An Insider's Glimpse into the Marketing Machine of Sin City.
It
is no secret that I have had some interesting things happen to me
during the course of my travels. Even though these stories often
involve things such as encounters with men in various degree of undress,
drunk construction workers on light poles who carry axes, and even
being followed by a very nice but quite addled prostitute in a
questionable area of downtown Chicago, I have never felt truly
threatened or even remotely endangered. Perhaps that’s my folly, or
perhaps it is because I’ve never entered these situations without being
fully aware, or because I have been smart enough to be accompanied by
someone who could become my champion were I to require it.
Any
event, many of these nefarious adventures have occurred in the city of
Las Vegas. Probably because I traveled there so often, and stayed for
very long periods. As far as I’m concerned, three days is an adequate
amount of time to be in Vegas. Any longer and you start to feel like a
local, weird things start to happen, and you become friends with the
local CSI’s.
This is not a story about odd travel adventures
however. It’s about marketing; evil genius marketing actually. Evil
Genius Marketing in Las Vegas specifically.
There are some
heavy hitters in terms of consumer marketing in the United States.
Google, Apple and Proctor & Gamble are the first that come to
mind. Compared to the marketeers in Las Vegas however, these guys are
rookies. Those folks in Vegas have the ability to shake down nearly
every tourist who passes even remotely close to this little city in the
middle of the desert. The intention of the Vegas Veeps isn’t to get
merely SOME of your money. They aren’t satisfied until they get ALL of
it. And they don’t really care how it comes. They are perfectly
content to turn you upside down and shake you, taking their money one
penny at a time.
Now, I’m not complaining. Nor am I saying this
is necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I have tremendous respect for how
capable those folks are at getting people to willingly part from their
money, often coming back to do it again and again. Some even call it
vacation.
Actually,
if I had an opportunity to do so, I would
gladly intern in the executive suites of the Wynn, MGM or even the Sands
Corporations for little to no pay. Bear in mind that I am just past
mid-point in my career, so an internship at this juncture is not
something I would likely jump at were it anywhere else. I would just
love to sit in on the meetings where they determined which particular
air infused scent was most likely to induce compulsive spending, or at
what time of night people are most likely to see a long taxi line and
elect to stay at their own casino, which is ironically the same time
said casino will shut four taxi lanes leaving just one open. I’d also
like to know
who it was that figured out that by assaulting literally every one of my
senses as I deplane at McCarran, they can create a blank slate of my
mind, upon which any marketing message would receive a more
weighted consideration.
Interesting
side note which is perhaps completely related to the assault-your-senses advertising at McCarran airport (which I now suspect employs
subliminal methods): I do like the entertainment offered in Las
Vegas, and have attended many shows during my travels. On one
particular trip however, I found myself sitting at the Thunder
from Down Under Male Review. For the life of me I can NOT tell you why
I decided to go see this. I do not enjoy male strip shows of ANY type
(TRUE - Hate ‘em), so if I were to actually pay money to see a show of
this nature, it would have to be at the behest of a friend who had
twisted my arm, or because I lost a bet. I was alone. I had no friends
with me. My arm was perfectly straight at the time. I had no past,
present or future bet on the books. I had only been in town for one day
so I cannot blame any other person, entity or even beverage for this. I
have NO IDEA why I went there. For the record, I hated it. The five
screaming woman next to me - they didn’t hate it at all.
I can tell you that the rest of this little story
is not particularly funny, but I personally find the subject interesting and
quite ironic. I can further tell you that these things mentioned are
absolutely true, insofar as I’ve been able to tell at least. I’m a
marketeer by trade. I’m not too bad at it either. I cannot, however
say that I could, in any way, compare myself to these Giants in the
business of robbing a public that seems to find being robbed an
expectation in this quirky little city. Also, i know that large casino
operators do not spend one plug nickel unless it has been stringently
measured against a very exacting Return on Investment.
A recent
slogan from the Vegas Visitors Bureau stated: “What happens in Vegas
Stays in Vegas”. Most understood this to be a reference to the illicit
trysts, and the many sexual exploits which seem to accidentally take
place there.
Which takes me on another side rant: Accidental sex.
Is that even possible? I cannot really wrap my head around that one.
“Well your honor, I shouldn’t have to pay that amount of alimony because
I didn’t have purposeful sex with that woman. I had accidental sex.”
Does that even fly? Maybe - guess it depends on the accident-ee. I do
know people who could conceivably have sex accidentally, though they are
more acquaintances than friends. I don’t keep company with stupid
people.
Back to topic - Marketing. Vegas. Every last
penny. Genius’ I tell you. Absolute genius'. Setting morality aside, I
must say I have tremendous respect for anyone who can create in someone
else a desire AND willingness to be completely screwed, and then later
brag about it.
Me? I don’t much care for being manipulated into
parting with my money. Therefore, because I was so often in this city,
and after having had several of the revelations noted above, I must say
I’ve gone no less than ten straight days in Sin City without dropping
one quarter, let alone one silver dollar into a slot machine. Nor have I
ever played at one of their tables. The reason for this is two-fold. I
don’t like to waste my hard earned money. But mostly, it’s because I
suck at gambling. In fact, I’m the girl who inevitably winds up sitting
next to the other girl who hits the $1M jackpot, wins a free car, has a
free fruit basket delivered to her upgraded room by the hotel’s
complimentary massage therapist, and has her picture taken with Elvis.
Not the fake Elvis. Real Elvis. Oh - and by the way, that girl would
be my girl Carrie AKA Height Reduced Barbie. B***h just has all the
luck.
On the other hand, I have spent a fair amount of money on handbags,
shoes, jewelry and really REALLY great food. See what I mean. No
matter what, they get you (me) every time.
So
- if ever you find yourself in Las Vegas, check these things out for
yourself. You can weigh the validity of my statements. While you're
at it, when looking for the hotel pool, allow yourself to follow those
handy signs the hotel posts to help you navigate the labyrinth of the
casino. Then tell me if you find yourself taking the most direct route,
(which is probably about 25 yards to your right), or if those genius’s
who make those signs have you wandering those carpet laden walkways
which, amazingly, pass by every dollar slot, high-stakes poker room and
other machines promising all you can eat love, sex, success, riches,
loose women, and fame for the mere price of that silver dollar their x-ray
machines says you have in your pocket. Go on.... put it in that slot
machine right over there sugar. After all, it's just a buck!
This Englishman in Vegas? Please, in these shoes?
Been once, long time ago. You have just proved my point to myself at the time with this really incredibly insightful write. I do love marketing strategies though. Most fun I can have sitting down.
I'd love to get my picture with the real Elvis but he died something like 4 years before I was born. Maybe I was Elvis in a former life. That would be so cool. I don't know what I'd do in Vegas. I don't gamble, I don't drink anymore and the brothels are to expensive. All that's left is Vegas shows and I think I represent the whole of my generation when I say I aint going to one one a freakin bet.
Posted 11 Years Ago
11 Years Ago
Awe come on. Blur Man Group? You don't wanna drop a hundred bucks to see three blue dudes bang a dr.. read moreAwe come on. Blur Man Group? You don't wanna drop a hundred bucks to see three blue dudes bang a drum? What's wrong with you man. Then there is Celine, Rita Rudner... Dude! (please know this was a joke)
11 Years Ago
I was treated to a performance of Phantom of the Opera when I was there in May. Un-flipping-believea.. read moreI was treated to a performance of Phantom of the Opera when I was there in May. Un-flipping-believeable!...and I have seen Blue Man Group, as well. Money is ALL that keeps me from the shows, believe it! But Thunder from Down Under?...Ummm, no thanks!
Well, I can see it seems to have twisted your brain too. Every time I've had to go there, or through there, it did it to me. No forked tongue served at your table; even if it is staple diet for the locals. I applaud your palette (and your writing). I wonder if they still have satire sheets in the honeymoon suites?
Another one I couldn't stop reading. I had to fight the urge to talk out loud to the monitor as if I had some say about the whole thing...weird. This has all the tell-tale signs of your great humor, as well as interesting observations about sin city and the atmosphere and marketing. Here's one for you...a few years ago, the year my daughter turned 21, I had the idea to take her to Vegas for a fun Mom/Daughter trip. I really could care less about gambling (I'm no good either), but I felt like it would kind of be like a trip around the world so-to-speak because it is in a Disneyland sort of way. Well, we thought it would be doubly cool to go in mid-December and see how beautiful it would be all decked out for Christmas and imagined everyone dressed up for the holiday season. WRONG - it was so depressing to see all those people looking lonely and staring, smoking, and wandering. WE had a blast because we were together, but it wasn't the town. I asked someone there about it and they told me that everyday was the same there...I guess that is how it is when it's all about money. My rant - sorry - see what you made me do! ; /
Great piece of reporting from a viewpoint of an insider, not a tourist. Have never been there, I too am protective of my monies, but have been curious as many as to what it would be like spending 3 days there. you have completed those thoughts, and I won't be booking any flights soon.
I enjoyed your little sidebar sniplets to be just as interesting, and could see those developing into stories all of their own. :)
My god daughter works at Caesar's at the outdoor pool. She made 3 thousand dollars in tips last weekend. There is got to be something wrong with a town that allows that to happen. I'm happy for her, but I just can't relate. My wife and I went there just once to be able to say we did. Not my cup of tea. What I do enjoy though is your writing style, it is so wonderfully readable, smooth, clear and to the point. No matter what the topic the cadence of your work just makes me want to eat it up. Like a good book, it's disappointing when the words come to an end and the reader is left with that final period.
Why do i want to run screaming from this place and I'm not even there or indeed, planning to visit! if ever there was a reason to go to the moon, you've just given it. Your analysis is not only sooooooo funnily tongue in cheek, i know its scarily accurate and that people moan and cheer their way to spend money as if it was gulps of air, and those at the top wallow in self appreciation whilst lesser morsels .. sorry, mortals, lose their way to those hand groping thingies into the red!
Great post, thanks for a lesson learned and - laughter all the way to my bank statement.
You're right about marketing strategies. Money is at the bottom of everything, and I have no problem with that. I'm glad you didn't try to deliver a treatise on the evils of gambling--people should be free to do what they want with their money, and if it stays in Vegas, it stays in Vegas.
I can't really understand accidental sex. It's not like hitting a telephone pole. There has to be some thought to taking your clothes off. Of course, if you meet one of those naked men, there's half the problem solved...