Foxwoods has hosted such artists as (clockwise from top right) RIHANNA, LeANN RIMES, ALICIA KEYS, DIXIE CHICKS and JOHN LEGEND.

-4A SURE 6 Casino Bookings Pay Off For Many Acts `': t BY SAY WADDELL 't,

Casinos are hot. And so are the acts playing them today. "It's actually a misnomer to even use the word 'casino,' because it's not just that anymore," says Tom Cantone, VP of talent at Foxwoods Casino Resort in Connecticut. "It's an entertainment complex that happens to have a casino, but also happens to have the MTV Generation already in the house." As buyers of talent, casinos remain a solid bet, and these venues are increasingly competing with major- market arenas in attracting concerts. And rather than hosting acts past their commercial peak, as has been the perception in the past, casino venues are booking acts that are on the way up. Casino and resort talent buyers have become some years ago, it was 55 -plus, so it's a big demographic of the savviest buyers in the business. Once the bas- switch," Cantone says. "Casinos have sex appeal tion of talent appealing to an older demographic, now. You don't even have to gamble. You can hang casino concerts have now become as diverse as out in a club, go to the spa, play golf, have a great concerts in the mainstream market. dinner and go see a concert." "The old stereotype of a casino showroom back Casinos have become extremely viable alter- in the early Vegas days hosting artists at the end natives for many touring acts, in many cases pro- of their career is now a complete opposite," Can - viding venues and paydays for artists who have tone says. "Now many artists start their careers exhausted other opportunities. But contempo- in a casino showroom and then launch their road rary acts that can sell anywhere are also opting tour accordingly." to play casino venues. Cantone says Foxwoods books a diversified Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, lineup that hits all facets of the property's cus- N.J., booked doubles with two major arena tours tomer base and mass market. He notes that Fox - this summer, presenting Shakira and Mariah Carey woods has booked such acts as Rihanna, LeAnn at the resort's 5,200 -capacity arena. Steve Gietka, Rimes, John Legend, Dixie Chicks and Alicia Keys VP of entertainment for Trump, says the Shakira when they were having early chart success. booking in particular provided an attractive alter- "The timing aspect is really critical to the mar- native for producer Live Nation. keting and how you book," Cantone says. "Just "My guess is [Live Nation] felt a little better doing to fill a date is not something we're interested two nights in a smaller place in an area where she in. We'd rather not book it and wait until it's the didn't have that much history," Gietka says. "And my right act at the right time in the right situation." gut feeling is, iftheré s another leg of this, they'll hit Everyone in the gaming industry agrees that Philly, because she could've done a really respectable casino customers are skewing younger. showing at a big arena." "Today, its a 25 -plus market, and probably 15 In terms of casino talent, continued on »p78

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