Betting On Inexperience: Can Las Vegas Maintain Its Showbiz Standard By Hiring Inexperienced Music Professionals?

 I've been turned down in the recent past by two of the largest casino hotel chains in LV because I have too much experience in the music and entertainment industry (57 years).

So, I've got a chip on my shoulder about today's subject :-(

What is Las Vegas thinking? 

Hotel fees, food, drinks, and show prices out of sight. Parking fees, fees on fees, come on Vegas, enough is enough! Now you're trying to slam the music scene in Vegas!

Las Vegas is synonymous with spectacle. From dazzling residencies to immersive tribute acts, the city’s reputation hinges on delivering world-class entertainment night after night. But behind the curtain, a quiet shift is underway: more venues and hotels are hiring inexperienced non-professionals to run operations, from agents and sound techs to lighting crews and venue managers.

Is this a bold reinvention or a gamble with the city’s artistic credibility? After the last 3 or 4 months, I'd say that they're on the losing end of their battle!

{What venues and hotel-casinos say about hiring the inexperienced}

New hires bring unorthodox ideas that appeal to younger audiences.

Entry-level staff allow venues to reallocate budgets toward talent, production, or marketing.

With seasoned professionals retiring or relocating, tapping into untapped talent pools helps fill urgent gaps.

Giving someone their first break fosters long-term commitment and a hunger to learn.

With all of these reasons, while running the music scene in Las Vegas into the ground!

Las Vegas isn’t just any entertainment city. It’s the gold standard. And that raises a critical question:

How are venues and hotels supposed to produce high caliber shows with crews who’ve never run one before?

Technical Precision Matters: Lighting cues, sound mixing, and stage transitions aren’t just details, they’re the difference between a standing ovation and a refund request.

Audiences & Music Fans Aren't Dumb: Tourists and locals alike expect seamless experiences. A single misstep in lighting or sound, a mic failure or two, a missed spotlight or no lighting at all can shatter the illusion of Las Vegas Being "The Entertainment Capital Of The World"!

Brand Reputation Is at Stake: For hotels and venues, small clubs and bars, every show is a reflection of their brand. Inconsistent execution risks long-term damage to their credibility, and to the bands that are performing!

{In the past 4 months} 

I've seen venue music agents without any experience at all booking bands for venues. Lighting and sound techs that looked like they were still in high school, to venue management that had no clue how to produce a night of music, to having to explain to a venue manager what the word "Genre" meant, to watching a top-level band, perform in total darkness! 

Is this the future of music in Las Vegas?

GE