February 23rd, 2007
Coming 2 U from Las Vegas
What am I doing in Las Vegas, the gaming capitol of the world? I am too cheap to gamble much. OK I did lay down 100 bucks on the beloved NewYork Knicks to beat Milwaukee tonight by 4.It is in the Garden and the Knicks are coming off a bad loss. If I win I make 190 dollars. The 100 invested is sunk money, already gone, so i will consider a win, 190 dollar hit. A lost does not hurt me because the money is already gone. That is a business principle that can get you in a lot of trouble in Vegas.
So since this is not about gambling, why Vegas? My wife gave this trip to me as a present for my birthday and on Saturday night, well Sunday morning, the show starts at midnight, we will see Prince! He did the Super Bowl, Golden Globes and the reclusive artist is out and about more than ever.He has a night club named 3121 and a restaurant next door. Ticket prices are very high and it is one of if not the hottest ticket in town.
The consummate black in businesss, Prince has proven to have incredible music talent but also possess visionary business acuem.There are many sad stories of great black artists ripped off by white run record companies. Many legendary blues artists died broke. Pat Boone and Elvis made money while Little Richard and Chuck Berry made music. BB King got rich late in life.
Prince the businessman, took on Warner Brothers and the white executives underestimated the diminutive one. Prince did not feel he was getting his fair share of the millions in profit dollars his record slaes produced. Warner Brothers treated Prince like a slave. They said we own you, your music and your name. I was not there but I think Prince said FU, I am changing my name to a symbol and he became the artist formally known as Prince.
The white media tried to make Prince look crazy and he had to sell his records on line. Prince has his name back the contract shackles have been removed. Prince makes much more money on less sales because he does his own selling and distribution. Now he is becoming the hip people’s Wayne Newton!
That is why I am in Vegas, for a siminar by black in business best guitar artist. He beat the big record company at it own game.
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Well, I can’t speak for Mr. Pennimen but my father is not exactly destitute! He’s done very well playing Rock N Roll for the past 52 years. Sure, he like the Beatles and so many other artists were ripped off early in the game. However, my father had (and still possesses) the business sense to fight the system.
He’s been playing concerts forever! There are so many places he’s been over the years it’s mind-boggling to imagine a city he has not played in.
He has a quite diverse portfolio of holdings and has made sure they all have been very profitable. Have his assets earned as much as the others you mentioned? Maybe, maybe not. One thing is for certain, he still has the majority of his holdings, is still playing shows and still very much in the Black.
Just this year, he’s already played 22 concerts (I was there for most of them). Whether it be here in St. Louis, Missouri or Moscow Russia, there’s always the same outcome (1) a sold out show (2) a crowd of screaming fans spending their hard earned money to see an 80 year old man still tear the roof off the mutha sucka!
I said all that to say this… Your assessment is almost 100 percent correct, just leave Chuck Berry out of the broke, tricked and turned out column.
Great story and excellent subject matter.
Charles E. Berry Jr.
St. Louis, Missouri
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Having lived in St Louis county for 8 years, I know Chuck Berry has been an incredible businessman and performer. I did not mean to imply any artist by name as being broke. Your Dad is a founding father of rock and roll,but it may have taken less talented white boys to make it famous.You have great genes because your dad has been seen duckwalking at Blueberry Hill in Unversity City at the age of 80.Thank you for your visit and comment. For some of us it is all about the music
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Mr Berry Jr, I would love to catch a show, so many hits, I was just telling my oldest son about Chuck Berry. Contact me and I can do a post on Mr Berry. I am a big fan
February 26th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
First, happy birthday, Jim! Prince is a man who could not be put in a box. He creatively found solutions that prospered him even more. What a talented man. I’m sure many folks learn much from him. What was your best takeaway, Jim?
February 27th, 2007 at 1:26 am
I have been a huge Prince fan since the late 70s. How was the performance? He is an incredible musical genius! What staying power! What versatility! What a great present!
January 12th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
i just want to see him reach international fame so he can shut down the neocheating white media