Las Vegas Deals

How To Cure Gambling Addiction

2009-01-03T23:20:00.001-08:00

First we have to know what is addiction. It is a big issue in present era and most of people are suffering from it. An addiction is nothing but only a psychological craze or dependence towards anything specially any activity. Addiction occurs when someone fails his or her control and continuously by any mean that activity is making some harmful effect to him or her. Accordingly it can take place in anything like drugs, alcohols, food, and sex and when it comes to gambling field; it becomes really a serious issue among the gamblers.

Unlike any other type of addiction this addiction is hard to identify. But generally it is seen when a person experiences win in several gambling and accordingly feels that they cant control their deep impulses to gamble and they can make a nice deal and gain more and more money through that type of activity without facing any trouble, that mainly play role in making addiction towards gambling field. Gambling addiction makes the gambler so impulsive that they can't give any single thought to be involved again in this activity and in the winning stage the gamblers become so excited with their earnings that they don't want to quit gambling by any mean. With that they feel their increasing intensity to gambling field. Even sometimes it is found that they are deterred by recurrent losses as they think that they can win again and get their money back. The addicted gamblers forget to think although it is a form of harmless entertainment and fun yet that can become a devastating illness too and can affect them negatively. It can lead the players very badly to big financial problems (when they start to borrow huge amount of money), mental restlessness, relationship stress and many other activities related to their lives.

Thus a recreational sport gambling turns out to be a denting experience to any gambler when he gets addicted to this betting field. Like winning phase and losing (as discussed above) there is also desperation stage which can lead a gambler to get addicted horribly. Keeping hope in mind that they can earn more and more through this betting process and eliminate their losses which they may even face on every alternative day of their playing they become mentally fatigued. Unmanageable state of their increasing debts makes them desperate to face gambling every day. Desperately the gamblers are found engaging in illegal activities to finance their gambling. They may suffer badly by hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, even arrest, divorce and any other drug exploitation. That surely leads to a complete breakdown of an addicted gambler.

Although gambling addiction cannot be identified so easily, there are some signs which can denote that addiction a little bit. That includes constant discussion about gambling, making gambling plan, gambling at any odd time, getting into a long debt circle, giving priority to only gambling not even to personal life and responsibilities and feeing the need to gamble to wipe off any practical issue or stress. It is only a concept but deliberately the sign of addiction is not confined among such behaviors only. There may be many other signs which assign gambling addiction.

There are some treatment programs also for the addicted gamblers. The therapies and medication are supposed to be the most successful way to be cured from this addiction. Counseling with various support groups can also help to remove this type of addiction. But above everything for successful result in this treatment firstly it is required that the addicted person has to admit that he or she is facing restlessness with such type of activity and is feeling to give it up as soon as possible, unless and until the recovery process will not go make any further step.

Rick's Cabaret Las Vegas Press Party

2008-10-21T15:12:00.001-07:00

The press party will kick off the official grand opening of Rick's Cabaret Las Vegas. Cocktails will be served. Girls Available for Pics And Interviews

The grand opening celebration continues through the weekend, with parties Friday and Saturday night hosted by Howard Stern Show producer and on-air personality Gary Dell'Abate and Ronnie the Limo Driver, AKA "Ricky Man." "Howard TV" will film the crowning of the new "Miss Howard TV." Also, there will be 500 Rick's Showgirls, plus topless aerial acrobatic performances.

Time: Wednesday Oct. 22nd, 8pm
Place: Rick's Cabaret Las Vegas
3355 S. Procyon St. (by Desert Inn Road)

Las Vegas Entertainment News - Grand Opening of Rick's Cabaret Las Vegas

2008-10-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

Rick's Cabaret Las Vegas will officially open Wednesday Oct. 22nd through Saturday Oct. 25th. The parties Friday and Saturday night will be hosted by Howard Stern Show producer and on-air personality Gary Dell'Abate and Ronnie the Limo Driver, aka "Ricky Man." "Howard TV" will film the crowning of the new "Miss Howard TV." Also, there will be 500 Rick's Showgirls, plus topless aerial acrobatic performances.

Rick's Cabaret Vegas is a lavish 30,000 square foot gentlemen's club that resembles a palace. It was purchased from Scores Las Vegas. The nightclub is located just off the Las Vegas Strip at Desert Inn Road and Procyon Street. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is the official home for the Rick's Cabaret Vegas Opening Week.

See also, Las Vegas entertainment, Las Vegas Clubs

How Much Are Strippers In Vegas

2008-10-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

After my recent post How Much Do Hookers Cost In Vegas that has become widely popular I decided to find out how much exactly strippers are in Las Vegas. I am not talking about those strippers that hire minimum wage workers to pass out fliers on a side of the roan on Las Vegas Boulevard. I am talking about the real Las Vegas strip clubs such as Crazy Horse. So how much is it to have a stripper dance for you?

Cover charge to get in is $50

Dance is going to cost you $40 for one song on the floor
If you want a private, AKA “back room” it’s going to cost you $100 for three songs. You must order at least two drinks, one for yourself and one for the stripper. She will dance topless, but not fully nude. And no, you can’t touch.

The most expensive option is the so called Champaign room which is going to cost you $300 and for the same number of songs the stripper will get fully nude.

If this is a little steep for you, go to Miami where you can get in for only $20 cover charge and have a stripper dance for you for $40 for two songs. You will still be on the main floor but you will be in a separate booth.

Want cheaper? Buffalo, NY has strip clubs where you can get in for $10-$20 and have a stripper for the duration of two songs in the back room for only forty bucks.

Excalibur Hotel Deals November and December 2008

2008-10-16T17:23:00.001-07:00

Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas is pleased to offer its club members a special deal this holiday season. Stay at Excalibur Hotel November and December 2008 for three nights minimum and you get your third night at only a dollar. Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it? What do you need to qualify?

First, you have to be a Players Club member. Secondly, you have to use a special promotional code that is included in your e-mail that you receive from Excalibur Hotel host. That’s all. Enjoy your stay at Excalibur Hotel this November and December.

See their pricing schedule as of the day of this post.

See Also: Excalibur Hotel, Las Vegas Hotels, Las Vegas Hotel Deals

How Much Do Hookers In Las Vegas Cost?

2008-10-09T10:54:00.001-07:00

Hookers in Las Vegas can be found at any reputable hotel. If you are looking to get a hooker in Las Vegas, your best bet is to look at restaurants and bars, and not in clubs. Hookers like to hang out at Las Vegas bars and casinos looking for clients rather than sitting by the phone. Although there are multiple free hooker directories that you can find at in free Las Vegas magazines specifically designed for hooker ads, you would much rather benefit from show and tell by going to a bar or a restaurant that has a bar. Where can I get a hooker? What are specific names of bars in Las Vegas that have high density of hookers? I personally have seen many hookers at Centrifuge at MGM Grand. There are also some at Japonais restaurant and lounge at the Mirage, as well as other places.

But that’s not just that. I have heard from people that toward the morning, when most players have gone to sleep, hookers like to walk around casinos looking for lonely players. Hookers aren’t shy to come up to players and offer their services.

How much does a hooker cost in Las Vegas? I have spoken to some hookers while in Las Vegas and from what they told me, their asking price is $500 an hour at the beginning of the night. By the end of the night and closer to the morning time the price drops to $250-$300. When a hooker gets her first client, it is usually early into the night, so when she makes her second round, there aren’t many people left and she’ll drop the asking price especially because she’s already made her daily quote.

Another thing you may want to know is that even though prostitution is legal in Nevada, and in Las Vegas in particular, hookers are not allowed to carry more than three condoms in their hand bags. If you are looking to get a hooker in Las Vegas, it might be a good idea to bring your own.

Reportedly, hookers make on average $160,000 - $180,000 in Las Vegas. Although it may seem like a lucrative enterprise, prostitution is a risky endeavor. There is always a risk of diseases and the danger from not knowing who the client is. Hookers in Las Vegas are required to register with authorities and undergo through regular STD checkups.

Special Offer From MGM Grand

2008-10-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas has extended a new special discount offer to its visitors this month. The discount offer says:

Book by October 27, 2008. The 25% off hotel bill excludes room and tax. Guests will charge to the room and the 25% discount (only up to $50 credit per day) will be applied upon check-out. Discount may be applied to dining, entertainment, spa, and retail. Discount is not valid at Farmer's Market fast food outlets. A 20% service fee will be applied to all spa services and upgrades. Guests must be at least 18 years of age to utilize spa and receive services. Suites and suite bed type are based on availability upon check-in. We are unable to guarantee specific room types and locations; however a sincere effort will be made to accommodate your needs. Rates are subject to change and restricted dates apply. Not available for existing reservations. This promotion is non-transferable, subject to availability, may not be combined with any other MGM Grand promotion and is not available to groups or persons attending meetings or conventions or over certain blacked-out dates. All prices are subject to tax and/or handling fee and based on double occupancy on a per-stay basis. MGM Grand reserves the right to cancel or modify this promotion at its discretion and without prior notice.

MGM Grand reserves the right to cancel or modify this promotion at its discretion and without prior notice.

I believe this special offer is available to MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Players Club members.

Places To Meet Wealthy Men In Las Vegas

2008-10-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Since I wrote Meet Rich Men In Vegas, a lot of women have been asking me, what are the names of local lounges to meet wealthy men, the specific places to meet rich men in Vegas, where do rich men hang out on Vegas, and what are the best places to meet rich men in Vegas?

Well, Las Vegas caters to rich people. Pretty much anywhere you go on the strip you will find rich men hanging out at casinos, night clubs, bars, restaurants, poker rooms, VIP hotel rooms and luxury designer stores in Las Vegas.

You don’t need to stay at a nice expensive hotel to meet rich men. Some men who are well off still prefer to stay at an older hotel on the strip. By the same token, if a man is staying at The Bellagio or Mandalay Bay, that does not guarantee that he is rich.

VIP rooms cater to high rollers, people who play a lot and come to Vegas a lot. You can easily meet rich men in VIP rooms if you have a way to get in. If you are not allowed to a VIP room, you can still hang out at a bar nearby checking out rich men who come in and out the VIP room. Meeting men in Vegas is easy. All you need to do if be friendly and receptive when a man approaches you. Be flirtatious. Be nice and kind. And rich men will be happy to take you out and about and show you a good time.

Some women ask, where can I meet wealthy older men in Vegas? You probably won’t meet many rich men playing slot machines. In addition, you are facing a cut throat competition from all the old ladies playing penny slots. Go to card tables or craps tables. That’s where rich men hang out. The higher the bets, the riches the men who play at those tables.

Some men are intimidated by beautiful women. But if you spot a rich men you want to meet, it is easy to strike a conversation. If he is looking at you, look back at him flirtatiously and start an innocent conversation. He’ll buy you a drink usually if you are at a bar or a restaurant and you’ll go from there. If you want to know how to meet rich men online, on a dating site, check out How To Meet Rich Men To Date

Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas

2008-10-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

Mandalay Bay Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard is one of the nicer hotels on the Strip. Last time I stayed at Mandalay Bay, our room and means were compted. Giving away free rooms is a common practice of hotel owners in Las Vegas. If you are a high roller, a free room is almost guaranteed. Usually a casino host reviews record of play of the hotel visitors and invites them back by promising to give the guest a complimentary room.

If you are not a high roller, you can get discounted rates on Las Vegas hotel room if you have club membership. You can sign up for a casino club membership at every hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

This month Mandalay Bay is offering its visitors a special package, which includes one free night when booking two nights at a rate starting at $99. Here is what the package includes:

Stay at Mandalay Bay for two nights on select dates between November 23 to January 4,
2009, and get your third night free
Fly Back Free Certificate ($350 value)
2-for-1 Admission to MAMMA MIA!
$300 Savings Certificates to Mandalay Place

Not a bad deal if you ask me, but it could be better.

Las Vegas Wedding Photographer

2008-10-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

If you are getting married in Las Vegas, as a part of your wedding preparation you will need to find a good wedding photographer in Las Vegas. Sure, you can opt for a cheap wedding photographer, but before you do so, read this article that explains how to chose a wedding photographer for your Las Vegas wedding as well as the downsides of hiring a cheap photographer to photograph your wedding in Las Vegas. Read this article before you decide on a choice of your Las Vegas Wedding Photographer. This article is a courtesy of a professional Las Vegas wedding photographer, whom you can contact from this page if you are interested in getting more information and pricing for your Las Vegas wedding photography package.

You can get married, photographed and videotaped during your ceremony at a Wedding Chapel on the Strip cheaper than anywhere else on the planet.

But what if you want something special?

Something for all your friends and family?

A big Las Vegas wedding.

You’ll need to bring in professionals to photograph and videotape your…

“Once in a Lifetime Experience.”

LET’S TALK WEDDINGS AND LAS VEGAS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS.

HERE IS A LIST OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIRE.
IS THE PHOTOGRAPHER YOU HIRED THE ONE WHO PLACED THE ADVERTISMENT?

There are a lot of companies that post very beautiful ads in magazines for wedding photographers. What you see is not what you get. If you look in Craigs list you’ll see these companies hiring Las Vegas wedding photographers to work for 20 dollars an hour. What you get is an inexperienced part time student who wants to shoot weddings. Not all companies are doing this but you need to make sure the company you contract is not one of these. These companies will bill you thousands of dollars. You think your getting the best because of the price tag and all the pretty literature or their great looking website.
Don’t be fooled.

I am shocked when I talk to people who are still waiting for their photos a year after the wedding…Some people never get any photos even though they paid in full in advance.

And the wedding photos other couples do get are a huge disappointment. Out of the hundreds taken they find that they don’t like any of them. And it’s too late to do anything about it.

Have you seen beautiful brides and grooms in magazines advertising the photographers wedding photos?

Here’s a reality check…Those are professional models wearing wedding dresses and tuxes spending the entire day taking posed photos at exotic locations. Those are usually not samples of their real work from weddings they have photographed. But they are a good place to see what type of poses you might like to copy for your photos…Of course you won’t have the same backgrounds but they can be added later with Photoshop if you like. By the way that one photo in the magazine cost more than your paying your photographer to photograph your wedding.

Let’s talk cameras…What type is your photographer using? Mega pixels mean nothing anymore. It’s the camera sensor that creates the picture.

You can buy a cheap camera with a lot of mega pixels that takes great photos as long as you don’t try to enlarge them bigger than 5” x 7” larger than that and you lose detail, color, and see digital noise.

I use a Nikon D2Xs…It’s a 12.4 mega pixel camera. 4288 x 2848 pixels. The best camera Nikon made when I bought it. 5,000 dollars was the retail price. Add a 300.00 SB 800 flash and a 300x speed memory card. The memory card is important with digital cameras. If you have a slow card you can take a high-resolution photo and not be able to take a second photo until the buffer downloads onto the card and frees up the memory space in the camera so you can take another picture. I can take them as fast as I can push the button with my 300x card in JPEG FINE. I can also enlarge those photos to poster size with no loss of quality.

The next step up would be a medium format digital camera that runs about 30,000 dollars and is great if you need to shoot small billboards or work for an agency and need very high-resolution proofs for a magazine layout.

Do even think about having your wedding shot with a film camera. Why take the risk of a camera problem and finding out when the film comes back in 2 weeks. With digital you can see the results immediately. And if you to turn your film photo into a digital file…High resolution scanning can cost 25 dollars or more for each one scanned. So, it’s cost effective to shoot digital when your shooting hundreds of wedding photos..

Las Vegas Wedding Photographers with slow cameras can take a picture of the bride and groom right before the kiss and while they wait for the camera to download they miss the shot

Some digital photographers in the past before the faster memory cards existed had to use two cameras so when their buffer or memory card is full on one camera and they are waiting they can use the second camera to take photos with.

So, is your photographer using a cheap and inexpensive digital camera to take your photos with?
Does he know how to operate it and is it set-up properly?

A film camera is easy to shoot with. Turn it on, put the little black line in the middle of the meter and take the picture. A digital cameras set-up menu can have over 300 settings. You’ll know right away when looking at your photos if the camera had the white balance set right…Are the flesh tones accurate? Is the exposure correct, not washed out, not dark in every picture? Do they know how to use a flash and set it properly for perfectly exposed pictures?

Do you see red eye in every photo? You shouldn’t…There is a pre -shot setting on the menu of most professional cameras that when used closes the iris of the people being photographed to eliminate the red eye effect. The red eye is actually the blood vessels in the eyes pupil. The pre-flash closes the iris to eliminate the red from being seen by the camera. I don’t even want to scare you with what it would cost to retouch ever picture.

Are there any spots in your photos? That would be dust on the sensor plate. I’ve heard stories like…In an outdoor photo a couple saw their photo and a UFO over their shoulder in the sky….Sorry, digital dust on the sensor plate not an invasion…When photographers change their lenses with their cameras on the plate attracts dust onto it’s surface. A little speck can become a mole on your face you don’t have.

One photographer told me he had a professional clean his camera. There was no dust left but he did see a hair in every picture he took. He took over 1,000 photos that needed to be photoshopped to remove the hair the camera tech. left in his camera after he cleaned it. I’ve always have cleaned my own cameras sensor and take a dozen test shots to make sure that it’s as clean as the day I bought the camera.

Does the photographer present a good image, hair neat, dressed sharp, polite?

How many photographers does a wedding really need?

I’ve shot photos and videotaped at the same time for weddings that didn’t have the funds for two people.

It can be done but you really need 2 photographers in the church. One in front and one in back. At the reception it’s nice to have one photographer shooting pictures while the other photographer shoots candid.

The second photographer also allows the free time for the videotaping to be done. So, it really takes 3 people. 2 photographers and one video cameraman without a soundman using a wireless hand mic and a shotgun mic on the camera.

If you want one person to do everything don’t complain if he misses something…You can’t be in 2 places at the same time.

Have you seen your photographers work? Not the agency he works if you’re dealing with a company. But the actual person who will be at your wedding?

Have you talked with his former clients? I would recommend it.

How fast is turnaround for the photos? I give the client every photo I took on a DVD-R disc the same day of the wedding at the end of the evening. They leave with the security of knowing they have all their photos in their possession.

I also include an edited disc later including cropping, soft blur effect, digital noise reduction to remove wrinkles, light retouching for blemishes etc. and send the disc to the client within 72 hours. This is the disc they make prints from.

What about the photographer you pick…

Will he arrive in time? Professionals arrive at least 1-2 hours before the wedding. Traffic delays due to back-ups and accidents on the highway, flat tires, on the way to the wedding are real risks that can make them late. A few weddings ago the bride was over 2 hours late…A car flipped over in the opposite side of the highway onto the side she was driving down and they stopped traffic. She was stuck with nowhere to go and waited with everyone else for the highway to become open again.

Is the photographer you’ve hired going to send you thumbnails of the photos they took and then charge you extra for every photo you want?

The photographers I am talking about do not give you all the photos…They offer a package price with a limited number of photos and prints…They keep the disc and the photo files to make prints from and you have to buy your pictures from them. They will give you prints which they mark up in price…They will offer you a wedding album…Again at a mark-up.
Their prices seem competitive until you add up all the extras and it works out to be more money spent than what you paid to have them photograph the wedding.

I don’t provide albums…There are people who do nothing but create beautiful albums for you. It’s their profession and they do excellent work. You wouldn’t hire them to take your pictures…Why ask your photographer to create your album for you then? You can also do it yourself if you own a Mac…iPhoto does a wonderful job for those on a budget making hardcover books you design. Just buy a beautiful cover with a slip jacket to put your album in.

What about prints. If you do it yourself there are companies on-line like Adorama that do very professional photo enlargements and have very good price specials for prints and enlargements throughout the year. Don’t ever take a high-resolution photo to be printed or enlarged to Walgreen’s or Wal-Mart type stores. They don’t have the professional scanners. Printers, quality paper and inks you need to have a professional quality print made for framing. These companies mentioned above are good for taking your little home camera with photos of your kids and friends playing in the backyard and having 5 x 7 prints made.

To have your photos printed via the Internet…
You set-up an account, send them the digital files and your prints come in the mail in any size up to poster size. You have many options in regards to paper quality. Gloss, Semi Gloss, Luster, Matt etc.

Does your photographer post your photos on a website?

I post all the best photos I take on a site that the Bride and Groom can send a link to everyone so that they can see the photos within 72 hours. They can download the photos onto their desktop and make prints with their color printers.

It takes me about 20 hours after the wedding to edit f about 800 photos…I convert some of the photos to black and white, boost color on some, crop all of them, ad a soft blur to others. I take a 3 second 3 shot burst photo of everyone in group photograph to make sure everyone is looking at the camera, eyes open and smiling. If I have 2 good photos in the group, one gets converted to black and one is color. If one person is smiling and the other two people have their eyes closed I crop them out and keep the photo of the person smiling rather than delete the photo.

How much does a wedding cost to photograph? It’s determined by the time of year. June weddings are a premium fee. Everybody wants you…
The size of the wedding…I can take up to 600-800 photos for a wedding of 75 people.
That’s taking photos almost non-stop except for dinner. People don’t photograph well with food in their mouths when they smile. So everyone takes a break. Travel time, expenses for an overnight depending on location and distance figure into the rate. Large weddings of 100 people or more require a second photographer.

Let’s talk Video now.

Videotaping the vows and service is usually a fixed position on tripod. If it’s in a church they don’t want you moving around upstaging the ceremony. After the service the camera needs to be outside to shoot the congratulations, hugs and kisses. A second camera is needed if you want the exit from the alter down the center aisle videotaped.

You can’t get from the front of the church to the back without running to get ahead of the bride and groom. It is much mire civilized if the second camera is already there and waiting. The music is also usually in the choir loft. The second camera position is usually there recording the sound and getting a wide high shot of the church. Of course if you get married on a beach, one camera is fine.

At the reception…I give a member of the bridal party a wireless handheld newscasters mic and we go around from outdoors, indoors, to the tables and dance floor getting best wishes from all the guests and family for the Bride and Groom. That takes about 90 minutes of tape. Each sound bite is from 30 seconds to as long as 3 minutes depending on how much liquor the guest has had…LOL
We also videotape the toasts, the first dance, more dancing, the garter and bouquet toss, cutting of the cake etc.

Editing the video…

Again, there are professionals that specialize in wedding tapes. Not all video cameramen are editors…But professional cameramen have been editors and know what the editors need to edit a great tape with and provide them with all the shots and cutaways necessary.

Editing costs can be inexpensive for cuts only editing to very expensive when you add photomontages, special effects, music and narration. It can start as a wedding tape and end as a movie depending on how much time and money you want to spend. The Groom and Bride can have input into the creative process and be there as the tape is edited vs. having it done and then not being happy with the final product. I make a DVD of all the tape shot that the happy couple can watch at home in the unedited format. They then know what they want and don’t want and save time and money by pre-screening the tape at home. I ran an ad on craigslist once for an editor. You view their demos on-line, consider what they charge per hour and pick 1 out of 20 that live in your area to work with. My associate is an editor. He is very expensive because he’s one of the best for special effects. He worked for an advertising agency all his life and has a very impressive website with all his work. If you wanted to put your wedding on TV as a reality show I would recommend working with Ron…But if you want cuts only, assembled video of the entire event…Any student with Final Cut Pro software on his computer could do the editing. It’s just programming in and out points…You want to add titles and graphics. No problem…The software does everything. Add music from the wedding, add the wedding photos in a montage at the beginning and your done. That’s a simple edit using the existing material you have.

If you want to do layering, putting multiple images over one another…A special effect created from scratch with graphics….A professional narration track…Adding music not recorded at your wedding…This takes time and adds to the cost.
Rates are either hourly for weddings or you negotiate a flat rate with the editor to do everything you want for a fixed price. Get plenty of copies and keep the original tapes. Copies are inexpensive on DVD discs
You can have DV, HD and BLUE-RAY copies made.
They don’t wear out like tape.

Cameras…

Video cameras used in the broadcast industry have always been handheld, shoulder operated. The new cameras used at weddings are point and shoot cameras held in front of their operators while they either look through a small eyepiece in the back or they use a flip out LCD monitor on the side of the camera. They have to operate these little consumer cameras on full auto in most cases including focus. It is not possible to manual iris and focus these cameras at the same time as you can do with a professional broadcast camera on your shoulder with professional lenses.

I’ve been working with broadcast quality 50,000-dollar cameras all my life. The new HD cameras cost 90,000 dollars. So, when I operate one of the Canon, Panasonic or Sony Handy cams I know the difference and the cameras limitations.

I bought a JVC GY-HD 100 minicam that is a smaller, lighter version of the cameras I use to shoot news with to shoot weddings with.
It has identical controls for camera operation in the same locations. Being able to know where all the switches and buttons are make the difference between operating a camera quickly vs. having to stop what your doing, turn the camera sideways and try and find the switch you just pushed by mistake that is making all your video blue. This was the problem I had with the handy cams…They are not user friendly nor would any professional cameraman given a choice between a professional shoulder mounted camera and the handy cam choice the latter.
Keep that in mind when you pick a cameraman. What kind of camera he is using to shoot your wedding video with.

Although if you have limited funds for a videographer you won’t have much choice. The smaller handy cams operators are cheaper to hire.

The difference will be obvious when you see the quality of the camera work if and when the operator goes handheld.

As I have mentioned…I only use a broadcast shoulder mounted camera. My pictures are always properly exposed and in focus. I also have a Professional light on the camera. No light on a handy cam camera means dark pictures, faded colors and soft out of focus shots. The pictures taken by handy cams are fine outdoors, on a tripod but when used indoors, handheld trying to follow the action from a distance in lowlight you’ll see how the saying “You get what you pay for” applies when you view the grainy video and shaky video. Although it will be steady if they turn on the motion stabilizer if their camera has one.

The biggest problem with the handy cams is the auto focus. It picks the closet object and that’s what it will focus on. You’ll see the camera “Pumping,” Picking different objects to focus on and then going in and out of focus as it searches in the auto mode. If your cameraman is any good he’ll have that off and will attempt to manually operate the camera.

HD VIDEO…

What’s better? DV or HDV? HDV is either 1080i or 720P both look the same when played back on a large screen TV. DV came before HDV. HDV is more than half the quality in picture detail than DV…You want to shoot in HD/HDV. You can always convert down to DV but you cannot shoot in DV and go up to HD. And since everything is being shot and now being shown nowadays in HD Video…10 years from now you’ll want to watch your wedding on your large screen wall TV in the best quality which is HD even if you don’t own a set today…You will someday.

PAYMENT AND FEES

Payment in full should be paid when you receive all your photos on disc and your videotapes, not before.

Most wedding photography companies ask for a partial payment before the wedding and make you sign a contract with a cancellation clause that usually requires a 10% penalty if you cancel.

If my client wanted a steadicam, a second video camera, lighting brought in, backgrounds, extra people…I would require those expenses paid upfront. Anything that I would have to pay out of pocket I would pass on to the client.

If they just want photos…I never ask for anything until I let them view some of the photos taken on my 17” laptop at the reception, they approve and then receive all their images.

Let me add one more thing. I know that there are some great wedding photographers and video cameramen in the wedding business. But what I’ve been writing doesn’t apply to them. It applies to those who are in every profession. People who take an unfair advantage of others by providing inferior services and charging a premium to the client and fail to deliver what they promised. Hopefully what I have written makes your future selection of who takes your video and photos a little easier.

The one reason wedding photographers should be paid a premium for their work is the stress involved with the job. If the camera has a problem during the wedding vows, you need to change batteries etc. You can’t yell out “Wait a minute…Time out.” You only get one chance and everything has to be done right the first time.

Professionals spend money on buying the best and most reliable equipment to provide the highest quality images for their clients.

You have to be on time and ready to go, nothing can go wrong, your pictures have to be perfect…This is the most important day in your clients life and there are no excuses for less than a 100% success rate.

That causes stress you don’t have charging 100 per hour shooting headshots for portfolios.

I see ads on Craigslist where people want to pay only 300 dollars to have their wedding photos taken. They won’t find a professional to take the job but somebody does. These are the people who complain they don’t like any of their pictures. Well, it’s to late to hire a high priced professional and they have to live with their mistake for the rest of their lives…Well not really, I get calls from people who learned the hard way. They want to get dressed up a year later in their tux and gown and retake their wedding photos because they have nothing to show to their friends and families.

The other group are those who never saw their photographer again or their photos.

So, if you need peace of mind and would like a photojournalist style of wedding photography… It’s a 4-hour drive for me.

I am available to come to Las Vegas and be your photographer and or cameraman if I am not shooting a Network News story or working for a Magazine Show.

I like shooting weddings… About the same stress as shooting a breaking news story…Something I’ve been used to doing for over 20 years.

You can reach me at…
contactjimmy@mac.com

Article and photos by guest author Jimmy Meyer, a Las Vegas Wedding Photographer

Sample Portfolio Here and Videos

Las Vegas Lawyers

2008-09-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas Lawyers, Las Vegas DUI Lawyers, Business and Incorporation Lawyers and Divorce Lawyers are known as a large segment of the business thriving in Las Vegas, known as a sin city. With the favorable business climate in Las Vegas no wonder that many lawyers have found a great niche for doing their business incorporating companies desiring to establish their corporate nest in Las Vegas.

Divorce Attorneys are another profitable niche in Las Vegas. With the growing number of wedding ceremonies conducted in Las Vegas, divorce lawyers have much to do. If you drive around Las Vegas, you will notice multiple offices that have a sign “Divorce Attorney” on the door. Interestingly enough, the divorce lawyers’ offices could be found in close proximity to the wedding chapels. Perhaps people who decide to get married on a fly, like Britney Spears, and realizing what they’ve done in the morning, waking up from the drunken haze, hurry into the office of a divorce attorney to get their marriage annulled.

Drunk driving is another problem that’s common in Las Vegas more so than anywhere else. With the increasing number of visitors coming to Las Vegas, no wonder that the number of DUI attorneys has increased over the years.

Last, but not lease, personal injury attorneys, including attorneys specializing in mesothelioma cases are another profitable area of the law where Las Vegas attorneys found their niche.

How To Win Money in Las Vegas

2008-09-01T01:12:00.000-07:00

If you are a high roller who doesn’t care much about the money you can potentially lose playing craps in Las Vegas, you don’t need to read this post. This post is more for players who want to learn how to play craps and not lose your shirt while doing that. On my last weekend’s trip to Las Vegas I learned how to play craps on the house money and bring home some fat winnings.

I and my boyfriend stayed at the Mandalay Bay. In case you don’t know, Mandalay Bay is one of the MGM Grand & Mirage Hotel chains in Las Vegas and one of the nicer ones. My boyfriend was comped a room for two nights and free show tickets with some amazing seats. When I say “comped” what I mean is that the room and the show tickets were complimentary from the hotel hosts (people who give away freebies to high rollers). So, in order to justify Mandalay Bay’s free invitation we had to play a certain amount of time so that they would keep inviting us (well, actually him, cause I am not a high roller).
Playing craps is a tricky proposition unless you really know what you are doing, and from what I know, my boyfriend usually brings some winnings home. This time he taught me his system, but first let me tell you how I play.

Usually I put a bet on the pass line until a number comes up. As long as there is a seven or eleven you just get paid on the pass line, but once someone rolls a number, that number has to be repeated in order for the pass line bet to win. Say, someone rolls a four, thus the shooter has to repeat the four. I usually place bets on each number, such as four, five, six, eight, nine and ten and keep collecting winnings until seven comes up. Sometimes I turn off my bets, meaning my bets are not playing. You can turn off any bet except for the pass line bet, in which case once seven comes up, you don’t lose your bets other than the pass line bet.

But what my boyfriend taught me was that you actually get paid less on numbers such as four and ten, because when those numbers come in, the casino takes a higher percentage from the winnings. The best bets in the house are six and eight. Even though they don’t pay as much and you have to bet higher, the casino does not take as high percentage from each pay off when those numbers come in. So, even though the four and the ten pay higher odds, you are actually getting ripped off by the casino.

The best payout on those numbers is when one of them comes up on a pass line. Then double your bet behind the pass line even though the probability of those numbers is not as high.

Another great way to play a long time, chill and get your player points up is to play video poker. There are a number of video poker machines as well as poker bars. Video poker bars are regular bars where you can sit down and have a drink, with the addition of video poker machines embedded into the bar. The benefit of playing at a video poker bar is that you can get drinks as fast as you want them without waiting for a waitress to come around. And of course if you play, the drinks are comped (meaning they are free on the house). Video poker is a slow game and you don’t lose nearly as fast as you would, playing a fast-paced slot machine. It’s a great place to sit down, chat with other people at the bar and just chill without losing too much money.

Meet Rich Men in Vegas

2008-08-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

Meeting rich men to date could be done through various channels, but this tip on where to meet rich men to date was given to me in a forum discussion after I posted my article Where can I meet a wealthy man to date? The premise is basically go to a casino, preferably to a private room or a private night club and meet many wealthy men there.

To elaborate on that, one can meet a rich man at places such as Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, The Wynn in Las Vegas and many other fine hotels and restaurants in Las Vegas. This is I and my girlfriend on the pictures at the Wynn in Las Vegas last summer. Boy, did we not meet lots of rich men on our trip!

Then again, the drawback is that the men you will be meeting are scattered all over the world. Las Vegas tends to attract people that live in all the remote parts of the world, in addition to “the locals”, such as neighboring states’ residents. I consider myself to be a local, since I am only an hour away by plane from Las Vegas.

Of course, you can meet rich men pretty much anywhere in Las Vegas. You can meet them at a roulette table, a craps table (preferably high limit craps table), a poker room and anywhere in between. If you don’t like to gamble, there are other places to meet men in Las Vegas, such as a variety of dance clubs, or even a VIP room. To get into the VIP room, you have to either be a high roller or make something up, because normally VIP rooms are reserved for high roller guests. High rollers usually have a host who takes care of all of their needs and makes sure they lose all their cash before they leave Las Vegas. On my last trip to Las Vegas I stayed at the Bellagio for two days and then moved to the Mirage for another two days. I like diversity and while I love the Bellagio, I prefer the geographical location of the Mirage.

During my stay at the Mirage I met a nice middle-age couple from Florida who invited me to a convention that was going on in Las Vegas at the time. We met at the VIP lounge in the morning and spent some time hanging out at the convention at the Venetian.

As far as meeting rich men in Las Vegas goes, as for me, the answer is the men I met in Las Vegas were usually the ones I had previously met online via millionairematch whom I set up a date with at various places in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a great place to meet people for the first date, since there is so much to do in Las Vegas that if you and the guy just don’t hit it off, the evening is not spoiled. You and the guy can just go separate ways and still have fun each on his own.

Planning a wedding in Las Vegas

2008-07-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

Amongst numerous Las Vegas attractions, there are two things Las Vegas is known for everywhere in the world. Las Vegas casinos along the numerous wedding chapels are the two things that make Las Vegas famous.

Planning your wedding in Las Vegas you have nothing to worry about. Since Las Vegas caters to people desiring to get married fast and hassle-free, Las Vegas has everything already prepared for the perfect wedding ceremony to start your life as a married couple.

Planning a wedding in Las Vegas is so effortlessly that it can be simply a matter of a few hours. The best thing about getting married in Las Vegas is that you will find plenty of help for your wedding event.

If you decide to get married in Las Vegas, there are some things you need to remember. Before anything else, make hotel reservations. Once you have made hotel reservations, then you can start looking to book a chapel. Finding a reasonably priced hotel is Las Vegas depends on the season. If you want to save on your hotel bill, it is advisable to book your hotel room in advance. If you are inviting a large number of guests who you are paying for, it’ll add up quickly.

Another thing to remember when planning a wedding in Las Vegas is try to avoid an outdoor ceremony in the mid-summer to late-summer. I personally attended a wedding reception in Las Vegas in mid-summer two years ago. The temperature during the day soared. It easily stayed over a hundred degrees until late in the day when the sun finally came down.

When planning a wedding in Las Vegas, look into wedding packages provided by numerous local businesses since it is not that difficult to find a great deal that will drastically reduce your costs when planning with care. Get in touch with Las Vegas travel agents who will be helpful in locating a good deal for a wedding package.

PS: Visit Wedding Savings for more tips on how to save thousands on your wedding

Las Vegas Night Clubs and Restaurants

2008-07-27T04:44:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading my Las Vegas blog periodically, you must have noticed that I have not posted in a while. There is so much to write about Las Vegas, the night life, all the gaming and gambling, clubbing and dining, but I really want to give you a glimpse into what it is like in Las Vegas. So here we go. On my trip to Las Vegas this month I tested my brand new video camera and took a couple of test videos while clubbing in Las Vegas.

The first video was taken at the Revolution Lounge at the Mirage Hotel and Casino.

This video here was shot at the Fix Steak House at the Bellagio.

Las Vegas Hotels Go On Sale

2008-07-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Apparently it is the off-season time and I got some great deals on hotel rooms! Bellagio Hotel is now offering to its loyal Player’s Club members huge discounts and I was able to take advantage of this great deal only for $99/night! Additionally, when you stay two nights, Bellagio Player’s Club gives you $75 in free play, meaning once you check in, you go to the Player’s Club desk and their staff loads your Player’s Club account free $75!

Since other hotels as offering discounted rooms as well, I took the liberty to book two nights at the Mirage Las Vegas for only $128.62 in addition to my two nights at the Bellagio for $213. Those great prices include taxes and surcharges. With the $25 in free play that I will be given at the Mirage, my total comes to $341.62 minus the $100 back in free slot play it’s only $241.62 for four nights at two of the best Las Vegas hotels!

Did I mention that Las Vegas offers all kinds of freebies? Don’t forget, if you gamble, you can go back to the Player’s Club desk and ask to load your player’s club card with free buffet coupons, which means free food. And not just some soup kitchen, but great food of a great variety. And if you play at the Bellagio, but eat at a cheaper place such as Monte Carlo, which is only a block over to the South from the Bellagio, anyone can easily get credit for free buffet even when they don’t spend much gambling. This is just because each point earned in the play is valued more at the Bellagio then at other hotels.

I plan on bringing my numerous free night club passes that I have accumulated over time from multiple Las Vegas trips. And, in addition, I still have passes to the Bare Pool Lounge (a fancy topless pool that attracts the hottest single men and women in Vegas) at the Mirage. One thing to remember though – always bring your own bottled water when you go to the Bare Pool. It gets extremely hot and they don’t give you a free glass of water at that pool; you have to either bring your own, or buy a tiny bottle of water for as high as $6.

Dating in Las Vegas

2008-02-09T21:07:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas has been known as a place to get married, not to go on a date. But I personally have gone out on numerous dates while visiting Las Vegas. Usually what I do when I meet someone on an Internet dating site who lives out of state, I notify him that I will be in Las Vegas on a certain date, for a couple of days up to five days and ask if he would be interested in meeting me in Las Vegas.

Meeting a person you have been talking to through an online dating site in Las Vegas is an exciting opportunity to see what the person is really like in more comfortable and relaxed settings. People are usually happy and excited when they come to Las Vegas, not so much when they leave Las Vegas though, so be careful and watch your spendings when you fly out to Las Vegas to meet someone for a date.

Las Vegas has been a great meeting venue for me so far. I have met many interesting and exciting people in Las Vegas, such as entrepreneurs, creative people and even a British diplomat (seriously, at a bar at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino). I have also had many men fly to Las Vegas when I announced I would be there.

So, why is Las Vegas such a great place for a first date, provided that neither of you live in Las Vegas. Well, first of all, you meet in an atmosphere where neither of you feels like he is the host, because you don’t live in Las Vegas, you are visiting. Additionally, you are both at ease, because Las Vegas is just that kind of place that warrants relaxation and predisposition to having fun.

There are many great restaurants, bars, clubs, sightseeing venues, and just so much to do that it’s almost impossible to get bored. The food is great and there is a variety of cuisine that’s hard to find elsewhere.

You can easily get free drinks at any bar that has a video poker machines if you put twenty bucks in the machine. Just watch your spending and do not overspend.

From the standpoint of personal safety, there are few places you can feel safer than in Las Vegas meeting for a first date. Any place you chose as the meeting place of your first date is going to be packed not only with people, but also security guards and surveillance cameras, so you can feel as safe as you possibly could.

Need dating tips for a first date. Check out my blog for some great dating advice.

Las Vegas New Year's Celebration

2007-12-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve celebration is on the way and of course, Las Vegas clubs offer a lot of entertainment for the upcoming celebration. Remember that if you have too much to drink (and who doesn't on a New Year's Eve?), take measures to prevent the unwanted consequences, such as getting a DUI

If you need to get around Las Vegas, it is a good idea to secure a limo. I recommend Presidential Limousine Co. It operates the Worlds largest limousine service, dominating the Las Vegas Limousine market by providing luxury transportation at affordable prices for over 37 years. They have a variety of luxury sedans, limousines, super stretch Lincoln Town Car limousines, Super Stretch Hummer Limousines, Super Stretch Cadillac Escalade’s and Limo Coaches. Passenger capacity from 1 to 20.

Complementary Amenities include:

Bottle of Champagne
Long Stem Rose (for the Ladies)
Bottled Water
Glassware
Ice
Experienced Chauffeurs in full Tuxedo
Full background checks on all chauffeurs

The following Service Types are available:

Airport Transfer with luggage assistance
Weddings
Corporate Outings
Night On the Town
Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties

Las Vegas Clubs and Lounges

2007-12-17T04:56:00.001-08:00

If you are up for dancing while in Las Vegas – great! But before you decide where to go, here are some tips that may help you in making your choice.

Dance clubs in Las Vegas are not cheap. The cover charge almost everywhere starts at twenty dollars per person. Some clubs that are not located inside casinos are free for women, but men still have to pay.

If you are on a budget, you may find attractive the offers of so-called “street marketers”. They usually stand on a road side on Las Vegas Boulevard, where it’s always crowded and offer “free” night club passes to visitors. They have passes for nearly every dance club in Las Vegas. Those are legitimate VIP passes and you can get into the club without any problem if you decide to use the pass. Here is the catch, the street marketer will tell you that he works on “tips”, and that tips are anywhere from ten-fifteen dollars, depending on what club you chose.

Even though it sounds tempting to purchase a club pass at a discount, keep in mind that those passes are available for free at numerous stores that are located at hotels (just look on top of the register), bars (check with the bartender), and sometimes even on the counter by the sink inside bathrooms. So, why pay when you can get them for free?

Also, if you go to a Players Club desk at your favorite hotel, check with a desk employee if they have any drink coupons for those dance clubs. They do not volunteer this information, so you need to ask.

Here are names of some night clubs and bars located on hotel properties.

MGM Grand Hotel

Centrifuge

- Studio 54

- Tabu

- Rouge

Luxor Hotel

- LAX
- RA

Wynn Hotel - Blush - Tryst

Stratosphere Hotel - C bar

Hard Rock Hotel - Body English

Bellagio - Caramel - Fontana Bar and Lounge - Light

New York/New York Hotel - Coyote Bar

Mandalay Bay Hotel - Fleur De Lys - Foundation Room - House of Blues - Moorea Nightclub - Red Square - Rumjungle

Palms - Ghostbar - Playboy Club - Rain - Skin

Mirage

- Jet Nightclub
- The Revolution Lounge

Treasure Island

- Mist
- Tangerine

Caesars Palace

-OPM at the Forum Shops
- Pure
- Shadow Bar

Paris Hotel - Risque

Venetian Hotel - TAO - V Bar

Rio - Voo Doo Lounge

Sightseeing in Las Vegas

2007-12-17T02:51:00.000-08:00

Hoover Dam is one of the man-made wonders. It is situated 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas at the Nevada-Arizona border off US Highway 93. It is a world-renowned monolithic structure located in the middle of the most adversative environment, which was built during the Depression, when thousands of families came to Black Canyon to domesticate the Colorado River. It took nearly five years to build the dam, which was at the time the largest dam.

Now, Hoover Dam is a National Historic attraction. The American Society of Civil Engineers rated Hoover Dam as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.

The most remarkable feature of the dam is that it was constructed in sets or vertical columns of different sizes ranging from 60 square feet at the upstream part of the dam to 25 square feet at the bottom. adjoining columns were secured together by a system of vertical keys and horizontal keys. Placement of concrete in each single block was limited to 5 feet in every three days. When concrete cooled off, cement mixed with water (grout) was put into the spaces in between columns creating a monolithic structure.

If you are visiting Las Vegas, make sure to visit Hoover Dam and also stop by Lake Mead which is on the way from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam. If you are not driving while in Las Vegas, there are tours available for booking. Make sure you bring bottled water on your trip as it gets extremely hot in the desert.

Saving Tips in Las Vegas

2007-12-16T04:46:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas is the world’s playground with lots of exciting sightseeing venues, entertainment, and things to do. If you are planning your very first trip to Las Vegas, there are things that you should know before you go.

Las Vegas hotels, restaurants, shows and clubs are not cheap, but if you know about some tips that can save you money and get freebies, you have an advantage.

- Bring at least one pair of comfortable walking shoes. There are many things to see in Las Vegas, and the majority of the hot spots are located on the Strip – Las Vegas Boulevard. The hotels are far apart, let alone they are so big that walking from one end of a single hotel to the other takes a long time. Of course, there is cab service, but if you want to hop from one hotel to the next, it can eat a lot of your spending budget.

Don't forget to tip the driver. Las Vegas drivers are very protective about their tips and they expect good tips. Some players tip hundred dollar bills after they win big.

There is a bus that runs from the Downtown Las Vegas and Fremont St. all the way to the South end of strip. The fare is $2 for one ride or $5 for all day pass. The bus is a great way to move around Las Vegas, but it gets extremely crowded and if you are not wearing comfortable shoes, even getting on and off the bus gets difficult.

If you get on the bus in the middle of the strip during the day, chances are you will be standing jammed amongst other bus riders. Even though it is a two-story bus, it gets packed all year round.

As an alternative, you may want to check out MonoRail. It is a tram that runs on the back side of the stip. It has only few stops and runs from MGM Grand to Sahara with the following stops

Sahara Station
Las Vegas Hilton Station
Las Vegas Convention Center Station
Harrah's / Imperial Palace Station
Flamingo / Caesars Palace Station
Bally's & Paris Las Vegas Station
MGM Grand Station

MonoRail operates from 7 AM to 2 AM Monday through Thursday and 7 AM to 3 AM Friday through Sunday.

The fare is as follows:

One Ride Ticket $5

Two Ride Ticket $9

6-Ride Party Pack
SPECIAL $20

One Day Pass
SPECIAL $15 $9

Three Day Pass $40

Children 5 and Under Free

- Always carry a small bills on you. You will need them to buy a bus ticket, pay for the cab, tip waitresses and more. Taxi cab drivers sometimes ask you if you have cash for the ride and if you don't, they won't serve you. They decline to acceps credit cards. The bus driver does not carry change, so you need to make sure you have enough to pay the bus fare withough having to break large bills.

If you are driving, you can always park for free at hotels and casinos. Just pull up to the vallet partking stand at any casino and park your car free as long as you want. If you have luggage, you can leave it for as long as you need at the bell desk at any casino, and if you are taking a cab afterwards, the bellman will even get you a cab ahead of the line of other people waiting for a cab as well.

If you are going to a mall, park at the nearest hotel for free and walk to your destination.