robertw wrote on February 26, 2008 04:55 AM: A friend of mine who is a vegas local insists to me that valet parkers on the strip make 100K a year also.
I have always told him that there is more to the story and I did not believe that amount of money was made. Not that parking cars in 100+ degree heat is always fun either. I think obviously dealers in the wynn and bellagio and maybe one or two other hotels make top money, but i doubt that impression that stip deals are all wealthy.

Bill wrote on February 25, 2008 12:40 PM: I was VIP at Body English and even had a special lanyard to get into a private party and had to wait 30 minutes. Once I finally got it they wanted $8 for water that was free at the earlier party so I started drinking their free drinks from some vodka company. The Maxim women were there promoting something but were more interested in how they could get drinks without being caught since they weren't allowed to drink while they were on the job.

amber wrote on February 25, 2008 08:34 AM: Soooo TRUE! I went to LAX and after being VIP "supposedly", I waited for an hour and then when I handed the doorman my I.D. I was told to put money in a big jar as I entered the club. I did so because I new a bartender inside and thought he might get a piece, "wrong", it all goes to the management and the door men. He told me this during my 15 minute stay as I baisically ran out of the club to get out of the crowd and the smoke. I felt robbed!

Johnny Boy wrote on February 24, 2008 07:28 PM: Uh, who would WANT to see a close-up of Bette Midler? Consider yourselves lucky!!

j higgins wrote on February 24, 2008 04:01 PM: i think its long overdue that the thug doormen and preditory clubs aregetting what they deserve, they have been shaking down club patrons for years, its true that absolute power corrupts...and to all you who allude that its somehow a stupid that anyone would even want to to clubbing on the strip, whats the difference between gambling,dining,or staying in a room on the strip and club going on the strip..a shake down is a shake down....there is nothing wrong with making money, but making obsene amounts of money off unsuspecting people is wrong...maybe this will change the way the club scene is ran...watch out south beach, you are next...

David wrote on February 24, 2008 02:57 PM: I always wondered the lure of nightclubs on the strip. Now I know and hope the casinos are penalized commensurate with the huge amounts of cash payments received for entrance into these sodom and gommorah palaces.

Tom, Burbank wrote on February 24, 2008 02:07 PM: I'm glad the Bette show doesn't use big screens. I saw the show and it was great to truly watch the performers on stage instead of basically "watching TV."

Mark$, you hit the nail on the head. This is a huge story involving all the major "legitimate" corporations allowing money laundering (at the least) and participating at worst. Where's the real reporting?

Vegas Dave wrote on February 24, 2008 02:04 PM: Caesar's Palace has went downhill in the last 10 years. First, they gave up half of their casino floor space for that joke a singer Celine Dion. Then, they sold their soul for the having a nightclub like Pure on premises. Very few of the punks that go to Pure gamble, so they gained nothing but rent from this move. I will never step foot in Caesar's Palace again -the waitresses are about 70 years old, the gambling area is way too small, etc. Like I said, whoever made these decisions for Caesar's over the last 6 years should be fired.

The Donald wrote on February 24, 2008 01:51 PM: Lee, did you know that Nikki Cox was engaged to Bobcat Goldthwaith - that tool from the Police Academy movies? Jay Mohr looks like Sylvester Stallone compared to him! Ha! Ha! She also spread her legs for that 5'1" gay boy Kevin Connelly. Obviously she has major self-esteem issues. Take away her lip injections and boob job, and you have one messed up bimbo.

Mark wrote on February 24, 2008 01:43 PM: The nightclubs in this town are just stealing from people. $30 to get in, $7 for a bottle of water, $10 for a bottle of beer and $19 for a cocktail. This is disgusting and they need to be careful, because people will go somewhere else.