Dear
Orleans,
I'd
like to thank you for engaging the Nite Kings in the lounge and for
developing a fine senior day. On my last trip to Vegas I spent three
days gambling and eating the free buffets, hoping against the odds in
the drawing, and listening to that great band.
I
have been wanting to see them for a long while now and it never
seemed to work out.
However,
I find getting seats is an unpleasant experience.
The
first week I arrived after the drawing and all the seats were locked
up. Luckily I had promoted the event with three women from Calgary
that I met in line at the buffet at breakfast. They asked me where
to find a good show, and I suggested they try this free lounge act.
So they took a booth and table and I sat with them for that
performance.
The
second week I went up on senior day and met with my gambling buddy
Bill. I wanted him to have a seat, so I went to stand in line during
the time that the band rehearsed. I brought with me two papers with
reserved on them because I knew that both Bill and I would need to
duck out of the first set for the few minutes it took to see if all
the virtual drawing tickets we had earned might give us a win in the
drawing.
First,
while I was in line, 8 people walked ahead of me to join friends who
had saved them seats in line. I didn't complain.
However,
what is the purpose of a line?
I
was still able to get seats I liked, but two women also liked them
and complained bitterly, one at the beginning and the second when I
asked if she would mind keeping my two seats when Bill and I went out
for the drawing.
She
was so surly, I moved away from her. And took other seats
She
told me that I could not use my little “reserved” notes.
However, she was saving two seats with women's handbags, the
acceptable “reserved” signs it seems for that event.
I
understand that the Orleans is a fine local's casino, but the
friendliness that clique shows to those in the “club” can be
off-putting to tourists.
I
noticed that quite a few people brought drinks into the lounge. We
bought ours there. Great prices.
I
also noticed that no one seemed to need to go to the drawing and yet
all should be Young at Heart. This meant to me that few had spent
the morning gambling there as I had.
On
my third visit when I stayed at the Orleans in November I just
decided that I'd watch from outside the rail until the 4:30 drawing
was over and then try to find a single seat as I was solo.
It
was difficult. Finally, a friendly local offered a seat at the bench
in the back where he had his family. We hit it off and had a fine
visit.
There
two right ahead of us were two seats saved with the drink menu
cutouts. No one actually sat in them, but it was the second set
before one couple decided to take those seats and mover the
“reserved” cut outs. No one ever came. I might have easily sat
in one of the uselessly saved seats.
I'd
suggest that some method of discouraging the Macy's basement sale
mentality for seat choices be established for these popular lounge
acts.
Perhaps
an official reserved sign could be sold for the price of a lounge
drink or tied into the Young at Heart promotion once 500 points have
been earned that day.
At
any rate it ought to be possible to stand in a real line, get a seat
as a live person, and not have some surly local in my tourist face.
The whole exchange soured me a bit, and Bill and I ended up leaving
the Orleans early that day and heading.
I
am not a high roller, but I put about 1200 points (without the
multiplier) on my card that morning as did Bill.
I
am not in the local club, but I write for three discussion boards and
many of those folks gamble at higher levels and are regular Orleans
staying tourists.
I'll
post this as an open letter on those boards along with your reply.
Thank
you for reading this complaint, and thank you for arranging such a
fine day for seniors, linked to good benefits and comped rooms. It
draws quite a few of us into the casino each trip, even those of us
who ride buses to get there.
I
was sad years ago to see the 10/7 DB, the signature game, reduced to
9/6 DB, an unplayable game when 9/6 DDB is right there along side it.
However,
I seem to find enough to keep drawing me to the gambling as do many
of my board friends.
And
I write an article every year in the American Casino Guide on Resort
fees. You get good credit for dropping the fees on any comped rooms.
Thanks for that. It would be nice not to have them at all, but at
least if we are gambling, we get them waived.
Thanks
for your time and attention.
Note:
I sent this a week before posting this , but so far no response.
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