I got to do a casino comedy show recently; my third, if you count the first one. I’ll get to that later. No show is the same, but casino shows are all over the place in terms of where they are held. This one was in the center bar. The drawback was there are about, oh, 1400 slot machines with lights and sounds (give or take – I’m probably way short). The good thing was that everyone going to the bar got to check out the show, plus the seating area was set up well and the sound system was great. Having done shows with bad sound, you can put a panther on stage and I’d rather have that than a shitty microphone.
The show went well, although my favorite part was getting to go through the employees’ entrance. It was like Ocean’s 11, getting to see the training rooms and kitchens. Well, Ocean’s 11 if instead of George Clooney you got me, nothing was stolen and I looked shady enough that two security officers escorted me into the room. It was nothing like Ocean’s 11.
The last casino show I did before this was great, until I went to check into my room and the smug guy behind the desk said, “I’m sorry sir, we don’t let the talent stay in our hotel.” You son of a bitch. In fairness, I was concocting a plan to get my dog into the hotel when no one was looking. The Knights Inn didn’t care as much. The first one was a “guest set,” which to the lay person means “More important comic getting paid needs a ride and convinces idiot new comic to drive and do time for nothing.” Ah, show business.