Musings about post-MP touring

[cfmoran13]

The area that may see the biggest impact from Mike's leaving is their touring...

In the past, Mike would carefully craft each night's setlist based upon what had been played in past visits to each venue.  I wonder if anyone else is going to take up that charge or if this means the end of constantly revolving setlists, especially considering it was previously stated that the next DT tour would be "An Evening With" format. 

Also, considering it was Mike's baby, I wonder if we'll ever see the "12 Steps" played live now. 

And, will "The Best Of Times" be the new "Space Dye Vest" - the song that people constantly ask to see live but never get the chance?

Sorry if any of this has already been mentioned.  With well over 1,000 posts on Mike's leaving, it's hard to read them all.

[Gadough]

Admittedly, this is what concerns me more than anything. People will still listen to new Dream Theater, but I highly doubt that the band will see the same big numbers turn up at their live shows as before. I would still see them, but I can understand if someone would pass it up because Mike's not behind the kit.

[ShadowWalker]

If the band goes with a well-respected, talented drummer and releases a killer album, I don't think they will lose all that much on the touring front. They might scale back a bit to re-establish themselves, but I don't forsee this being the be-all end-all. I am going to venture that the Internet fanbase represents a fraction of the overall fanbase and most probably don't even know he is gone and won't realize/care the next time the band comes around. It is the brand "Dream Theater" that resonates with the common fan, not the members in it. That is why in 1987, Roger Waters struggled to fill arenas while Pink Floyd had no problems filling stadiums...

[Cool Chris]

Will probbaly depends more largely on the strength of the new album. While most fans who go to show are DT fans and go see them regardless, I can see some fans being a little more hesitant about a post-MP DT show. But a strong album release and support tour will alleviate those fears.

Regarding the setlists, I don't see why the rest of the band would have to manage this aspect of their tours. Isn't something like that the job of a tour manager anyway? Just because Mike isn't around to handle that duty, it doesn't necessarily follow that no one else can pick up that slack, or that it has to be one or all of the band members.