Ya know...when I got back from the Las Vegas New Years trip, I just got so busy
back here at home...didn't do a TR...everything just sorta slipped thru the cracks.
Here's a bit from an email that went back 'n forth between 'westie' and I...
Well...I'm glad I experienced New Years in Vegas, but NEVER AGAIN! lol.
I went in Thurs. and Fri. were pretty normal. Saturday is when it got real
crowed and crazy.
Lots and lots of people...many of whom probably were there for their first time
for New Years and didn't understand how things worked.
They closed the surface streets and the Strip around 5pm. I got an email that Wed. from the COSMO
saying if you had a Stevie ticket, to use Harmon. There was reserved parking and access for us to the
hotel. METRO DIDN'T GET THAT EMAIL, lol.
I went over around 6 and the cops were stopping all cabs/cars on the West side of Harmon before I-15.
I expected something like that, but LOTS OF FOLKS didn't. We walked the long block to I-15, then over
to the LONG sidewalk that led through City Center and down to the COSMO.
Inside it was crowded but not crazy. I went up the the 4th floor where the ballroom was, got my tic and
scoped out the area. You could come 'n go...use the outdoor pool area to watch fireworks, go downstairs...
I'd heard the ballroom was pretty good size. Walking in the doors, the stage was right there so seeing
Stevie would be easy. It was Gen' Admission and folks stood all night. When some of those folks found that
out, THEY GOT PISSED TOO and wanted their money back.
The room looked small. There was a huge white curtain that cut the room in half. Figured, that's just the way
it was for the amount of tickets they sold. There was a riser in front of it with camera crews to film the Show
and broadcast it outside onto the COSMOS big billboard.
I wantered around.......tried to get a slice of pizza from the 'not so secret' pizza place, but there was a line
OUT THE DOOR. Stayed that way til way after the show started and THEN I got a couple slices!
Almost showtime and all of a sudden the music pumped, video screens came alive the that big curtain goes up! In the 'other' half of the ballroom were DJ-s doin' their 'thang'...VIP tables and behind those, booths that
held 10 people each who had bought Dinner/Show tics (that was NOT an option on the pre sale email I got)
These dinner/show seats went for $1,000. each...the VIP were a bit cheaper but I didn't hear the price.
I went outside to check out the 300,000 people on the Strip 4 floors below...LOOKED PRETTY COOL and
Planet Ho was a stones throw right across the street for fireworks. They were about all you could see.
The Trop and MGG's weren't easy to view because of the other buildings and the other way down the Strip
was totally blocked from view.
When went back in, Stevie was on stage and playing. He looked like he was having a ball!
He looked/sounded great. Big full band and even all his grown kids came on stage before it was over.
It was cool the way they set his stage/piano/mics up. (probably) all the same distance apart, harmonica
in the same place on top of his keyboard...he walked around that stage like a totally sighted person!
(maybe he always has been, LOL!!!)
He did a 'count down' for midnight...I was outside again watching it on the marquee and then the fireworks.
When I went back in, he was goin' strong, but I'd had enough. I'd been on my feet since 5 and my legs and
feet were killing me...it was time to head back to RIO...BUT HOW???
There were no cabs on the Strip. I could have walked to Caesars...I knew they had some because of the
back entrance but I was too tired.
Down at COSMO's front doors (which are on the back, West side of the property...) the doorman confirmed
that NO CABS would be there until aroud 3,4am (it was about 1am at that point) BUT!........
they did have their fleet of towncars and limos available (NO SHIT, SURPRISE, SURPRISE)
For $43....I rode in style with a towncar and was back to RIO in a flash.
TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA at Thomas Mack were pretty commercial and it got boring real fast.
MANDHIME STEAMROLLER is much better.
BOB SEGAR sang his ass off...great Show. Over 2 hours/2 encores
I had great seats for both and over all.........it was a good/FUN, Vegas New Years experience but
once was enough. Watching them on your computer via KLAS television chan. 8 and their LIVE feed
is the better way to go, LOL.
Didn't win anything big...one quad the whole time. I'd planned to hit my ROYALS on Sunday morning so
I wouldn't have to pay taxes on 'em til next year but....guess that was another email that didn't get
to the right party on a New Years weekend in Vegas!
Okay then...THERE'S YOUR TR! Hope you had a good one too.
Next trip for me will be to kick off some shows at the new SMITH CENTER.
March 30-April 4...Pink Floyd Experience and Color Purple at SMITH...Rod and Zumanity at the local joints.
I also at SMITH...Million Dollar Quartet on June 12, and Memphis on July 22/
WAITING FOR 'WICKED' in Sept but not on sale yet.
www.thesmithcenter.com
Sorry Diane...hope this brings ya a bit up to date!
