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twitterStation Casinos scales back free live entertainment
Mark Damon
Comedian Drew Carey, center, joined the Lon Bronson All-Star band on stage Thursday night, Aug. 27, 2009, at the Ovation lounge at Green Valley Ranch. Carey helped to sing backup on the band’s final number of the night, the Monkees’ hit “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.”
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- Station Casinos wants more time to restructure finances (10-26-2009)
- Workin’ to keep workin’ (1-27-2009)
- Lon Bronson and his All-Star Band get steady gig (3-12-2009)
Station Casinos has long been a champion of live entertainment.
When major resorts on the Strip pared down free live shows over the past decade, Station steadfastly resisted the trend.
The lounges at most of its 10 major properties provide free entertainment — whether it’s the dance music of Déjà Vu, the classic rock of Yellow Brick Road or the funky R&B of the Lon Bronson All-Star Band. And the Boulder Blues series draws nationally known blues musicians.
But the harsh realities of today’s economy have forced the company, which has filed for bankruptcy reorganization, to cut back.
Bronson’s popular weekly gig at Green Valley Ranch has been reduced to once a month. The casino also dropped Michael Grimm’s 12-piece band’s weekend shows, although he’s still playing solo three nights a week at Hank’s steakhouse at GVR Tuesdays through Thursdays. Dr. Zhivegas played its last gig at Red Rock on Saturday and is being replaced by a disc jockey.
“We probably have delayed (cutbacks) more than in any other areas of our business,” says Judy Alberti, vice president of entertainment for Station Casinos. “We’ve made very few cuts, actually. Typically, weekdays are not as strong as weekends anyway, so that’s generally where we’ve made some cuts.”
The Boulder Blues night hasn’t been affected by the cost-saving measures, but the company aborted an attempt to expand the blues series to Fridays at Texas Station.
“We felt the show at Texas Station was diluting the audiences at Boulder,” Alberti says.
Station’s showrooms will continue to offer headliners — but those shows were never free.
“There’s not a big adjustment there,” Alberti says. “But we are going to be a little bit more selective.”
There are several entertainment shifts throughout Stations, but not for big band singer Jerry Tiffe, whose afternoon dance sets attract a huge crowd of older folks. He will continue to entertain at Palace Station (Tuesdays), Aliante (Wednesdays), Boulder Station (Thursdays) and Texas Station (Sundays) and the non-Station casino Arizona Charlie’s Decatur (Fridays).
Since the entertainment scene is rarely static, it’s best to check with the various venues to find out what entertainment is available on any given night.
Alberti highlighted some of the upcoming changes:
• Yellow Brick Road moves from every Wednesday to the first Thursday of each month at Green Valley Ranch and plays Fridays and Saturdays at Boulder Station.
• Echoes of the ’60s, formed by Danny Gans keyboardist Bill DeLoach, will perform on third Thursdays at Green Valley Ranch and on fourth Saturdays at Texas Station.
• The Texas Station Saturday night lineup also includes Déjà Vu, the Fab and Third Town.
• Rat Pack Fridays will debut at Texas Station’s South Padre Lounge on Nov. 13, with different Rat Pack-era entertainers, including Rick Michel, Andrew James and Doug Starks.
The musicians whose shows are being cut back seem philosophical.
“I knew it was going to happen at some point, or at least I felt it,” Grimm says. “You can’t be there forever. I was fortunate to work there as long as I did. I got to put my band together.”
Even with the cutbacks, Bronson says, Station Casinos is still the leader in providing free live entertainment.
“Overall, Stations is the only one that consistently has been giving free lounge entertainment,” says Bronson, whose band will play the second Thursday of each month at Green Valley Ranch. “Even with the cutbacks there’s 10 times more than Harrah’s and MGM (Mirage) have offered across the board.”
Bronson was disappointed that his nights at GVR’s Ovation Lounge were cut back, even though he initially proposed doing one gig a month there.
“We’ve really been rolling,” he says. “We were consistently doing really well every Thursday night. Originally I had the attitude that I didn’t know if wanted to do once a week. It’s a lot of work to put the show together, and every show is different. We always have guest stars. It’s a kicks thing, it’s not a money gig by any means.”
Bronson remains optimistic.
“We’re hoping our weekly schedule will be resumed sometime after first of year,” he says. “Regardless, I hope people don’t lose sight of the fact that although Stations is cutting back they still provide much more free lounge entertainment than any of the big dogs.”
Discussion: 37 comments so far…
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It's free, but is it entertaining? That is the question to ponder as you watch guests holding their ears at the noise eminating from the lounges.
the best free live music entertainment I ever experienced was at Texas Station. Can't remember how many years it's since, but they had a live performer at the lounge and played some hot dance beats.
I noticed that the Stratosphere Tower has cool dance music playing on the weekends in its "clubs" but they're mostly empty. No cover charge, free dance music, played from discs or mp3, never mind. It's cool music and everything people need to get entertained if they're not looking to spend a dime.
I also think that the performance at the Palms clubs are cool, especially at the club nearby the table games pit. There was this Thai band playing hot sounds a few months ago, really phantastic sounds. It doesn't have to be Celine Dion or Elton John to get the masses into a casino. I think Station Casinos is blowing through its last horn and must cut more and more expenses.
As long as they don't quit charging the hotel guests this ridiculous resort amenity fee I will refuse to stay there. If there's a reader in this forum who works for Station Casinos, keep that in mind: You can try to steal money from the tourists by setting up tight slots, but you should not think that all tourists are stupid in the first place. Resort Amenity fee is a hidden charge for things the regular tourist doesn't want or need. Therefore , they should not charge the tourists for unnecessary and unwanted stuff. This may result in a higher occupancy rate and might help keeping the live performers on duty.
Palms has no free lounge entertainment. Stratosphere? Oh, wonderful place for free show and mugging outside when you leave...
Maybe Garth Brooks can work his way around the Las Vegas Casino lounge circuit, saving every casino from the upcoming demise of the city.
Las Vegas can show its gratitude by building a 500 foot statute of Garth at the beginning of the strip.
logic_should_rule, That's funny you wrote that; my sister had her purse yanked off her shoulder leaving the Stratosphere; she will never come back here; police told her "Thank God you were not killed, but I have other calls to attend to".
If it's not good original music, they probably shouldn't have been getting paid to play anyway. There is too much talent in Las Vegas to be paying cover bands to fill the lounges. Get good local talent on the cheap.
logic_should_rule, you're just wrong about the Palms.
Come to the Palms tonight for a great free show by the best local band in Vegas. Tonight we have a very special guest, 2-time Grammy winner Bill Champlin (until very recently the long-time lead vocalist for "Chicago").
The Bill Champlin west coast solo tour starts Friday.
www.myspace.com/noplacelefttofall
Tonight Bill and the tour lineup (Tamara Champlin, Jerry Lopez, Jamie Hosmer, Rochon Westmoreland, and Eddie Garcia) will give us a slammin' prelude when they open our gig at The Palms. Free show, 10:15 pm. The place will be crammed, no doubt.
Following Bill's set, Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns will be again throwin' down the baddest funk, soul, salsa, and jazz in the city. Join us.
Always check in with my blog for ongoing updates:
http://santafeandthefatcityhorns.blogspo...
BTW, our new CD goes to duplication this week.
http://www.fatcityhorns.com/WhenTheCurta...
Our bro' Raoul has been previewing some of the cuts over at http://www.horndrivenradio.com
Check out his fine site!
We are trying relentlessly to keep free local live music going.
Looked forward to the "no cover" blues bands each week at the Chrome Room, was a regular, brought or met friends at the venue -- made new ones, met the very talented band members -- bought their CD's, we'd even see the bands we enjoyed the most the following night at the Railhead, fantastic entertainment, great venues -- we all had a real good time, until my camera all of a sudden became an uninvited guest -- needless to say we haven't been back since but will forever cherish the memories.
: (
An attorney I worked with has a local band and has played Chrome several times and I believe there was a cover charged but was waived for all of us. First time we went, we were SHOCKED that a local casino club would charge $9 for a Dewars on the rocks. The bar in the casino charged $4 for the same drink!! We learned the next time - go on the casino floor, order a free drink and go back into the club!!! NO ONE said a word either.
I honestly lost ALL respect for Judy Alberti once she let the BEST thing to happen to Station Casinos go. Zowie Bowie was with them from the time Red Rock opened in 06 till Ms. Alberti couldn't negotiate a better deal. Look where they are now compared to Stations. I was hoping Drzhivegas would fail and fail they did according to an insider I know at Red Rock.
Some of the bigger Station acts like Dr. Zhivegas, Steel Panther and the Sin City Sinners are still performing regularly as well. Dr. Zhivegas will be ending their Friday and Saturday night performances at The Rocks Lounge at Red Rock on Nov. 28, so be sure to catch them before they finish their run. The Sin City Sinners continue to appear every Saturday night at Ovation at Green Valley Ranch along with different special guests weekly. Steel Panther will perform every Friday night at Ovation at Green Valley Ranch but Wolf Creek will be filling in for them on Nov. 20.
According to this article, Dr. Zhivegas is finished at Rocks Lounge and upon further investigation, their signs are completely removed from the banner next to Rocks.
BobbyG-Thanks for the information. I'm in the Palms often but not usually on Monday's. Maybe that's the only free lounge night? I know for sure that they charge for whatever there is on weekends.
Comment removed by staff.
Toby Keith's at Harrah's, Great live entertainment. Tony Marques and Neil Morrow always put on great shows.
You can also catch them at various locations in L.V.
Never paid a cover there. They just need to tone down the rap played by the DJ during the breaks in the live entertainment. There used to be a good country bar at Boomtown, before it became Silverton.
I always thought the rule of basic economics was: YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY- Why no charge for everything including the toilet paper. No wOnder this town is in the pits and still sinking. Brilliant Casino's management now really have to use their brains-if only they can find their brains
SHAME-SHAME
shameonvegas: I am in complete agreement with you on this. Casino's cutting back on what little free entertainment is left in this town is PRECISELY THE WRONG THING TO DO! tightening the slots WRONG! expensive rooms and meals WRONG! Lets see.. WRONG + WRONG + WRONG = BANKRUPTCY !!!!
Shame that some of the GOOD free bands are being cut. Hopefully they will resurface elsewhere...
Det__Munch, I wouldn't tell your attorney friend about you did...you're not helping him by buying drinks outside the lounge. Of course the drinks are going to be higher inside the venue...you're getting a free show along with that drink.
Without a cover charge, the casino bases the band's value on how well they sell drinks inside the lounge, plain and simple. The revenue has to justify what they're paying the band and the staff.
So, by buying drinks outside the lounge, you're not helping the band out one bit. People who sneak drinks in to see their favorite bands are, in essence, stealing from them. Yes, it's a shame that it comes down to drink sales, but that's how the casinos can offer a "free" show. They've got to make the money back somewhere.
Yes, it is a shame. When Zowie Bowie was playing inside of Rocks Lounge, there wasn't a single night when the place wasn't past capacity which is 300 people. Now, according to my security guard friend, Dr. Zhivegas is lucky to get 100 people. Red Rock has decided to concentrate on their money maker which isn't the free live entertainment but the club.
The Las Vegas experience that I so loved and cherish in my memories, are those incredible Saturday nights at the Stardust playin the hot slots, getting a steady flow of free drinks brought to me by my favorite cocktail waitress Lisa, who never even had to ask me what I was drinking because she new it by heart. Great music flowing out of the Starlight Lounge, slapping chips down on the tables, eyeing up all the hot women in short skirts walking all over the place, staying up practically all night on the craps table with the real players after the tourists go to bed. The Steak and Lobster tail special at Tucan Harry's , or at 3:00 A.M the steak and eggs special for only $3.99 till 6:00 A.M. If there is a heaven, god please put me back there!!
if you haven't seen dr. zhivegas, you're missing out. they were / are HUGE in st. louis.
look, vegas is over. it's now just a bunch of $500 per bottle clubs with a d.j. playing black eyed pees over and over and over and over.
I agree with you stevem on the point about the clubs charging an arm and a leg but disagree that Dr. Zhivegas is as good as Zowie Bowie. The ONLY groups that compare to ZB are Steel Panther and YBR.
I'm not much into country music, but Fiesta Rancho has had a really good band in their Cabo Lounge.. thinking it's Wolf Creek.
Why do most people in Vegas have to hold on to past notions that things have to stay the same. The casino industry is changing. See what they have to offer and don't complain just because it is not what they did 15 years ago. For years Stations has been the company that supports local entertainment. Guess what, they still do. Great shows and performances for free at ALL of the venues just around the corner. Take a breath, have a drink, and enjoy. Take Nashville Unplugged at GVR. They just extended that through 2010 last week. If something works, they keep it. This is not the Vegas were you get a $2 steak and beer, a comped show, and a room for $5.
jberg411, if what you are saying is true, then why did Stations let Zowie Bowie go after 3 years there? That kind of logic doesn't work for fans that loved Rocks Lounge with ZB there.
What I am saying is "casino industry is changing". They move things around and shake things up faster than ever. I don't work in the business, so my guess is they see what the financial impact is for each venue they put out. Be it a show, concert, lounge act, etc. X is the number they have to be above to make it profitable. Eventually something made Zowiebowie bring in below what X is. Be it not bringing in folks, contracts cost too much, etc.
Unfortunately, things have changed in the sense that in the old days, entertainment was a free commodity (dating back to Sinatra/Rat Pack) to the public used as a loss leader to get people in the door so they would then gamble. Just like free drinks on the gaming floor, hotel/meal comps...anything to keep people in the casinos and on the tables/machines. These days corporate Vegas looks at every department's bottom line and if it doesn't generate a profit, they cut it. The days of free live entertainment are numbered, as long as people keep showing up to hear dj music and pay ridiculous money for "VIP bottle service".
ridiculous is right! There are even some bars in town that charge $10 for an arrogant bastard pale ale you could get at the liquor store for a 3rd of that. Supply and demand people!!
for those of you who are curious, I've been on both sides starting with paying the $20 admission to gain entry to Cherry to gaining VIP access to that same club once I got to know people. It isn't ever what you know, it's who you know these days.
Stations needs to get rid of some of their fat-cat executives that do very little, except collect a BIG paycheck. Better yet, ride into the sunset and let someone else run those places!STATIONS SUCK!!!!
They should charge $125 cover charge for any show, period. NO SCALPERS.
I heard buckwheats and the mash potatoes are in town. Great act, but only
charge $125 per person, NO SCALPERS.
You posters are missing the point. This story reflects just how much further AWAY from the Vegas formula we are getting when these cutbacks on free entertainment occur. If anyone wants to see Vegas rebound, it aint gonna be the overpriced rooms, idiotic nightclubs,mega lounges, and overpriced dining spots. It's gonna be when the hotels come out of their coma and bring back value with loose slots, generous comps, cheap rooms, cheap food, free quality entertainment, and fair table game odds. This is the formula that built Las Vegas.
Hey Listen Folks- We are LUCKY that we DON'T have to pay BIG BUCKS to see The Lon Bronson All-Star Band. Each one of these musicians are consumate professsionals and together these musicians throughout the years have become the strongest & tightest musical band playing in Las Vegas today. The Lon Bronson All-Star Band often perform tunes written & performed by other artists,(as do most local bands) but it's VERY rare when the artist of a well-known song believes that The Lon Bronson All-Star Band are good enough that he/she is eager & honored to have the opportunity to be able to sit in to perform THEIR songs with this powerhouse group! If you don't believe this, ask such well known artists like Huey Lewis or the band "Tower of Power"! The fact that there are so many well-known artists that have sat in and performed THEIR original songs with The Lon Bronson All-Star Band for just the sheer joy of being able to perform THEIR songs with such a gifted group of musicians confirms The Lon Bronson All-Star Band are truly stars themselves! Plus, if you happen to go see The Lon Bronson All-Star Band perform on the right night, there's a pretty good chance you might get treated to a something little extra & be able to watch a performance with a surprise "guest" musician that would normally cost you REALLY, REALLY BIG BUCKS to go see them perform on his/her own stage.
environprotector, if this past weekend is any indication of what Stations has to offer, we don't want it. A member of my family got a comp for the brunch at the buffet at Palace Station and it was ANYTHING but delicious. Matter of fact, my family is used to having vegetables and there were none. Once Stations wakes up again, we'll go back.
Environ....you my friend are missing the point. The casinos are not comfortable or willing to eck out small revenues like they did in old Vegas times. Back then you had a handful of owners and profits went directly to the owners after costs were covered. Today you have shares and investors, not 5 guys that own the place. You look for the maximum return on investment. Giving away anything is not max. return. So they search for the right balance that has the value and brings in the revenue. Do you really think Vegas even has a chance of going back to the Rat Pack Days? NEVER stop complaining. Things change. Instead of starting your comments with I remember when, why not say I found a great spot. Experience all the great things we have to do in Vegas.
Getting back on topic....if you enjoy seeing your favorite live bands, it comes down to your support. Bands lose their gigs when they're not generating enough profit for the venue. If you want them to keep their gig, attend often, drink heartily, and tell all your friends. With email, blogs, Facebook and other social networking sites, it's very easy to help spread the word and support these musicians.
jberg411 : My guess is that you are not old enough to remember the vegas experience pre Steve Wynn, or even more recently as the early nineties when the formula was still in effect at enough places that were not victims of the wrecking ball and implosion. Specifically speaking, the Boyd properties (Mainly the Stardust and Orleans), Binion's Horshoe, Desert Inn, Frontier, Sahara, and even the Tropicana. If you were around, I can't fathom how you could possibly think this town is as exciting as those days. Your ansolutely right about the big time stockholders and corporate climate that exists today, and the way these places have to make maximum returns. This is precisely the problem. There isn't enough wealth here in the valley, nor even in nearby California to sustain that required overhead, and there won't be for a very long time. These companies would rather go bankrupt than do what is necessary to stay afloat. That my frien is the tragedy of today's Las Vegas, it's lost it's identity and eventually it will not even be considered by the true gamblers as the spot to play in the world.. Shame..