Underage nightclub veteran tells secret
10:23 AM PT, Oct 3 2007
Strip resorts are so heavily regulated that the opportunities for malfeasance are fairly limited.
That is why I always enjoy the enterprising cleverness of entrepreneurs who find ways to subvert the system. Their thinking never ceases to amaze me.
Yesterday, I had lunch with one: a former VIP hostess for a couple of the hottest nightclubs and shows in Vegas. I met her as she worked a high-profile gig at one show at a major resort. After she had worked there for about a year, I next met her as she helped lord over the opening of one the hottest clubs on the Strip at another resort. This was about two years ago.
She knew everyone and was among the more popular people on the scene. But a little over a year ago she vanished. So when we ran into each other one night a few weeks ago, I insisted we have lunch to catch up on what had happened to her all this time. As with every life there has been a lot that happened, from serious health concerns to horrible romance.
"As a person I have been through so much," she said. It was true. "I am only 22."
That is why I always enjoy the enterprising cleverness of entrepreneurs who find ways to subvert the system. Their thinking never ceases to amaze me.
Yesterday, I had lunch with one: a former VIP hostess for a couple of the hottest nightclubs and shows in Vegas. I met her as she worked a high-profile gig at one show at a major resort. After she had worked there for about a year, I next met her as she helped lord over the opening of one the hottest clubs on the Strip at another resort. This was about two years ago.
She knew everyone and was among the more popular people on the scene. But a little over a year ago she vanished. So when we ran into each other one night a few weeks ago, I insisted we have lunch to catch up on what had happened to her all this time. As with every life there has been a lot that happened, from serious health concerns to horrible romance.
"As a person I have been through so much," she said. It was true. "I am only 22."
That caught my attention because the entire time I knew her she was as an employee and activist in the club scene. I checked her driver's license, and she hasn't even been 22 long. How did she manage to get those jobs without the clubs or resorts knowing she was underage?
"I was a great liar. Everyone knew me. And I set up a company. When clubs wanted to hire me, I told them they had to hire my company and I gave them the corporate tax number and that way my age never came up. And I act older."
"I was a great liar. Everyone knew me. And I set up a company. When clubs wanted to hire me, I told them they had to hire my company and I gave them the corporate tax number and that way my age never came up. And I act older."
Of course, she was eventually caught and lost her jobs. But definitely, she gets points for inventiveness managing to work coveted, high-profile and important club jobs in Vegas at hot venues while she was too underage to have even gotten past the front door.
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In what way does she get "points" for being revealed as a fraud? People in business have a long memory after trusting someone who was later caught telling bald-faced lies. Especially in environments like the gaming industry, where privileged gaming licenses are contingent upon truth from employees. Your blog makes her sound savvy, but in reality she made an extremely stupid mistake and probably ruined her career.
Posted by: Greg C. | October 03, 2007 at 01:07 PM
Yeah, I give her points. What she did should be impossible. I think the system that Strip resorts use to screen and hire ought to be at least as effective as the one they use to card at the front door. At 19 this young lady managed to work harder and do better than people older and more experienced than her. Obviously, she has caused some important people embarrassment, as should be. I agree with you, what she did was wrong. But especially in Vegas, people and especially teens, which is what she was at the time, deserve a second chance for certain mistakes. I think this is one of those moments. She was not stealing or doing anything but trying to work for a good living and she was good at the job. She is now legal age with enough background and knowledge of the club scene to move forward. It is the fault of the people who never checked her age and hired her. She deserves forgiveness and another chance, I think. Yrs., Richard
Posted by: Richard Abowitz | October 03, 2007 at 02:57 PM
so what?
Posted by: jack iooff | June 06, 2008 at 05:04 PM