A New Era of Vegas Acts: Stars Who Aren't Just Has-Beens

April 15, 2008 -- Since 2005, Barry Manilow has set up camp for extended runs at the Las Vegas Hilton, where he has drawn crowds for months on end. How does he do it?"Taxi drivers' word of mouth," Manilow quips. Actually, he's not kidding. Before launching his Manilow: Music and Passion show, the crooner put on a free performance for hotel employees and … cabbies. No fool he.

But that little bit of old-school marketing aside, performers increasingly are seeing that playing for long stretches on the fabled Strip could be one of the safest bets in town.

Though the enduring image of the King of Vegas is Elvis — who reigned at the Hilton from 1969-76 — the new queen is Celine, whose recently completed five-year romp netted the diva a reported $100 million.

What's more, Celine Dion's A New Day stint permanently buried the notion that gigging in Vegas was only for has-beens looking to squeeze a few more ducats out of a fading career. Now, playing the Strip means dispatching with the rigors of touring and having your fans come to you.

Signing up for that gig are Bette Midler — whose over-the-top The Showgirl Must Go On is playing at the 4,100-seat house that Celine built, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace — and Cher, who will sub in for Midler starting May 6, as Elton John did for Dion. Midler's opening run sold out, and tickets for shows in June and July are selling briskly, the show's promoter says. Demand has been high for Cher tickets, too; a fresh block for shows in September and October go on sale Sunday.

Touring industry experts say they expect to see more legends playing Vegas' musical stages in the years to come.

"What this arrangement does is print money," says Ray Waddell, who covers the touring business for Billboard. "The stigma that only old acts do Vegas is dead, thanks to Celine. The casinos realize that they're now looking for the next generation of gambler, so I'd expect them to branch out more in terms of the kinds of acts they book."

But there's a difference between who can sell out a few shows and the kind of performer who can —à la Celine — fill thousands of seats at $100-$250 a head, year after year. Waddell says the latter group is as select as they come.