Stay away from Tao!

While Las Vegas has a great number of top quality nightclubs, I would urge everyone to avoid Tao at the Venetian. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jan/31/las-vegan-wins-grudge-suit-against-tao-security

I know a number of clubs have had security issues, as have a number of casinos. I think something untoward is more likely to happen in a club particularly since most of those clubs are leased to nightclub promoters whose security staff hardly cares about casino patrons.

I don't see what the thrill is in being in a bar where bottle service is mandatory, particularly when the price of the bottles is outrageously high and the line to get in to the club is so long that patrons clamor for a Head-of-the-Line pass from a casino host.

I've heard that the worst thing about the clubs is the relentless Tip BIG or Get Out attitude since this will undoubtedly undermine the casino's Don't Sweat The Money attitude. Sure, some dealers hustle tips a bit more blatantly than others but the casino doesn't allow anything near what goes on in the clubs. Yet the tourist who leaves Vegas leaves with a totality of memories. If tourists don't want to return to Vegas because of the Ultra Hard Tip Hustle in the clubs then the tourists won't want to return to the Vegas casinos with their more subtle Soft Tip Hustle.

I'm not in the demographic of the Club Scene in LV (and wouldn't have been in my 20's or 30's either) and took a look at this post out of curiousity. What I am absolutely SHOCKED about is that tips are part of compensation for some Security Personnel. Wow. Unsolictied tips. I had no idea that Security Personnel would even be able to accept tips. It doesn't surprise me at all that this would foster abuse.

Jim: You REALLY must like the club scene to continue on after an event like this. I'm glad to hear that you've worked it out for yourself.

Just curious whether Nersesian took the case on a contingent fee basis, or billed at his hourly rate?

Quote: JimMorrison

While Las Vegas has a great number of top quality nightclubs, I would urge everyone to avoid Tao at the Venetian. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jan/31/las-vegan-wins-grudge-suit-against-tao-security

I didn't read all of the article - I already had as much detestation of the nightclub scene as I could hold. That scene will remain totally foreign to me. Glad you kicked their ass, Jimbo.

Quote: dm

I didn't read all of the article - I already had as much detestation of the nightclub scene as I could hold. That scene will remain totally foreign to me. Glad you kicked their ass, Jimbo.

There was a similar article, also written in the Las Vegas Sun, about ten months earlier about LAX.
Nightclub nightmare costs couple a bundle

Oh wow that is so F*$*#ED up! I am glad I do not like clubbing because it is just awful.

Quote: NicksGamingStuff

Oh wow that is so F*$*#ED up! I am glad I do not like clubbing because it is just awful.

@Jim - Assuming you wanted to take 10 people out and you were on a budget what would you have done differently? My very limited Vegas club experience has gone much better than the couple in this story, but I don't know who actually had the atypical experience. Is the main problem LAX is too trendy and you could have a cheaper but just as good experience one tier down?

For some reason I find this warning superfluous :P

Quote: Nareed

For some reason I find this warning superfluous :P

Because you spend all of your clubbing money on soccer games?

:-)

Not to be too obvious, but it really does not have to be that way.

It certainly isn't at the clubs on the white isle, Ibiza, the world's #1 undisputed nightclub capitol.

Bigger,better clubs.

Better music.

Better DJs.

Much cooler, more chic and sophisticated staff and clientele.

Tiesto@Privilege

and

Amnesia

Doesn't anyone want to stick up for the ethical Luxor and the ethical LAX that commits acts that most people get arrested for?

Quote: sunrise089

@Jim - Assuming you wanted to take 10 people out and you were on a budget what would you have done differently? My very limited Vegas club experience has gone much better than the couple in this story, but I don't know who actually had the atypical experience. Is the main problem LAX is too trendy and you could have a cheaper but just as good experience one tier down?

LAX is definitely not too trendy nowadays at all. They are hurting for customers now mainly because Luxor is not a great location for a luxury club. The article says this occurred a few years ago, back before the IRS raid on Pure Group, and it was very popular then. The only thing you can do differently is only go thru hosts that you know and trust or have a solid referral to use. The article says that a friend of the daughters worked at the club but who knows who that is. It sounds like they called the club directly and booked a reservation which means no specific host is looking out for you. When they arrived at the club they didn't have a host to contact and that led to the door hustling them like crazy. Absolutely no way you should be tipping that many people at the door when you have a table booked. Pure Management Group ran their clubs this way though, shaking people down like crazy and not caring how customers were treated. This led to the legal problems they had. Angel Management now runs those venues and is very different in how they act towards customers. For years I rarely went to Pure because it was always a hustle no matter who you knew but now that Angel runs it I'm very comfortable going there or sending friends there.

Quote: pacomartin

There was a similar article, also written in the Las Vegas Sun, about ten months earlier about LAX.
Nightclub nightmare costs couple a bundle

I feel bad for them. But, really, a headline like "Rich Guy Fleeced At Nightclub" is right up there with "Sheep Grows Wool" or "Scientists Find Water Is Wet."

Also, what manner of parents go to a nightclub with their daughter for her birthday? Worse yet, what kind of daughter wants them along?

The thing that upset me the most about that article was the cop's attitude. I have been in situations where cops act like this to get out of doing work. When I was in these situations I backed down. You're my hero for calling their bluff and doing the right thing. This made my day.

The thing nobody has ever explained to me
is, what do you get for all the money you
waste at these clubs? The dance floors are
tiny, the restrooms are small and you have
to bribe somebody to get in, the booze is
overpriced, and its loud and noisy and smokey.
They would have to pay ME to torture myself
by going to a club.

Quote: EvenBob

The thing nobody has ever explained to me is, what do you get for all the money you waste at these clubs?

Choose your night correctly, and you'd have seen Paul Van Dyk.

Well worth the price.

paulvandyk

Meh, I can see acts like BT, Armin, Above and Beyond, etc. at home in Dallas for a fractional (yet still inflated) price, and often only pay 15-20 bucks extra for a seat above the action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nRi_euYtgw
Plus they let 18 year old girls in.

Having said that, I would most likely go to the Vegas clubs if my income was 500K/yr or above. It's just like playing the right minimums for your bankroll.