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"Let's Be Frank" columns
To the public David Saxe, the man who produces more shows in Las Vegas than “Cirque du Soleil,” is probably unknown. Mention his name to fellow producers, their comment probably won’t be in the most positive of terms.
It’s not that Saxe isn’t a nice guy. Call it jealousy or admiration, but Saxe always seems to come out on top operating the V Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood and producing seven shows based on his own rules.
Saxe says that first and foremost, with 250 employees, he has to “find ways to maximize every phase” of his operation. The goal is to get bodies in the seats for all his shows and competitors will tell you that he’ll do anything to accomplish that goal.
“I’m completely hands on and everything is run the way I want it to,” says Saxe. “I don’t relax and every week when I have to sign a stack of checks, it reminds me of what has to be done. I’m the motivator and some people react better than others. I’ve set a standard and I expect everyone to reach and follow it. In fact, some people say I’m too nice when dealing with them.”
Along with owning the V Theater, Saxe produces the shows performing in it: “V – The Ultimate Variety Show,” “Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theater,” “Toxic Audio” and his latest, Gordie Brown. He also produces “Trent Carlini – The Dream King” and “Fab Four Mania,” at the Sahara. The V Theater is also the home to Stripper 101, which teaches women the art of seduction in a private studio within the theater.
“I have many different roles, but the bottom line is giving the public the best show for their money and to get the most people at every performance,” adds Saxe, who also tries to spend as much time as possible with his three children.
“I’m always focused and the creative part of me never seems to shut down,” he continues. “Especially now. Ticket sales are the worst they’ve ever been because we’re smack dab in the middle of a recession. Show counts are down 50 percent except for ‘V,’ which still sells out its three daily shows. I’m guessing that 25 percent of the shows in the city now will close in the next six months.”
Saxe, who is also a UNLV instructor, started his career in the entertainment industry when he was 17 years old and his family started doing shows.
“My mom was producing, too. I was the co-producer while she did all the creative. I did all the technical and business side, he said.
His first show was “Melinda - The First Lady of Magic” in which his sister was the star. Saxe produced “Melinda” for 16 years.
A UNLV alumnus, Saxe graduated with a degree in communications and a minor in entertainment. He is a first-generation college student and said the only thing he learned in college was how to organize and train himself to complete something.
“I think everything I've ever learned has been on the job,” he said.
Even though Saxe has had success in Las Vegas as well as abroad, he said he can still envision more for his company.
“I might focus into buying in Macau, because it’s really tough in the U.S.; the economy is so bad,” he reiterates.
Saxe has expanded his operation by opening a 15,000 sq ft. production studio in downtown Las Vegas. The David Saxe Productions studio is comprised of offices, rehearsal studio space, a seamless green screen room, a recording studio and more than 2,000 props and costumes.
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