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**3/9 Las Vegas WOW !! Yesterday was DOPE !! Woke up B4 the alarm, head buzzing from the night before. Had a (way too early) breakfast/meeting with the NC&B Advisory Board. Met old friends, got an update on how the show is going… numbers up across the borad, all areas… edicational workshops, exhibtor footage & entertainment. (show attendees can opt for an “All Excess Pass” with front of the line, no waiting VIP privelidges)
Group discussion on a few pressing matters. Heard some exciting input on how the magazine/website/show plans to evolve & grow. “Where many print publications ar hurting, Nightclub & Bar is thriving,” said NCB boss, John Taffer.
Later, I attended a an excellent workshop on social meeting marketing. Doesn’t matter if you’re a large chain or just a one-man show, there are many ways to use all the available social tools to get your self known & devolope a personal diaplogue with those who find & follow you.
NOTE: I’ve had a number of inquiries on this blog about just how a person might better use these resources. Once I get back home & get muy head clear, I’m gonna get into this w/you, I promise.
Next, spending an amazing hour or so with DJ/music programming genius, Wyatt Magnum, Magnum Music Group & his guest DJ panel. From Toronto, DJ Wrispect, from Houston, DJ Penetrate & Las Vegas’ legendary DJ Frankie. (Been spinning in Vegas since the Disco daze) All of these guys work w/muliple DJs & spend a lot of time researching & programming their music databases w/tunes for their respective formats.
Our group discussed things like developing a niche format sound/identity, (you automatically know if it’s a Deadmau5 or Benniy Benassi DJ set, don’t you?. the increasing impact of house & elctro/techno music in the club mix, how hip hop, R&B are becoming more uptempo & beat driven, (Flo Rida, Usher) how using a quick mash-up of 3-4 hip hop tunes can jump start a set of power dance music, playing to your crowd, not AT the crowd, i.e. force feeding too much of your own personal taste may not always be in the best interest of the crowd in general. One example I have used over the years is that 5% of the crowd will make over 50% of the requests if you let them.
What’s that classic line from Spock in those Star Trek movies? “Th e needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” In this scenerio, the “many” are the crowd, “the few” are the requests (or those hot bodies you’re trying to hit) & “the one” is YOU.
One operator from Texas summed it up this way, “Playing & mixing music is an “Art,” programming the music to keep the crowd is a “Science.” Many times, it’s the DJ who has to delicately balance the two.
Now, the good stuff.. Just this past Saturday, after an invitation only VIP/Press Party, Paris unveiled Vegas’ newest mega-club, “Chateau,” described as “The next level in Vegas nighhtlife.” (great descriptive slogan, eh?) complete w/Vegas whose who.
On Friday, Nick Cannon, soon to be the father of twins, (he confirmed Mariah Cary’s having a boy & a girl) got the party started behind the turntables, mixing beats for the massive crowd to dance to, followed by dance sets from Australian-born DJ Havana Brown.
On Saturday, singer Drake took the stage for the actual grand opening of the nightclub, backed up by the beats of Lindsey Lohan close friend, DJ Samantha Ronson.
Last night, DJ Frankie invited me as his guest for a tour of the facility. We were joined by Chris Ping, DJ & Technical consultant from Lexington, KY. I got a chance to get up in the booth & see, first-hand the multiple set up w/ 3 side by side DJ mix set ups featuring 2 cd decks w/mixers on each side of a third mixing console flanked by 2 classic Technic turntables. Sweet!
Chateau has a really nice outdoor patio featuring beers from around the world and, oh yes, those lovely French maiden go-Go dancers are everywhere!
Then, off to Caesars Palace & Pure for the Nightclub & Bar Tuesday Party. Yesterday, I erroneously touted 5 DJs for the party. I was wrong, there were 7 !! Starring Nightclub & Bar US National DJ Of The Year Winner, Chris Garcia plus DJs DLUX, Grahamfunke, Homicide, Irie, Reach & HOT female DJ Sky Nellor.
When I got there, it was after midnight & I had to make my way thru a crowd of 3-4 hundred party goers, all who were hoping to get in & join the fun. Once inside, it was wall to wall NRG. The music was crazy good… lots of mash-ups, mostly up-tempo Hip Hop/R&B/Dance w/ some tasty Mainstream/Pop tidbits here & there… AND, just a taste of dance rock here & there to spice up the mix.
NOTE: Absolute living proof of what we all discussed earlier in the day at the DJ Mixing/Programming workshop.
OK, that’s about it for now… I’m getting hungry, so will grab a bite & then I’m off to the Apple Store in the Forum Shops at Caesars for a demo peek oat the new iPad2 which debuts on Friday.
Then tonight, I’m back at the Marquee for the Nightclub & Bar Top 100 Party & DJ Spin Off followed by the highly anticipated musical journey w/ Swedish Power House DJ, Avicii… & yes, we are gonna go all night. L8TR. Ray Ford aka DJstuff.
** 3/8 Las Vegas…. The world came to know Sin City as gangsters, Elvis, Sinatra &The Rat Pack, & in recent years for live shows like Barry Manilow, Cher, Elton John & Celine Dion. Ahh, my friend, but today’s Vegas has morphed into Mega Clubs with Superstar DJs grabbing all the headlines… AND the party people.
Here’s just one example… March at Marquee, this Wed.; Swedish phenom Avicii, for our Nightclub & Bar Top 100 Party; Friday; Robbie Rivera, Sat; Kaskade, Nightclub & Bar National DJ of the Year Winner, next Friday; Dirty Dutch Beatz w/ Chuckie, 25th; ecTwins, 26th; Above & Beyond, A;pril 1st’; Ferry Corston, April 2nd; ATB…. & the list goes on… multiply this list by a dozen other clubs & it really gets crazy.
Point is, we hear a lot about Miami w/ WMC & the Ultra Music Festival and… Ibiza during season, but folks, this party goes 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year !! Las Vegas has become the party capitol of the world !! Oh yes, did I mentioned that MTV has moved their Spring Break this week to the Cosmopolitan?
Here’s another Funky Fact: To Quote NC&B Boss, Jon Taffer, “Nowhere in the world but Vegas will you see a nightclub like Marquee (touted as the largest nightclub on the planet) w/a 100 million dollar price tag.” Marquee is five clubs in one including the rooftop “Day Club” with pool cabanas & round the clock party goers. I spent a couple hours there last night w/ DJ Vice & a thousand other folks… on a Monday night !!
Then I was off to Haze at the Aria for our NC&B Party w/ Three 6 Mafia & another 1,00 or so folks.
Tonight our Nightclub & Bar party is at Pure w/5 top DJs… yeah, I said 5. Is this a great city, or what?
Gotta go… there’s a session on Social Networking & the Wyatt Magnum’s Mixing Panal w/ six top DJs on the dias…. DJ Penetrate – Houston, Texas; DJ Yale Fox – New York City; DJ R.O.B. – Las Vegas; DJ Wrispect – Toronto Ontario; DJ Frankie – Las Vegas.
Talk to ya again later… Ray Ford aka DJ stuff.
Oh, yes… I told you we’ll be focusing in on House Music after Vegas & I just want to give you a mix to get you stasrted. I put this together 10 days ago & just haven’t had time to get it up on the blog, so here is… called, “Welcome To My House.” It’s me & what I’m about… Sooo, Get out the Bake Goods, strap on the phones & turn up the volumne !! And do Njoy the ride ’cause it’s allll goooood !!!! DJstuff
Welcome 2 My House from DJstuff at Letsmix.com.
FLASH !! 3/2 2day, Steve Jobs debuts new iPad2… sez on sale next Friday, March 11th 4 same price.
** 3/3 Friends at Verizon gave me a 30 minute, hands on demo w/the Motorola Zoom today. All I can say is.. “I think I’m in love !!” Crazy fast & yes, it does have a few limitations compared to a PC, but for a person on the go, it’s a thing of beauty. iPad vs. Zoom.. Apple vs. Google.. Ahhh, the beatz & the tech just keeps comin’…
Hi… back in December we tuned your ear to the many forms of Techno. Now, in March… we’ll be zeroing in on House Music… presenting a series of House mixes from DJs around the world. Stay tuned…
PLUS, this month, in addition to DJs & Music, we’re gonna focus some of our attention on The huge Las Vegas Nightclub & Bar Trade Show, March 7-9… which is one of the Top 5 attended yearly Vegas trade shows.
I’ve been associated w/the Magazine & Trade Show for over 20 years, & am a charter member of the Nightclub & Bar Advisory Board that oversees & gives direction to the magazine & show. DJstuff (Ray Ford)
NOTE: >> I’ll be in Vegas next week, March 7-9, covering the Show. You can follow my escapades here on the blog & @DJstuff on Twitter.com/DJstuff.
During my career, I’ve been fortunate to be a club DJ, a club owner/operator & an industry consultant. I write about that experience in a bi-monthly editor’s blog from the operators point of view, “Managing Your Environment” which appears on the Nightclub & Bar website @ http://www.nightclub.com. My latest blog (3/4) has info on a couple of top DJ panal sessions w/Wyatt Magnum of Magnum Music Group discussing “Music Menus” (club formatting) Mixing & more. It’s gonna B all good!
This year, the March 7-9 show at the Convention Center is anticipated to attract 20,000+ attendees. Add a couple hundred thousand weekly Vegas visitors & you’ve got one BIG PARTY !!
Aside from the Show, there are a number of Special Party plans for us all as well. Here are a few or the biggest events next week…
Show & Glow Party
Monday, March 7 | 10:30 PM @ HAZE Nightclub
Aria Resort at City Center -
Nightclub & Bar Las Vegas New Club of the Year (see list below)
HAZE opened last year to worldwide raves and is now one of the hottest clubs in Las Vegas. This multi-level venue with fantastic lighting, sound and video has planned an amazing theme party including the hottest DJs in Las Vegas, performance artists, celebrity guests and a bunch of secret happenings! Three 6 Mafia is making a special appearance.
Triple Theme Party
Tuesday, March 8 | 9:30 PM @ PURE in Caesars Palace
Come party in triple at PURE in Caesars Palace. This triple themed party will be one for the record books with a live concert presented by rising country star Ashley Ray and two other theme parties at the same time! Don’t miss this major event with complementary special cocktails created just for NCB attendees!
Top 100 and DJ Spin Off Party
Wednesday, March 9 | 10:00 PM @ Marquee, The Cosmopolitan
As the newest, most highly anticipated and largest nightclub in Las Vegas, Marquee at the Cosmopolitan is hosting a new combined event on Wednesday featuring the Top 100 party and Red Bull Sponsored DJ Spin Off! Don’t miss this one where you can help honor the Top 100 nightclubs and bars in the country and be one of the first to step into one of the newest, hottest clubs in Vegas! 2009 Breakout Artist of the Year, From Sweden, Tim Berglin aka DJ Avicii is a special guest DJ!
Check out Avicii on MySpace here.
** 3/2/11 Each year, Nightclub & Bar readers submit the nightclub, DJ & promotion picks they feel deserve special recognition. Then, the list of candidates is turned over to a select group of industry professionals & the NC&B Advisory Board who, after much due diligence, pick the final list of winners. We had a tremendous cross-section of candidates this year… & here are the winners !!
National US Nightclub Award Winners
Nightclub of the Year – Webster Hall, New York
New Club of the Year – FLUXX, San Diego (Celebrates 1 yr. Anniversary March 11th)
Mega-club of the Year – The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, NJ
Ultralounge of the Year – SL, New York
Las Vegas Nightclub Award Winners
Las Vegas Nightclub of the Year – Tryst, Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas New Club of the Year – Haze Nightclub, Aria Resort & Casino
Haze Nightclub at Aria Resort & Casino
Las Vegas Dayclub of the Year – Liquid Pool Lounge, Aria Resort & Casino
Las Vegas Mega-club of the Year – Pure, Caesars Palace
National US Resident DJ of the Year Award Winner
Chris Garcia at Playhouse Hollywood, Los Angeles
(This is one of the classiest DJ image videos we’ve seen in a long time… w/just a peek at Drai’s After Hours where he is a Vegas resident.) PS: He’s the dude sans hair.
Las Vegas Resident DJ of the Year Award Winner
Kaskade at Encore Beach Club – DJ/Producer Ryan Raddon aka Kaskade is listed @ #35 in the world by DJ Mag.
Single Promotion/Party/Event of the Year
Moulin Rouge Anniversary Party at Kiss & Fly, Austin, Texas
Las Vegas Ongoing Promotion/Party/Event of the Year
Vice Sundays, Lavo Las Vegas
Las Vegas Single Promotion/Party/Event of the Year
Erick Morillo Labor Day Weekend at Tao
Ongoing Promotion/Party/Event of the Year
Fashion Industry Nights at Baja Sharkeez, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
** 3/1/11 One of the most anticipated surveys that Nightclub & Bar conducts each year documents the Top 100 Grossing US Clubs. The 2010 numbers have just been released…. & guess what… of the Top 20 Grossing Clubs, 13 of the 20 were in Las Vegas !! See for yourself… Here’s the list:
Rank Concept Name 2010 Revenue Location Website
1 XS Nightclub $60-70 Las Vegas, NV www.xslasvegas.com
2 TAO $60-70 Las Vegas, NV www.taolasvegas.com
3 Pure Nightclub $35-45* Las Vegas, NV www.purelv.com
4 Haze Nightclub $35-45* Las Vegas, NV www.lightgroup.com
5 LAX Nightclub $35-45* Las Vegas, NV www.laxthenightclub.com
6 Vanity Nightclub $25-35* Las Vegas, NV www.vanitylv.com
7 LIV $25-35* Miami Beach, Fl www.livnightclub.com
8 The Bank Nightclub $25-35* Las Vegas, NV www.lightgroup.com
9 Tryst Nightclub $25-35* Las Vegas, NV www.trystlasvegas.com
10 Lavo $25-35 Las Vegas, NV www.lavolv.com
11 Seacrets $25-35* Ocean City, MD www.seacrets.com
12 JET Nightclub $15-25* Las Vegas, NV www.lightgroup.com
13 Avalon Hollywood $15-25 Hollywood, CA www.avalonhollywood.com
14 Mango’s Tropical Cafe $15-25* Miami Beach, Fl www.mangostropicalcafe.com
15 The Pool After Dark $15-25* Atlantic City, NJ www.thepoolafterdark.com
16 ghOstbar $15-25* Las Vegas, NV www.n9negroup.com
17 Drai’s Afterhours $15-25* Las Vegas, NV www.drais.net
18 Clevelander $15-25* Miami Beach, FL www.clevelander.com
19 MOON $10-15* Las Vegas, NV www.n9negroup.com
20 Billy Bob’s Texas $10-15* Fort Worth, TX www.billybobstexas.com
* = estimate
View a pdf of the entire Top 100 list Here.
Source: Nightclub & Bar Magazine http://www.nightclub.com