What's next? What do we WANT to be next?

All we know is that a symphony tour this christmas is a go.
It is July so it seems like we're usually close to the time that Celtic Woman goes into the studio??
Do we think they will be recording soon?
It seems like if they were to do it they would probably start that soon.
With the PBS federal funding cut how do we think they will manage things going forward??

I try to be as optimistic as possible when it comes to these matters, so I'm holding on to the hope that they are working on something. This could also explain why some members seem to be more vague about the upcoming tour (i.e., them apparently not reposting the Symphony Tour announcement). I doubt we'd get a DVD, though, given the lack of PBS funding and I'm not sure if CW could gather up the funds themselves to produce a special on their own. There are potential alternate ways we could get a live show, but I'm not sure if that would be up to the same quality past specials have been and any ones utilising the internet would probably be out of the picture, as from what I know, most of CW management is on the older side. Maybe, if PBS gets public funding again or changes their business model (hoping for the former rather than the latter, as free sources of reliable information are getting rarer and rarer), we could get a DVD in a few years, similar to the Home For Christmas DVD.

One potential way we could get a DVD is through crowdfunding, however. I know I'd certainly be willing to pinch in some for a CW special, but money is tight for most people, so that still may not yield fruitful results.

What do we WANT to be next?
- I'd like a new album also. Especially since they toured with a title like New Era. There should be a new album.
- I want the lineup to stay the same. Too many changes lately!

Keeping in mind I'm old (69), I would guess we won't see a DVD again.  It seems as if everything is going to streaming.  One reason I'm keeping my older vehicle is it has (GASP!) a CD player and I have lots of CD's.  Similar thing with DVDs.  I really don't want to watch a concert on my phone!

As far as touring, I also believe a lot of it is based on cost.  If you aren't selling out, or at least close to it, you end up in the hole financially. And, with the way the economy is today, a $100 concert ticket is a big expense for some people.  I hate to think about how much I spent over the years going to CW concerts.  Plane flights, rental car, hotels, etc probably averaged $1,000 a show.  Could I do it today?  Yeah, I'm lucky I can.  The bigger question is do I want to?

The other issue is the make up of the group.  I can completely understand that a member can get tired of being on the road for months at a time.  Having to perform every night must be exhausting.  So at what point does the group become a CW Tribute Group?  And part of this has to do with the TV issue.  That's how I first encounted CW.  I was flipping thru TV channels one night and ran accross them on PBS.  Liked the music.  Saw they were coming to my town, so bought tickets.  I was hooked.  Not sure that could happen today.

Especially in the "early" days of CW, if you did the M&G after the show, you actually got a minute or two to talk to the girls.  Over the years, most of them recognized me.  I think it was 3 years ago, I went to a Lisa Kelly Masterclass.   She remembered me and some of the conversations we had.  Same thing with Chloe.  After she left CW, she did some individual shows.  I went to a couple.  At one of them, I asked her to sign a college graduation card for my daughter, who had been to a number of shows with me.  She wrote a very touching note and gave me a T-shirt to give to my daughter.  You don't get that kind of an opportunity any more. 

So what do I want?  I agree there's been too many line up changes, but I also understand why.  Some of that may be that the artists need income, so, if CW isn't touring/recording, what do they do?  Same thing with the smaller band, backup singers, etc.  It's a different show.  Maybe a smaller venue? 

It's a tough situation.  All "we" can do is support them.