Sorry folks! It’s been awhile since I have updated my journal. I have been busy getting settled with the new gig here in Las Vegas.
There is a lot to update everyone on regarding the last three plus weeks so I apologize in advance for the lengthy entry. Without further ado, I introduce to you my new (but temporary) life in Las Vegas, NV:
First Impressions:
Initially when I first came to Vegas I was not that impressed. Everything seemed like a bunch of hype. Because I am staying in a conference and intern housing facility, I have been fortunate enough to not have to overcome the trying task of finding friends. Everyone living around me are interns who are primarily new to Vegas and are far from home. We all kind of stick together, go out together, etc. My floor in particular, houses Harrah’s Entertainment interns as well as interns from MGM. When I first arrived in intern housing, I was the only Harrah’s intern so it was kind of weird because the MGM interns seem kind of resentful toward Harrah’s employees. Harrah’s is a bigger/financially more successful company than MGM so it makes sense why they are so competitive with us. However, these MGM interns in particular seem a little too standoffish. They will say hi to you and everything but beyond that, they stick with their own kind. Harrah’s employees will play with any and everybody. Lol.
As I said, I was the first Harrah’s intern to arrive in Las Vegas this summer. Therefore, when I “popped my cherry” on Las Vegas Boulevard, a.k.a. The Strip, I went with the group from MGM. Let’s just say like most “loosing your virginity” experiences, visiting The Strip for the first time was awkward, uncomfortable, and a little painful. We had VIP to club Privè but it really did not do us any good because the bouncers kept hassling us for money before we could get up to the actual club. One bouncer would ask us for $25.00 a head while another was trying to get $50.00 a head. There was not any line…there were just a mad mob of people trying to push their way to the front to get into the club. Everyone was literally packed like sardines.
Needless to say, we did not go to Privè since the bouncers were being overly ridiculous. Instead, we made our way to Risque which is a club located in Paris.
Before I continue, I’ll give a brief overview for all those who are not familiar with the Las Vegas Strip. The Strip is the place that everyone comes to visit when they visit Las Vegas. The Strip is what everyone makes all the fuss about. It consists of an endless number of elaborate looking hotels. Each hotel is like its own town….there are millions of restaurants, shops, clubs, museums, theatres, and casinos in each one among other things. The point of each hotel is to make it so that you will never feel the desire to leave due to the fact that they want you to keep playing at the casino so they can keep making money. They also do not have any windows or clocks in the hotels because they want you to play so much that you loose track of time. Harrah’s in particular, owns and operates Caesar’s Palace, Bally’s, the Flamingo, Harrah’s, the Rio, Imperial Palace, and Paris (they have other properties nationally and internationally I just listed the ones in Vegas). Each hotel has uniqueness and a theme. For instance, New York New York (I think is owned by MGM) is built like a miniature New York. The hotel is shaped like the Towers and has a statue of liberty (it’s huge). Paris has an Eiffel Tower and has a French theme. You get the picture. For all you east coasters, it’s like Disney World meets Atlantic City. So anyways….back to the story…..
I was not really feeling Risque…the reason why I was not feeling Risque is the same reason why I subsequently was not feeling any of the clubs that I visited thereafter. I’m not really a club person in general but Las Vegas clubs are P.I.M.P.s. They are not about making an enjoyable customer experience. Rather, they are strictly about making money. Most of the clubs do not have spacious dance floors. The dance floors are barely the size of two cubicles. The majority of the clubs consist of VIP couches/sections that you have to pay $350.00+ for. Basically you have to pay just to sit down. Who comes to the club to sit anyways? People come to dance so the dance floors should be bigger. Especially since Las Vegas is a top international destination. You can not even dance on the dance floors because it is just incredibly too crowded. The only thing you can do in most Vegas clubs is stand and look pretty and hope that you are cool and pretty enough to be asked to chill in VIP with a group of rich, white, middle-aged men. Or if you are a guy, hope that you are with a group of girls who are cool and pretty enough to be asked to chill in VIP with a group of rich, white, middle-aged men. And….the drinks are expensive as hell. Ladies, do not go to a Vegas club expecting that you will not have to spend your own money. The only type of guys who can afford to buy you a drink are true ballers…but most of them are married with kids…and old and gross. Your best bet is to get into someone’s VIP table. I think it’s all a ploy to keep you running back to the casino.
Since I’ve been here, other clubs that I have visited have been Tao at the Venetian (absolutely gorgeous but once again no dance room), LAX at Luxor (the worst of all of them, no dance floor, just a bunch of walk ways that everyone attempts to use as a dance floor), Pure at Caesars (supposedly the most popular club, it’s absolutely gorgeous, big dance floors but they let too many people in so everyone is still packed like sardines, it’s the home of the Pussycat Doll Lounge), Poetry at Caesars (I actually liked this one!), RumJungle at Monaray Bay (I liked this one too!). I think Atlanta has clubs that are more my taste because they are classy and unpretentious. Vegas is all about the flashing lights.
Even though I’m not a big fan of the club scene here, I really enjoy the weather. If you are a person who cannot stand the heat, then it is best that you get out the kitchen because Vegas is hot as hell. No exaggeration. It is truly the desert. When the wind blows it feels like you are blowing your face with a hairdryer. I’m a person who loves the heat so I really have no qualms. I think the weather and landscape of the Las Vegas desert is beautiful. The temperature is beginning to exceed 11O so I’ll probably be complaining in a couple of weeks…but until then, I’m enjoying the sunshine.
If you are a good looking girl, it is pretty easy to get VIP or guestlists access anywhere in Vegas. I got me and my roommate into Caesars Venus Swimclub....it is a European-style pool area (meaning it's topless...but not rounchy) that has cabanas, beds/couches by the pool, massage service, and some fine ass cabana boys. It was definitely a glimpse of what life will be like for me and a few short years. It was upscale, relaxing, and chill....words cannot even describe it. Of course I could not order anything because it was expensive as hell...and I sure did not have enough money to rent a cabana or bed by the pool....but in time, in time.
I also like the shows. I have only been to two shows so far. I have not seen any of the big name ones yet. I get a few company perks so I have not had to pay for any shows. The last show that I saw was Chippendale’s. Let me just say…my oh my! What I wouldn’t do to sop one of those men up with a biscuit! They called me up to volunteer to go on stage. Yes, yes…I was groped and stroked by the hot, sexy men of Chippendales. Me and my homegirls had a blast!
Speaking of homegirls, when the other Harrah’s interns did arrive, we all cliqued up right away. We also made friends with some of the other interns who work for other hotels (besides MGM). We have a good group going. Everyone is fun and chill…and most importantly, everyone knows how to embrace and have a sense humor about themselves. It’s interesting to see the different types of personalities that each company has. It really seems that each company hires a certain personality type. Harrah’s tends to hire people who have a sports/entertainment marketing background so that’s why everyone is so fun and chill. MGM tends to hire people who have a hospitality management background so they are a little less open.
The Gig:
I LOVE working at Harrah’s. There is so much room for upward mobility and they are really dedicated to making my internship a live in classroom. I have learned so much and I have not been here that long. I tend to be really rebellious so I was a little nervous about whether or not I could fit into a large corporation. I think the most important lesson that I will take with me regarding my career is that most big companies are built because of rebellious people. They are people who seek change and test their limitations. The mega-corporate world is definitely a place that I feel perfectly at home in.
I have been doing very well at my internship. I am pleasantly and surreally surprising my own self. I have always known that I was smart but I did not know just how smart. I have been getting so much kudos that I really want to pinch myself.
I think that there are a total of five corporate interns this summer. We have had presentations with three VPs since I have been here. They have given us more than valuable career information and have made us privy to confidential company information. We also got to meet with the CIO and he seemed very impressed by me. He gave me kudos at the end of his presentation and said that I’d be great at analytics and he looks forward to see where I can help take the company. I was floored because in our discussion at our presentation I wasn’t sure if I sounded smart or absolutely stupid. Especially since he was discussing IT and I am the only intern in marketing (the other interns are IT interns).
The Marketing and IT departments are closely related at my job so it is definitely a new experience. I am definitely gaining an additional skill set that will hopefully make me more competitive in the future. I’m gaining a good technical background that most marketers never have. I would give more details about the job but, I’m not sure just how much I can talk about via the internet without violating confidentiality. So to be on the safe side, I’ll keep it to a bare minimum since I work in one of the departments concerning company strategy.
The only downside is that I’m not allowed to gamble in any of the Harrah’s casinos up to 6 months after my termination. They do not allow employees to gamble on their properties because if an employee were to win a jackpot, they fear they will loose a substantial amount of customers because the company may be viewed as being “rigged”. That sucks for me because the only casinos that I would really want to gamble at are those owned by Harrah’s. If I were a gambler, my dominant property would probably be Caesars Palace (I spend the majority of my Las Vegas life there). That’s why I decided to work for them. I like the Venetian and the Bellegio but, they are way too expensive. The lowest amount you can bet per hand in table games there is like $25 at the Venetian and $100 at the Bellegio.
It’s weird because I’m beginning to understand why people do not discuss their salaries and the like with other people. Every single person that I know, prior to graduating undergrad is usually proud to share just how much they make…or at least, will volunteer a ball park figure. But doing that is definitely walkin a thin and awkward line once you get into the real world.
As I said, I live with a bunch of interns who also work for Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Out of the group who lives at UNLV, I am the only Corporate intern. The other interns are Public Relations interns at the Rio for WSOP (World Series of Poker Tournament). Thus far, I have received more perks than they have and it’s a little awkward when they find out. I think only two or three of them (out of fourteen) know about the few corporate perks and I think only one of them knows how much I make (which to me is not that high). My stipend alone was almost 4 times more than theirs…it was enough to pay my entire rent for the summer.
I’m finally glad to be around people who also have that hustle in them. When I first got here, I only had $50.00 in my pocket. The HR department had my paperwork sent to the wrong office so I did not receive my stipend until after I got here. Therefore, money was spent for moving my things and airfare. I had to tough it out for the first week and a half that I was here because my funds were incredibly low. Of course, I could not rely on the family to help me out (will update you on that story later). I was not the only person in this predicament. Pretty much all the interns were financially struggling the first couple of weeks (of course they had their fam tho). Some of them are still struggling because they get paid less and have to worry about rent (amongst other things like food).
It has been hard to really explore Las Vegas since I’m here to work as opposed to vacation. As with all jobs, by time you get off, all you want to do is go to sleep. And because the money I’m making is already spent, I really do not have the funds to go out like I want to. I still have to pay last spring semester’s remaining tuition balance and I am saving up so I can apply for grad school and take the GMAT. I already ordered my materials to study for the GMAT. That’s another reason why I cannot go out like that. I plan on taking the GMAT during the second or third week of August. I heard that it is pretty hard so I want to start studying now. It is going to cost me close to $1000.00 to apply to grad school since most grad applications are $150 - $250. They recommend that you apply to 6-8 schools. I know about three or four of the schools that I plan to apply to offer fee waivers if you are coming straight from undergrad. I’m going to personally contact the remaining schools and see if I can get them to do the same thing.
Speaking of grad school, I am starting to really sell myself the idea of going to the London School of Business. Two years overseas would probably be so much fun and really rewarding in some shape or form. I’m not sure if I can do that over-the-water plane ride though. It is only a five hour plane ride so I’ll get through it…that is if I get accepted and if I can find the funds to go.
Grad schools want their students to come in with the mindset of making a contribution to research regarding their field of study. I’m just into the fourth week of my internship and already I have a good number of research ideas to hint at in my application/interview. One I know is a winner. I think I can definitely utilize all the things that I’m learning here at Harrah’s to make a competitive application…esp. since I do not necessarily have the grades.
I’m also starting to sell myself the idea of Harvard. I have always been obsessed with going to Northwestern but because Harvard tends to be generous with funding minorities, I think if I get into there, my finances will be more doable. I just have to figure out a way to come up with one hell of an appealing application. I was a little worried as to whether or not I would be able to get into grad school, but the longer I work at this gig in Vegas, the more confident I’m becoming. Primarily because they are handing me the tools to succeed.
I think based on all the kudos I have been receiving, I think that it is safe to assume that there is a future here for me at Harrah’s. They have already asked me to help with recruitment for this upcoming fall semester and I think they are hoping to hire me upon graduation. If they do plan on hiring me upon my graduation, I have a tough decision to make that’s for sure. Harrah’s pays very well and it’s an extremely good gig to have but….I really want to have a MBA. I guess it would be a good idea for me to inquire as to whether or not they pay for grad school…or least help subsidize it. If they do, that would be perfect. Of course that may mean that I will not be able to go to London. If they do not pay for my MBA, I am just going to have to pass up the opportunity to work with them. Knowing me, I’m going to go get my MBA. If I do not get into one of my top choice MBA programs, then I will certainly go gain some work experience with Harrah’s and then reapply for my MBA in two years.
Regardless, after I get my MBA, I plan on coming back to Harrah’s. They have programs here for MBA students and because I am working here now, I’m pretty sure there will not be a problem with me coming back…that is, if I keep doing well.
Relocation?:
Of course with all this talk about my career there lies the great possibility that I will end up in Vegas. I’m not sure if I’ve completely warmed up to the idea. Ideally, I want to live in South Eastern United States (i.e. GA, SC, NC, FL, LA) or California. I love Las Vegas but I cannot see me settling down here permanently. The weather seems like it is pretty nice all year round except mid-June – July….it’s just incredibly too hot. Temperatures get up around 115.
The worst part about Vegas that has left the most disdainful taste in my mouth is the men. OMG! They are sooooo sketchy. I figured that Vegas men would not be a problem since I’m from crazy ass Baltimore but let me tell you….Vegas men are a whole other type of crazy. They are crazy2. The first week that I was here, I was stopped by a pimp…AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING! He looked like Fat Joe…a bald, fat, Latino that was iced out from head to toe driving a decked out SUV. To top it all off was his thick, white-rimmed, pimp glasses. About three times since then I have been approached by guys who apparently were under the impression that I was a hooker in a business suit while on my way to my actual daytime job. Apparently a BLACK WOMAN WHO WALKS W/ CONFIDENCE = HOOKER in this town.
These guys are doable given the fact that I just keep walking and minding my own business but then there are the stalkers. Just the other day I was leaving Best Buy and decided to stop at Walgreens before catching the bus back home. While I was walking up the street, this dude stops in the middle of traffic and asks me for a ride. I did my usual thing and told him that I was good (not a big deal right?). Up ahead was a fast food place. As I was walking past the fast food place this same guy was waiting in the parking lot waiting for me to pass by. He started calling for me out his window. I kept walking (still not a big deal). So I walked a little while longer just to see this same dude sitting in the grass a long the sidewalk waiting for me. He introduced himself. I tried to be as rude as possible but he still insisted on following me to Walgreens. He followed me around the whole time I was in Walgreens and followed me out the door. I proceeded to walk home and decided I did not want to sit and wait for the bus given the fact that I did not want to have to chitchat with crazy guy. As I’m walking, this guys car pulls behind me and proceeds to follow me all the rest of the way home…holding up traffic and begging me to talk to him. When we are a little around the corner, he stops his car and gets out and tries to wipe my juicestache off my face.
I did not know how to respond. I thought if I was too mean he might get angry and become overly aggressive and I was too nice then he might look at that as an invitation to get overly aggressive. Since I watch a lot of AE, I just did one of the things that they recommend people to do when they encounter crazies. I started asking him questions about himself. Some how I talked him to letting me see his license (I wanted to get his info just in case he did anything else that was psychotic). After I parted with him, I walked up to the front of the intern housing building only to see him standing there. He asked me if I had a roommate. I told him that I had a roommate and that my roommate was a big black man. Then this fool grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I pushed him off of me and ran into the building. The first thing that I did when I got upstairs was try to figure out where I could buy some mace.
The other thing that would keep from staying in Vegas long term is that there isn’t anywhere for me to get my hair done. Every hair place that I’ve gone thus far usually tells me that I have to go somewhere else because they “do not do black hair”. It reminded me of all the stories before the 60s’ that I’ve heard. They might as well put signs on the door that say NO BLACKS ALLOWED. The salons I’ve tried to get my hair done at have a mix of black, white, and latino hairdressers so I do not understand why they will not do black hair…and it’s not like I live in the suburban part of Vegas…I live in the center of the city.
I did find a salon that offered to do my hair….but the problem was not that they would not do it, the problem was that they could not do it. I figured that since all the hairdressers in there were gay, they probably knew what they were doing. By time the creepy, gay white hairdresser finished my hair, it looked like I had a birds nest sitting on top of my head. I looked at him like “there is no way I can go outside looking like this”. Thankfully for me…and even more importantly, thankfully for him (because I was really pissed)…the gay, black guy just happened to walk in and he was able to rectify the situation and hook me up.
The gay white guy was really nice but he was soooo creepy. He kept repeating after himself and every thing he repeated he would whisper. For instance he would say something like “OMG, your hair is soooo beautiful”. Then he would whisper consecutively after that “so beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful”. He did that with practically everything he said.
Vegas is definitely a creep fest.
Personal Life:
1) Friends
2) Love Life
I am however beginning to feel more settled. There is so much more that I want to do in my life and I’m reaching the point when those things are becoming more feasible for me to do. The problem is that I want to be able to do them with someone or people that I truly care about…and not just random people who just happen to be around me at the moment. I’m not trying to be cocky or anything…but on the real, I’m a hard act to follow so it’s been hard for me to really find people who are on my level who are not over the age of 35. There are things that I am capable of doing now that I have yet to do simply because I have to find anybody that I really want to do those things with.
3) Family
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