Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 | 9 a.m.
Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at [email protected] or at (702) 259-2327 or (702) 812-9812.
Aside from wearing makeup onstage, Sheena Easton, Twisted Sister and the Village People would seem to have nothing in common. But they also share the same Las Vegas venue -- all have performed at, or are scheduled to perform at, the Silverton.
The hotel's freewheeling lineup of performers at its Outdoor Events Center strays from those acts to Eddie Money (March 11), Herman's Hermits (June 3) and Kool & The Gang (June 30-July 1). To determine this wide variety of entertainers, Silverton Vice President of Marketing David Krause employs a radical method of tracking entertainment trends:
He talks to customers.
"(Former Gap Band vocalist) Charlie Wilson came about as a request from a guest," Krause said during a phone interview Thursday. "We talk to guests and they say, 'Why not Kool & The Gang?' and we take it from there."
The 35-year-old Krause, whose iPod is filled with the likes of Hootie & The Blowfish (which is in a business partnership with the hotel in its Shady Grove Lounge), Meatloaf, Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty, uses a color-coded chart to make sure all genres are covered. Then he seeks acts that can be booked for ticket prices ranging from $30 to $50.
"I work with a booking agent out of Dallas and throw names at him. 'Can we get Third Eye Blind? What about this band?' and we go from there," said Krause, who was schooled in the art of booking acts by Don Marrandino (now with Harrah's) a few years ago when both were at Station Casinos. "I want to have the value, and the most diverse lineup, in Vegas."
Silverton plans on keeping pace with an 1,800-seat club (similar to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel) opening in late-summer 2007, and an outdoor venue similar to the Beach at Mandalay Bay, set to open in late 2007 or early 2008.
"I have been to every venue in town, scouting," Krause said. "I'm passionate about this."
NoteMart
It's vow or never: The next installment of First Friday is a celebration of Valentine's Day, titled "I Love First Friday." The evening's highlight will be a "Rocky Horror Picture Show"-themed wedding, during which a person portraying Dr. Frank-N-Furter will officiate the marriage of one lucky couple on the Land Rover Stage at the corner of Colorado Avenue and Casino Center Boulevard.
The themed ceremony, staged by the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, is a choreographed performance featuring characters from the cult classic and is usually a $950 value. Interested couples must express in 150 words or less why they want to be married (or renew their vows) and submit their explanations via e-mail to [email protected], or by fax to 676-1162. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday ...
Upward mobility: It was announced this week that one-time Stardust sports book director Joe Lupo continues to move up the corporate ladder. Lupo has been promoted to senior vice president of operations at Borgata (a joint venture of Boyd Gaming and MGM Mirage) in Atlantic City.
Lupo graduated from UNLV with a bachelor's degree in hotel administration and started his career with Boyd as a sports ticket writer at the Fremont in 1986. He was at the Stardust from 1992 to 2003. If I were a betting man I'd wager he'll eventually return to Las Vegas as part of the Echelon Place management team ...
Gans ablaze: MGM Mirage sent a reminder this week that Danny Gans will indeed return to the stage at the Danny Gans Theatre at the Mirage on Feb. 7. He has been off since Oct. 30 to undergo and rehab from rotator cuff surgery ...
'Vet on it: During Tuesday's announcement of "autotainment" attraction the Drive at the Sahara Hotel (and subsequent transfer of the old Sahara sign to the Neon Museum's Boneyard), Sahara Director of Marketing Ron Garrett spoke of his 1988 Corvette. "It's all original. All the numbers match (proving the car's authenticity)," Garrett said, adding that the car has logged just 53,000 original miles ...
Torme way: South Fashion Show Drive at the Fashion Show mall will be renamed Mel Torme Way, it was announced Thursday. A ceremony at the southwest corner of the Dillard's parking structure has been set for Feb. 3. On hand will be Torme's widow, Ali Torme; his son, James Torme; and sister, Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams ...
One to root for: For a couple of years during my Sunday morning coffee-and-NFL ritual, a barkeep at Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin refilled my cup and spoke excitedly of a movie she was producing. Finally, for Ann Teal and director Ron Atkins, the premiere of "Eyes of the Chameleon" is upon us. The indie project will be shown at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Tropicana Cinemas. For more information, go to www.eyescreamproductions.com.
archive
