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ARTICLE
As the founder and president of the United States Disc Jockey Association, as well as a regular attendee and exhibitor at some of America’s top conferences and expos, Pro Mobile has asked me to share a few reasons to come to America this year.

Whether you’re growing your business through networking or coaching, looking to continue your entrepreneurial education, or simply in need of a good reason to turn a business trip into a family holiday, America has plenty to offer both first-time visitors and frequent trans-Atlantic flyers.

For more than two decades the US has enjoyed the bass-thumping, light-flashing, and haze-shooting excitement of two major conferences: the Mobile Beat Las Vegas DJ conference in Las Vegas, Nevada – recently rebranded under new management as the Mobile Entertainment Expo and co-located with the Photo Booth Expo (20-24th February 2022) – and the DJ Times Magazine DJ Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey – recently rebranded under new management as the DJ Life, DJ Expo (8-11th August 2022).

A recent addition to this list, and growing in popularity for both DJs and photo booth owners, is the Marquee Show (14-16th June 2022) near Chicago, Illinois.

With too many shows to include in just one article, I felt it best to focus on the upcoming Mobile Entertainment Expo (MEX) in Las Vegas and save the other conventions for later Pro Mobile issues.

So, grab your bags and join me for the top 12 things you must do this year while visiting ‘Sin City’ – Las Vegas, Nevada.


1 - BRING THE FAMILY


Despite its seedy, shady nickname, Sin City is a great place to bring your spouse, significant other, or even the entire family. Almost every major hotel or casino in town has a swimming pool (or multiple pools) plus a handful of additional activities to keep under-aged family members occupied. The legal age to drink alcohol or to enter a casino (and also drink alcohol) is 21, but the casino is only part of the fun in Vegas hotels.
There are movie theatres, all-ages shows, nightclubs, bowling alleys, restaurants, shops, video game arcades, amusement park rides, and more on-demand movies, games, and television shows than you can count! There are also a multitude of sporting events, concerts and scenic national parks to explore.

OK, there are some ‘not safe for work’ activities if you’d rather keep it to a fun guys’ or gals’ trip. As they say, “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” – well, for the most part anyway.


2 – ‘SPIN TO WIN’ ON THE SLOTS (BUT NOT SO MUCH IN THE AIRPORT)


Your plane will touch down at Harry Reid International Airport (call sign: LAS), which was renamed in late 2021 for Reid, a former Nevada politician. As soon as you step off the plane, you’ll have your first temptation of many: slot machines! One Arm Bandits, Creator of Lost Wages, Digital Bank Robbers. They go by many names, but just remember that slot machines and table games built the city you’re visiting.

Feel free to try your luck, but if you want my advice, portion your gambling ‘bankroll’ over the entire trip to maximise your fun – and don’t play the slots in the airport, they are notorious for having the worst odds.

Casual gamblers may want to budget $200 per day to add an hour or two of lower stakes gaming to their schedules while sipping free beer or cocktails. However, if you’re looking to do some real gambling (more than my wife’s $20 maximum) stick to the casinos on The Strip or in Downtown Vegas for the best gambling odds.

Oh, and always get a player’s card (see No. 3).

3 – VISIT THE HOTEL CASINOS & GET A PLAYER’S REWARD CARD


Every major hotel on the Vegas Strip has a casino where you can try your luck on slot machines, card games, keno, bingo, or sports gambling. Each major casino chain offers a ‘player’s card’ – it’s essentially a membership reward card that’s also a marketing method to get your contact information and track your gambling wins and losses while in the casino. Having a player’s card is very helpful if you plan to make an annual trip to the Vegas DJ show (or the Atlantic City show in August). While it seems highly invasive, just get the card – you’ll thank me later.

You’ll usually get a decent initial offer, such as a free table-game bet or up to $50-$500 matched free play when you spend/lose that amount, as well as free meals, free parking, etc. My advice is to use your card in the slot machines and spend at least $100 in each casino that you may revisit within the next two years. You’ll be the hotel’s new ‘best friend forever’ – or at least for about 12-18 months – and they’ll send you free room and food offers every month. The more you spend in the casino, the bigger the offers will be to return – high rollers will get free flights, free show and concert tickets, as well as Free Play (free cash to use in the slot machines, which you can’t withdraw unless you win). Both Vegas and Atlantic City feature hotels and casinos operated by MGM and Caesars – the two largest names in US gaming. I would recommend doing the majority of your play at those properties, or at the South Point Casino where MEX will be hosted at least for the next three years. Winter months mean gambling odds are among their best (they tend to be worst when Americans are on holiday).

4 – CATCH A TOP-NOTCH CONCERT


For a DJ and music lover, what a great time to visit Las Vegas; the hotels try to lure casino players to town with some of the world’s best musical talent. Andrea Bocelli, Shania Twain, Luke Bryant, Metallica with Greta Van Fleet, Billy Joel, The Chainsmokers, DJ Pauly D, and DJ Spider will all be in the Las Vegas area during the week of the Mobile Entertainment Expo (20-24th February 2022). Who knows, maybe the ‘Princess of Pop’ Britney Spears will jump back on stage for a few Las Vegas shows. I’m officially starting that rumour now. Do a web search or visit ticketmaster.com for dates, times and availability.

5 – SEE A VEGAS SHOW


Maybe the only thing better than going to a concert is seeing a Vegas show. They are filled with excitement, great music, amazing costumes and special effects. After Broadway in New York, Las Vegas is home to the next largest grouping of shows and artist residencies. Cirque du Soleil produces some of the best acrobatic and mesmerising shows in the area, well worth $75-$150 per ticket. If you prefer comedy, there are dozens of comedy theatres and rooms. Ray Romano and David Spade, two of America’s top comedians and actors, will be in Vegas during the week of MEX.

6 – DJ ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP


Yes, you read that right! The USDJA has partnered with The DJ Sessions (out of Seattle, Washington) to give you the opportunity to be live-streamed whilst DJing in a mobile glass cube studio as it goes up and down the iconic Vegas Strip. Tickets will be on sale in January 2022 and slots will be available for 20-, 40- or 60-minute intervals, running from 20-23rd February.

This is an excellent social media and marketing investment, and a brand-new bucket-list item that will sell out quick. You can take an entire group of DJs, or even pay a low flat fee to ride on the modified party bus from the Expo parking lot. Watch www.usdja.org/vegas for more details soon.

7 – RIDE THE HIGH ROLLER OBSERVATION WHEEL


See Las Vegas in style. Located at the Linq Hotel & Casino, you can take a 30-minute ride on the 550-foot ‘High Roller’ wheel for about $35 for adults and $20 for children. The observation wheel provides the best views of the entire city and is recommended (in my opinion) as an evening activity when you can see all the lights and glitter Vegas has to offer.

8 – WALK THE STRIP/SEE THE HOTELS


Walking up and down the 4.2-mile Vegas Strip from the Mandalay Bay hotel to the Stratosphere is the most cost-effective activity ($0) and is one of the top things you’ll remember about your trip to Las Vegas. The super-sized $20m water fountains at the Bellagio hotel dance to classical, pop and rock music every half-hour during the day and every 15 minutes at night at no cost. The free Volcano Show at the Mirage hotel takes place every hour on the hour from 7-11pm and features an erupting volcano, laser light show, and exotic cats from around the globe.

Almost all the hotels feature their own theme and additional attractions. New York New York features an indoor and outdoor roller coaster that wraps around the hotel ($14 to ride) and the Venetian hotel feels like you are literally in the Italian city. An optional gondola ride will set you back about $40, or you can just take a seat with a cheaper $8-10 gelato and see the sights inside and out.

9 – FREMONT STREET


Considered ‘Old Vegas’ or ‘Downtown Vegas’, Fremont Street is where it all started for this originally sleepy desert town – prior to the Gold Rush and before millions of annual tourists arrived. The very first paved street for the city is lined with shops, restaurants, coffee houses and yes, more casinos to visit and strike it rich. Spend an evening by yourself or with a group of DJ friends, eating, drinking and taking in the sights and sounds of light shows and street performers. Fremont Street is just a short taxi or car ride to the north of town. For $8, you can ride The Deuce, a double-decker bus that connects the Strip to Fremont.

10 – THE NEON MUSEUM


The Neon Museum is located just north of the Strip and is a graveyard for the neon signs from the casinos and hotels of the past. The signs are fully functional and offer some of the best social media and photo opportunities for DJs and musicians alike (bring your own photographer). The lights are better seen at night when a guided tour will cost you $30 per person. Or you can save a few quid and check out the Neon Museum during the day for just $20.

11 – GO SHOPPING!


America’s favorable exchange rate means that every British Pound is worth about $1.20-1.30 after conversion fees. On the Strip, 20-25 quid will get you enough souvenir t-shirts for your entire family. In the hotels, the high-end fashion, jewellery and electronics stores are all awaiting you, and most will ship home anything too big to fit into your luggage. Bought too many collectables or shirts? No problem, you can also buy more luggage to ship home your gifts for family and friends.

12 – TAKE A TRIP


Technically these two locations aren’t in Las Vegas, but they are only a drive or helicopter ride away. It makes for a full day, but for around $125 per person you can catch a bus tour to the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon and see a two of the greatest attractions (one man-made and one natural) in the States. Don’t feel like an all-day bus ride? Then skip the bus and take a helicopter tour to the same locations for about $400-$500 per person.

Looking for a cheaper method? Rent a car or van for $80-$150 per day, but reserve them early, as rentals have been scarce and more expensive in the post-pandemic economy. And don’t forget, we drive on the right side of the road!

I hope you enjoyed my list of things to do while in Las Vegas. Check out future issues of Pro Mobile for my Chicago and Atlantic City expo ‘to do’ lists. I hope to meet you at the Mobile Entertainment Expo or onboard The DJ Sessions’ Vegas takeover!

The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 111, Pages 24-30.
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