Can You Describe What It Takes to Produce LV Advisor?

Thanks for your description of what it takes to put together the MRB in your February 21 answer. If you have not done so already, can you provide us with a behind the scene description of what it takes to put together a monthly newsletter?

Thanks for asking, but it's not too complicated or mysterious, just a month's worth of research and several days of writing, editing, and production.

Anthony does the lion's share of the research, as he has since first launching LVA lo these 39 years. He's out and about all the time, in and out of locals bars, casino sports books, and local and casino restaurants, meeting people, making bets, or just eating and drinking for sustenance. Of course, as much as possible, he tries to do double duty by eating at places that can be reviewed for the newsletter's Dining section, drinking at places that can be used in Entertainment, and checking out casinos and bars running gambling promotions.

By the way, one of Anthony's strong points as a food reviewer is his willingness to sample just about any kind of food, which comes in handy at some of the more authentic Asian restaurants at which he likes to dine. Fruit bat soup? Scorpion wine? Tuna eyeball? Blood porridge? Stinky tofu? A.C.'s your man.

He does get an assist from Deke. Not a drinker, Deke can't help with the alcohol in LVA, not that Anthony needs any. When it comes to Dining, he's most interested in the new restaurants, especially on the Strip, whereas Anthony's preference is to try locals places. Deke also writes a lot of the show reviews and handles most of the News items.

Anthony, of course, writes Couponomy, the only section of the newsletter that's in the first person. He also handles Top Ten responsibilities.

Deke edits Anthony's writing. Anthony edits Deke's writing.

It all comes together in the production department on the second-to-last and last business days of the month, when the cover photo is acquired, the Word files are laid out in InDesign, the front-cover blurbs are added, and the entire issue is posted online for Diamond subscribers. The issue also goes to the printer; the printer ships the many thousands of individual newsletters to the mail fulfillment house, which sends them out to Platinum subscribers.

Then everyone takes one deep breath and the whole process starts all over again for the next month's LVA.

This is pretty much the way it's worked for the past 349 monthly newsletters, since Deke showed up to work on his first Las Vegas Advisor, the April 1992 issue.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

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Comments

VegasVic Apr-06-2021

Appreciate it

I've been reading since the early days.  I appreciate the time/effort that is put in, always well done.

Kevin Lewis Apr-06-2021

Any thoughts about...

...going exclusively digital and scrapping the print edition altogether? Doing so would reduce costs as well as time and effort. I know some people prefer the print edition, but who doesn't have access to a computer (to save the pdfs) and a printer (to make a hard copy if really needed)? Plus, the last 20+ years of the newsletter are in the archives and accessible to members.

Randall Ward Apr-06-2021

thanks

I've been a subscriber for 25 years, appreciate the work you guys do.

O2bnVegas Apr-06-2021

Vegas archive at our fingertips!

It is highly a pleasure to scroll through the page of past and present months' newsletters.  The front covers all together make a colorful montage of Vegas history past and present; new openings, new shows, new eateries, the 'what's happening' at the time.  How fun to click on one or another and read what was going on at the time.  Every issue brings up a memory.

Candy

Texas Transplant Apr-06-2021

I appreciate the total honesty in LVA Newsletter

Having been a subscriber for about 15 years, I find that Anthony and the staff have been honest, often to the point of brutally honest, in their reviews and comments.   That is what I want to see...the truth.

When I read a restaurant review in LVA, I know i can take it to the bank for accuracy.  I can't count how many times I've seen reviews of places that simply don't measure up as far a quality, are overpriced, etc.  LVA sometimes gives suggestions of better places to go to.  Priceless.  No sugar coating the results, even if some of the places are in the LVA members book.  
Likewise a favorable review often puts a place on my "to do" list when I go to Las Vegas. Have found some gems there, like Stage Door Bar

This "tell it like it is" attitude also goes over to the commentary on Las Vegas events.  In a recent issue or two I have seen the word "gouging" used in relation to casinos.  It accuracy really hits home.

Please keep it up.
 

LVA has a lot of credibility with me.

Anthony Curtis Apr-06-2021

Grateful

These are some save-and-use-for-promotion comments to say the least. Just saying that we appreciate the nice words. Fully digital? That would be a dream. I don't think the LVA world is ready for that yet. Soon, though.

Question of the Day - 06 April 2021

Comments