ET: Millennium Night a Flop?

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000154642417163&rtmo=Q9mxxLeR&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/99/4/6/nmil06.html

From the Electronic Telegraph (London):

ISSUE 1411, Tuesday 6 April 999

Millennium Night may be huge flop, By David Millward

HIGH costs of hiring staff could result in Millennium Night being a huge flop with many venues in major cities closed on New Year's Eve.

With everyone, from waiters to transport workers, demanding a large premium for working on New Year's Eve, some impresarios are reluctant to commit themselves to events which could prove to be costly flops.

Harvey Goldsmith, whose artistes have included the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and the Three Tenors, has said that "London will be shut. None of the major venues is opening because they are unable to reach agreement with their staff. I accept that people should get a bit extra on top of the usual New Year's Eve amount but we need to get some reality into the situation."

Mr Goldsmith's fears that the Millennium bubble could burst are shared by those at the more modest end of the entertainment industry. The Musicians' Union and agents believe that several impresarios could go bust before a note is played on Dec 31.

Demand is also high for bagpipers, ready to don kilts for the Hogmanay to end all Hogmanays. Kevin Fagan is manager of the International Highlanders, a body representing nearly 80 pipers, he said: "The cheapest I have heard of anyone committing themself for at the moment is #1,500. It could be as high as #4,000."

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 06, 1999

Answers

Las Vegas got Streisand (sp?) to commit for $10 million for one show New Years Eve. Everyone has a price. Hell, I'd run naked down 5th Ave., NYC and ride the times square ball down at midnight for $10 million (in cash, 5's & 10's please).

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), April 06, 1999.

Och Laddie! Ye say ye dinna ken h ogmanay?

-- Max Dixon (Ogden, Utah USA) (Max.Dixon@konnections.com), April 06, 1999.

LOL, Bill! And I'd be glad to contribute to a fund to see you do that. Oh. Might not be able to see it on TV. . . Never mind.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 06, 1999.

My bagpipes are not available at the moment.Uh......broken bag......but for $4000 I'll strut down your main street whilst squeezing a mangy old cat and performing a bit of tartan cross- dressing.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), April 06, 1999.

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