Unfortunate Return Of The Ill-Advised Vanity Tour
For decades, music icons have graced stages all over the world, captivating audiences with their melodious voices and amazing performances. One of the most significant trends that emerged from the music industry was the concept of a vanity tour.
A vanity tour is primarily a concert tour that an artist takes just for the sake of getting back on stage, perhaps without any new music or an album to promote, but to grab the attention of their old and new fans. These tours are called as "vanity tours" because the artist(s) does it out of vanity or a sense of self-importance.
While some artists have managed to pull off successful vanity tours over the years, many have not. In this article, we will discuss the unfortunate return of the ill-advised vanity tour.
What is an Ill-Advised Vanity Tour?
An ill-advised vanity tour is one that an artist undertakes even if their time in the spotlight has long passed. This is typically the result of a desperate attempt to stay relevant and generate revenue when there is nothing new to offer the audience.
The key ingredients for success are missing, like new music or much publicity, which would have enabled the artist to leverage their current public status. These tours often end up damaging the artist's reputation rather than boosting it.
Examples of Ill-Advised Vanity Tours
Over the years, many famous artists have embarked on ill-advised vanity tours, some of which have not gone as planned. One example is the Guns N' Roses tour in 2001. After lead singer Axl Rose took over a decade to release the band's latest album, Chinese Democracy, a tour accompanied its release. The tour was a commercial failure, and many of the shows were canceled due to low attendance.
Another example is Madonna's Madame X Tour, which took place in 2019. Despite significant promotion, the tour received mixed reviews, and many of the shows had empty seats. Critics claimed that the tour was a financial loss, and the tickets were overpriced.
Why Vanity Tours are Unsuccessful?
There are many reasons why vanity tours are often unsuccessful. One of the primary reasons is that the artist is trying to remain relevant without offering anything new. The audience has seen and heard it all before, and they are looking for something fresh and exciting.
Another reason is that these tours can damage the artist's reputation. They risk being seen as a has-been or an artist who is past their prime. This can make it challenging to book future gigs and significantly reduce the artist's earning potential.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the unfortunate return of the ill-advised vanity tour proves that sometimes, it is best to call it a day and retire from the public eye gracefully. These tours often do more harm than good to an artist's reputation and are rarely successful.
If an artist is going to undertake a vanity tour, they need to have something new to offer the audience. This could be a new album or fresh new content. Otherwise, they risk damaging their reputation and losing the respect and admiration of their fans.
It is essential to ensure that the artist's career lasts long, and their legacy is intact, but sometimes it is best to remember the impact they made and to let go of the past to pave the way for new talent and new music.