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I'm writing a short story set in Las Vegas during an Elvis impersonators' convention, but I've never been to Vegas. Anyone with knowledge of Vegas, especially such an event, to pass on info/tips for me? I figured I'd create my own fictional casino/resort, rather than trying to describe an existing one without having been there.
Also, any insights about the airport in Vegas would be appreciated!
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Bad idea. Research real casinos. There is no dearth of material on Vegas and casinos. Better yet, go to one near you if there is one and experience the atmosphere first hand. Travel Channel always has shows about them.
Posts: 284 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Yes, I am researching actual casinos (many have awesome web sites!), but I had planned on creating a fictional one *based on* the actual ones, rather than risk getting something glaringly wrong about a real casino.
Most of the story will be taking place outdoors, or in crowded indoor settings. No one will be gambling, etc, so I really only need the flavour of a casino rather than detailed workings of one.
It is truly just a setting rather than an integral part of the plot. I could choose to set it at Graceland, for instance, as I believe there are some impersonator events that happen there as well. Unfortunately I haven't been to Graceland either!!
Guess I'm not a true Elvis fan, huh? *G*
The point is, I need the impersonators' convention, with the exact setting being secondary. I chose Vegas because I know they do have such conventions there.
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One thing I remember seeing about casinos is that they are mazes which serve to funnel you into the gambling halls, and that nowhere are there any clocks inside.
Posts: 284 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I've been to Vegas five or six times, usually with large conventions (but no Elvises). However, my husband and I did "elope" to Vegas on our 10th anniversary and get "married" by an impersonator at the Graceland Chapel. If any of that sounds useful, I'll be happy to share my experience.
Posts: 338 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Something about the design of most casinos makes you feel like you're deep underground waiting for a cave-in. Lots of red in the lighting and decor, and there's a scent I don't like in the air (not the usual human scent either--it's probably just the carpet shampoo they use). Ambient noise levels are insane, it's impossible to think clearly.
Then again, as you might guess, I've never spent a lot of time in casinos.
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Ah . . . a Vegas casino. One might say that it was the most carefully planned and maintained of any human constructs. For example:
-People smoke everywhere, therefore there are people whose job it is to walk around the building emptying ashtrays. It's uncanny, those tall ones with the sand in them---people put out cigarette butts in them NONSTOP, but they are always empty, with designs drawn into the sand. I saw a guy empty it once, and then he just disappeared.
-Like someone else said, there are no clocks. There aren't windows either, and a good portion of the glass doors are tinted. The aim is to make you lose total track of time. Most of the bigger casinos look exactly the same (events, employees, # of gamblers) 24/7.
-Buffets. Everywhere. Inexpensive. Everywhere.
-They push free stuff on you. Free coupon books (to their casino), free pulls on slots (novelty slots where you win casino-logo imprinted T-shirts and playing cards), coupons for buy 1 get 1 free tickets, and especially FREE drinks (when you're gambling). Their aim is to get you drunk and spend money.
-There are alot of time-share places that offer free night stays for coming to their presentation (at the time share).
-Most of Vegas maintains "Player's Clubs" on Credit Card-esque cards. You give the card to your dealer (or slide it in the slot machine), and you get free stuff for gambling a reasonable amount of money. You don't have to LOSE a lot of money, just run it through the tables/machines. Gamble $200 and get a buffet ticket, $1000 and get a free room. Then, people that spend a lot of money will have incentives to come back ("I'm sorry sir, your free room is only good on your NEXT stay at OUR hotel.")
-Like I said, the hotels are PLANNED to the limit. Like mazes. VAST mazes. And there are attractions: cheap buffets, rollercoasters, 3-D motion rides, NICE restaurants (Spagos, etc), circuses, movies, animatronics, virtual reality, etc; and to get to these attractions, you'll have to walk through a GREAT distance of gambling tables and slots (PLUS you'll have to ask directions no less than five times).
-NICE POSH NIGHTCLUBS.
-The Strip and Downtown are TWO seperate places. The Strip is what you think of when you think of Vegas . . . EXTRAVAGANCE!!!!! Downtown is NOT the strip. Downtown is the OTHER area of Vegas that families from back east get lured by ultra low room prices (ten dollars less than the strip). There is only gambling and sleazy hotels downtown (think sleezy leisure suit lounge lizards). Oh, I take that back, downtown has a light show and cheap ham and eggs.
-The airport. There are slot machines in the airport, but not NEARLY as many as there used to be. Smoking is no longer allowed in common areas in the airport, it is only allowed in small enclosed rooms PACKED with slot machines, lots of people, and the densest clouds of smoke you've EVER seen. The airport itself (most of it) is newer and more modern in design than most, but in general it is particularly non-descript.
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You want to watch a couple episodes of the show "Las Vegas". The milieu is a little different than yours (I'd imagine) but its definately AN accurate perspective on Vegas (one of the smaller, less glitzy hotels; not an EXTRAVAGANCE like the MGM or Caesars).
Posts: 12 | Registered: Feb 2011
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Thanks for all the info, guys. Keep it coming! The labyrinthine nature of the casino resorts is the sort of info that I can use, but I'm not likely to find advertised on the casinos' websites!
Since you are all being kind enough to help me out, I went ahead and posted the beginning of the story for which I need this info, working title: "Elvis Must Die". Not ready for readers yet, but crits on the opening welcomed!
It might be enough to give you a feel for what I'll be doing with this tale, so also the type of info about Vegas that would be useful to me.
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I hate Vegas. The only reasons I can see to go there is that they have Nellis AFB (great place to watch planes) and lots of NAKED ROCKS! (pant, drool, slobber, leer…) (I'm a geologist, what can I say…)
There is another Las Vegas, where the natives live. Astonishingly middle America (and I'm talking about geography, not just economic). Nice place, nice people. I still wouldn't want to live there.
One thing I seem to recall about the airport: the distance from the gates to the main terminal is enormous. They have a dedicated, enclosed, elevated, electric tramway, and the trip takes five minutes.
I've never usderstood why people are attracted to gambling…or Elvis. (He did have a beautiful voice.) Ah well, de gustibus non disputandem est.
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Usually I'm just passing through Vegas, but one thing I've noticed that hasn't been said. The carpeting is ugly as all get out, Probably to make you focus on the gambling. I once saw a guy win $100,000 and didn't even blink. Usually though I get a headache five minutes in.
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Ah, Vegas. Been there a few times myself and to a few conventions but none with Elvis. My first impression of the casinos in regard to conventions is there is a lot of walking to do. As many people have mentioned, casinos are set up so that you have walk through the gambling part to get to anything. Or at least that is how the Hilton is set up. The rooms/parking lot was set up on the one side and then the convention rooms were on the completely opposite side of the hotel with the gambling sitting in the middle of it all. I would dare guestimate it was at least a half mile walk anytime we parked and were going to an event.
Another impression of Vegas in general - bright, loud, glitzy. Especially at night. Everything has a sense of the fantastic and gaudy. Even the McDonalds. Of course we're talking the downtown/strip area. Like someone already mentioned the rest of Las Vegas is pretty typical of a growing western city with lots of suburbs surrounding a concentrated downtown.
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