Like any good consultant, I've spent the last few days interviewing stakeholders from the latest Vegas trip and have come up with some recommendations to be implemented going forward. First off, there are a couple of overriding themes that I think that everyone can more or less agree to:
-This is the all-star trip. This is for serious gamblers who aren't interested in shows, clubs, walking around downtown, or trips to the grand canyon.
-While we all enjoy some individual time, it's the group camaraderie that makes the trip.
-The same group (more or less) has been going for a while and has a certain rhythm/routine that is generally accepted.
-We're all grown-up enough that we're making decent money and don't need to do everything on the cheap.
Keeping those overarching themes in mind, the following are my recommendations:
1. Minimum bankroll = $3,000.00.
Yes, of course you can go out with less, but you're going to be "that guy" standing around watching everyone else is screaming "backdoor action!!!" and high-fiving or screaming "change that card!!!" and then crying. I think that Derek's budget post was a good guideline for approximating your budget (he ended up estimating about $4,000). With $3K, you are able to play $25 minimums and withstand the inevitable "Black XXXday". You need to have the financial wherewithal to sustain heavy losses and still soldier on. The wins will come (unless you are me at the sports book, then you should just stick to the Wheel).
2. Credit card roulette MANDATORY.
With one minor caveat: $750 max loss. I don't care if I just met you an hour ago, you need to understand that we're going to play and you're in. It's HUGE for the chemistry of the weekend. Two things on this:
a. You know going in, so there are no surprises.
b. Aspire to be like Don.
Don is the patron saint of CC Roulette in my eyes. He walked in to dinner at Mesa Grill a couple of years ago, barely knew half of the people at the table, didn't really want to play, but did anyway. He lost, but he took it like a man. Instant great story, and instant respect forevermore from pretty much everyone who was there that night. Needless to say, I heart Don.
3. Everyone stays at the same hotel.
a. It's the group togetherness thing. It just doesn't work if half the people are at Hotel X and half are at Hotel Y.
b. We graduated beyond certain hotels. Obviously, I heart the Mirage. But regardless of where we stay, I think that we've graduated beyond the NYNY/Monte-caliber of casino. You like the 24-hour McDonald's at the Monte? Great, enjoy that in June. You like the roller coaster at the NYNY? Ride it over and over in November. The March trip demands certain things that those casinos can't offer.
4. Three people per room.
This one is clearly more of a guideline, but if you're following guideline #1, you should be playing enough to get a few nights comp'd. And at that point, it's more about personal comfort in the room. We're not 20 years old and cramming into a room at Mardi Gras, we're all making decent money and could use a little space (and designated toilet time). Throw in laptops, golf clubs, bags, and Jay's crazy NBA games/nights matrix, and you've got a very full room.
5. 1-2 new people per trip.
If you can introduce a limited number of new people per trip, they are molded to the group, not vice versa. The newbies need to be peer pressured into a big bet on the Lady Boilermakers, be convinced to play $100 hands of Pai Gow, to learn the true beauty of a reverse parlay "layup", and be convinced to play $25 craps just because there are hot chicks at the table. If there are too many new guys, they end up doing their own thing and splintering from the group.
6. The Security Council Permanent Members.
a. Derek, Wiz, Leland, Eric. I know, I know. Could I be any more of a pompous, self-important ass? Actually, yes, but I'll save that for another post. Save my absence this year for extenuating circumstances, everyone has made the trip every year for the last few years. Everyone is committed to the core principles, and puts in the necessary "sweat equity" of planning (rooms, golf, dinners, hotels, gaming strategy, etc) and studying (hoops info--women's and men's, pro and college).
China, France, The Russian Federation, the U.K. and the U.S., if you will. (I know that there are 4 people and 5 permanent members, see part b below.)
b. Jay, Laura, Don, and Micah make up the Russian Federation seat on the council. They are all no-brainers for the trip, but for one reason or another (i.e. not wearing a shirt when sleeping in the same bed as another guy, a multi-year hiatus, or a penchant for 3-Card Poker) aren't a permanent member. One suggestion was that we rotate one member of this group onto the security council on an annual basis.
7. Admission policy
Should there be a desire for a new person to join the trip, he or she must be sponsored by a Security Council member (one of the 4 permanent permanent or the rotating permanent member). The sponsor will have to present their case during a concall of all security council members and it takes a 3/4 vote for them to be allowed (5 permanent members, the one presenting member does not vote). On Saturday night during the trip, the security council will vote on the future of the new member. Should this person be voted out, the sponsor pays for the dinner of the other security council members. Voted in, and that person is cleared for future trips.
I think that we discuss and tweak this for the next few days and write a constitution. I really don't see why this is so hard for the Iraqis...
16 comments:
My bankroll was only $2000, and I only made the Russian Federation....I feel slighted. If that's not enough, Mandy has already begun frowning upon next year's trip! The precedent must be set!!!
Couple things here.
1. Great post, great ideas. I agree with all of them.
2. Nobody else will say it, I will. No females allowed on this trip (except Laura). She has proved herself. It's not that I don't like females but there is a time and place to bring your significant other to Vegas. Here is the problem. Say Derek brings his wife (this is just an example). Next thing you know he is distracted because he has to go shopping with her or go see the Grand Canyon. Guess what, he just missed the 5:05 tip between the Lady Vols and the Lady Gators because he was looking at panties in Victoria's Secret in the Forum Shoppes. Leland tried bringing his wife one year, and you know what...it was a major disaster! Plan a trip with your lady friend in September not March!
3. Once you hit year five and are in good standing with the rest of the Board, you will be up for promotion. A congratulatory dinner will be held in your honor.
4. Micah-Mandy should never know what your bankroll is. Don't ever discuss financials with your significant other. Rethink your decision, this is maybe why you got cut from the Board.
5. Don is quickly moving up and I'm already recommending him for a Board seat.
And another thing...I hope the Lady Boilermakers get smoked tonight. I hate them!
Some comments:
1. I like the idea for newbies. This will remove the "hover" factor for our people. But I know for a fact that Eric, Jay, Don and Laura can all gamble effectively without this threshold.
2. Agreed and Approved, but you are missing a very important part of the story that probably needs to be put into law. We will take care of those that lose in this game.
3. Be careful what you wish for Lee. Remember, this was the first time (excluding some early trips) that we have all stayed together at the same hotel. What happens in the Security Council decides to stay at the Nug or Red Rock. Are you prepared for that?
4. Agreed
5. Agreed
6. Agreed
7. Love this idea.
There is a major issue that is missing here that I would prefer to discuss off line.
OK, I will take on Wiz on this subject since I think I'm the only that has this issue.
One of the reasons why I married Carol was that she was a pretty big gambler. Is she a female version of Wiz? No, except maybe for those "Fuck Me" eyes they both give me at the Pai Gow table, but Carol holds her own at the tables. Does she gamble more than Laura? Well...yes. Carol doesn't play poker, but she plays a lot of Black jack. She has been out to Vegas 4 times over the last year, with two of those times without me. I believe she proved herself to the group last trip when she not only hung with us at the tables, but she had to go gamble with her Grandmother and sisters at a different casino. She wasn't pulling anyone away to go shopping or to go to the clubs. Even during our quick weekend in Feb, we only went shopping on the Nevada border on the way into town and not during the trip. She understands the key components of the trip and is committed to the tables.
But Eric and I had a talk about it this morning and he posed this question. "If Carol were to stumble upon me in the Sportsbook at 5:00am, would she join me and give me any insight on the games." The answer is no. His next point is that he pictures Carol and I as a single gambler. Very interesting point. Carol wouldn't play Craps or Pai Gow without any of us with her. She would play BJ by herself though.
So what is the difference between Laura and Carol? I'm a little confused on this subject. The only difference I can see is that Laura watches basketball and plays poker, while Carol rather play BJ, Craps, and Video Poker. If it is something personal then lets have it. I don't mind. I'd rather have someone tell me they don't want Carol to come because of her personality than to just say that no women are allowed to come except for Laura. Makes it a little bit tough to explain to the wife, especially when the wife is a gambler.
But with all that being said, I don't really care. After this last trip, I was stuck in the casino by myself for 6-7 hours a day while everyone goes and plays golf, so you guys can kiss my ass on who I bring. I will get the votes with payoffs and such during the UN vote. I have way too much shit on all of the voting members not to get my way. Ha!
In the end it might not make a difference. Her friends and her are already planning a trip for next spring on their own. This could be like North Korea and Iran teaming up against the Western Powers.
Great post, Leland.
My thoughts:
1) I'm with Derek on this. Yes, newbies should be aware of this bankroll as a guideline, but we have plenty of coutnerexamples. Such as Kermit - here is a guy who comes to Vegas with $1000-$1500 and has either doubled his money or is broke (hitting his Amex card) within the first 10 hours. In other words, he is a $1500 gambler who bets like a $5000 gambler.
And I can definitely understand if the Jay/Laura team don't adhere to it.
I think $2000 is fine for now.
2) Fine with this ....I (and Don!) could have done a better job explaining it was mandatory on this trip.
I think the dinner has to be on Friday or Saturday , though, in order to have time for the newbies to get acclimated with the group.
3) Absolutely agree on this. I think we have to stay on the strip (or at a minimum, the Golden Nugget downtown).
If you do see this trip as the Super Bowl, then we can't fool around with location.
What does Sports Guy say about Super Bowl Locales? It should be Miami, San Diego or New Orleans. Period.
Us moving to Red Rock for a year is like the Super Bowl being hosted in Detroit. I'm sure it's nice, but it's the Super Bowl, not an October regular season game.
The Golden Nugget would be like, oh, Atlanta or Tampa. Maybe good for a one year experiment.
4) I agree, but need to say something about this. This all depends on room rates. If Wiz can somehow get teh casino rate again at teh mirage for us ( like he did on this trip), then I'm all for 2 or 3 in a room.
But if the rates are $300-$400 a night, that's getting up there and we may consider 4 to a room to save money here (so we increase our gambling expenses).
The hotel bill for our room- 4 nights - was $750 total. That's perfect for 3. Once we starting talking hotel bills over $1000 - I think people may want to shack up.
5) Agreed, depending on what "new" means.
6) I am truly honored to be on the permanent council, given that I have only been on three of these trips (03, 06, 07). Love the rotation idea.
7) Agreed.
Micah - gees, you need to start hiding the bankroll stats from the woman PRONTO. Either 1) get a separate savings account, where any leftover balance in the checking account goes at the end of the month, 2) get one of your credit cards delivered to your office in order to hide your expenses, and/or 3) take control of the family finanaces so that she doesn't know what you are taking, how much of a "loan" you are taking out of your home equity line, and how much of the "cushion" in the savings account is mysteriously gone for 5 days.
What? Too much information?
Let's expand on Eric's last point to Micah. This can not be understated. Eric's home equity loan story is absolutely legandary. And the hidden finances is a must.
What I'm doing for this trip is to start saving now. Less of an impact as well as it is much easier to hide.
This should probably go into the Bill of Rights section.
Also, lets all pray that Mandy doesn't read the blog.
Rules to Go to Vegas? Quick, someone find a gun and shoot me. Please.
I go to do what I want, when I want. 4 days of zero commitments (with the possible exception of 1 group dinner). If that means not hanging out with the council all day, that’s the risk I take. I plan to play lots of poker, even though I have yet to exploit the advantage I think I have. Hmmmm …do I have an advantage.
My first reaction to the original post was that it was a bit of a slam on the new guys, two of which I invited. Defending my decision …Saran (aka midnight drug deal call) made a special trip with his wife in Nov. so he could attend in March. I’d also venture to say he spent more time at the tables (granted almost all poker), than anyone else. As for Mike, with the exception of cc roulette (which there was no burn limit at the time) he fits in nicely.
OK, here are the rules. :-)
Credit Card Roulette – If you expect new GUYS to join in, try this on Friday or Saturday evening once the juices have been flowing. Also note, everyone did not play in year #1 (and by this I mean a member of the proposed Council).
Rooms – Wiz, please secure a room in my name for next year (similar to that sweet deal you got Eric this past year). I do not mind 4 to a room as I spend as little time as possible in it (and I have little sympathy for all the belly aching this past year as Eric and I asked MULTIPLE times what folks wanted to do with rooms). Also for the record, I don’t think I got within 6 inches of the center of the small beds at the Mirage, even without wearing a shirt.
Everyone stays at the same place. My preference is the Mirage, or better (which means somewhere on the strip). Golden Nugget is not better.
I could have had the Lady Boilers at 12-1 to win it all. I’m kicking myself.
Let me make a point here. In no way was I calling out Carol. I really liked Carol when we met/gambled, I should have used Kelly (my fiance) instead. If she came, I would watching fucking Lance Burton during the games.
I'll work on that home equity line. I don't actually own a home, but I'll get on it.
Here's my thoughts on the females...they just suck a little bit of the "guyness" out of a guys weekend. You're focus should be on your gambling, or your throbbing toe, not on your significant other...
I completely forgot about the sacrifice Saran made for this trip...
his wife wanted Saran's first trip to Vegas to be with her - so Saran scheduled a November trip with her ( the drug deal phone call trip) so he could specifically join us in March.
If that sacrifice doesn't endear him to the council, then I give up.
( and it should win over the no-women voters out there....)
This is exactly why Laura is invited. Well said.
Laura,
Didn't about 4 different dealers ask if you and I were married? hmmmmmm.
Damn you Vegas Talk!!!!!!! I'm supposed to be working!
1. I think the Bankroll is a little high. For Laura and I that would be taking $6K out for a weekend. Um, not going to happen. But the past two trips I've done pretty well, and can stay afloat by playing poker.
2. Not a fan, but would participate. I also propose we do credit card bill roulette, and the winner gets to assume my current credit card debt!!! Yes!! :)
3. Agreed, should be possible.
4. N/A
5. By new people per trip I'm assuming you mean Texas A&M CC was a new "person" this trip. Or Albany was a new "person" this year. Seriously, the new person thing doesn't bother me since I spend so much time looking at games that I hardly notice (if they meet the right requirements and are not taking anything "off the table" to use a SG phrase).
6. Makes sense
7. If person x (M or F) isn't THRILLED with the possibility of not leaving a sportsbook/poker table/craps table/BJ table for 24 straight hours....then they don't belong. Period. They don't have to have a personal diatribe on why they are picking a 3 team moneyline parlay, but there can be no "why are we still here" vibe going on in the midst of an 18 hour session.
Laura: "if Eric was a woman..."
Boy, if I had a nickel every time I heard THAT....
(well, most of the times I hear it without the "if")
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