to five jobs to be able to survive, planning out an even a year in advance becomes impossible. Then if something like COVID happens, everything the band has worked for can be derailed.
In Las Vegas, bands must pay an entertainment tax to play. On top of the normal financial needs that come with touring, plus any other venue specific fees, smaller bands can barely break even. Some venues take a certain percentage from ticket sales but if the artist can’t sell many tickets, the venue doesn’t make money. Venues can also take percentages for merchandise sales, cutting even more into what the band could make. Sometimes, smaller bands will subsidize the costs by performing at a festival. They may have shorter set times, and quite often the least desirable set times, but at least they are getting in front of an audience and possibly gaining new fans.
There are only a handful of venues that cater to a crowd under 1,000 guests. Venues need to make money but taking money from their performers isn’t necessarily the answer. If Las Vegas wants to continue to be the entertainment capital of the world, then it needs to create a more diverse playground for smaller artists.