READ STEVE'S BLOG

Follow our Twitter Updates:
http://twitter.com/stevedacri

(LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) - Been a week full of triple digit heat and activity here in the desert, and after the travels of this whole month, it feels good to be in the middle of the dry heat we love so dearly here. On the Strip, tourists and melting and sticking to the benches and emitting a foul odor.

This coming weekend will be that star-spangled tradition known as the Independence Day, Fourth of July, which means that the sky will explode with hundreds of fireworks displays, some of them legal. All over the valley, pets will be cowering under beds and emergency rooms will be filled with firecracker injured kids of all ages. And the smokey smell of burning gunpowder will mix with the odors of thousands of overcooked hamburgers and hot dogs as the backyard barbeques are fired up non-stop until Sunday, when the hangovers and indigestion sets in.

Eric Clapton and Stevie Winwood played together at the MGM Grand, and my plans to see them were thwarted as I was performing the very same night across the street and down the road at the Treausre Island. Heard they ripped the place apart with their super hot guitar licks, I'll just have to get the DVD of their recent show together in New York. I was a huge Blind Faith fan, wore out one record and bought it again, as well as the CD eventually.

The show at Treasure Island was a benefit for the Colors of Lupus Nevada, and it was an unqualified success. A few acts didn't show up (they'll never work in this town again) and one showed up minutes before showtime, but overall things wents as smooth as chunky peanut butter, loads of money was raised through ticket sales (room was packed to the walls) and the very successful silent auction that happened prior to the show. And hopefully we raised the awareness level for this terrible disease and made a lot of people smile.

FRANK LIEBERMAN UPDATE

Frank's had a rough time, breaking his hip in not one, but two places, which put him out of commission for a while. Thanks for all the emails about Frank. Send him a get well note here. He expects to be back in service, but not dancing at Studio 54, some time next week.

WEDDING SHOW NEWS

If you missed it, we just got a copy of a great article from the popular North End Business Journal in Boston, by way of the subject, our very own Godfather of Nathan & Nina's Wedding show, David Fioravanti (in town this week for a relax time visit with his wife Tia, staying at the Bellagio as an invited guest, and he doesn't even gamble!) Read this great article that talks about our wedding show and David...here.

NEW MAGIC ON THE STRIP

Good friend Rick Thomas is coming back to the Strip, this time over at the Sahara in the showroom built by a lesser-known, forgetable magic act years ago. Rick will do a mix of afternoon and evening shows along with his dancers and tigers in an open ended contract, which means he'll have that huge overhead to cover every week in what is known as a four wall arrangement. Sadly, that's so typical here in town, where most hotels refuse to pay the talent, and instead insist upon the ridiculous 4-wall deal, which essentially means they supply the room, and the act must pay all the costs, including a room rental fee and all show costs, plus advertising costs. Then the ticket revenue goes to the artist, and sometimes it's enough to cover all those costs. Good luck Rick, we'll be there for opening day July 16.

2009 PokerPalooza! Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino July 2-5, 2009

Over at the Rio, one of my favorite hotels, an exciting event will be taking place THIS WEEK. The Gaming Lifestyle Expo, the world's largest poker show, will return bigger and better under a new brand and format. The inaugural "PokerPalooza" will provide the same access to poker and lifestyle exhibitors, but expand the focus on fun, social, and interactive elements.

VEGASINSIDETIPS.COM will be sponsoring a series of magic performances by yours truly, as well as an appearance by the world's foremost memory expert and motivational speaker, Jan Dacri, who also happens to be my wife. We will have a lot of fun things going on in our booth, so plan on stopping by if you can.

PokerPalooza attractions will be divided into a number of grouped categories, designed to appeal to everyone from the touring professional to those who have not yet taken up the game. "It's going to be part trade show, part carnival, all fun" said Ty Stewart, the WSOP's Director of Marketing.

Multiple WSOP champions are expected to be on hand signing autographs. There will be an expanded food court and signature "Bad Beat Bar" to swap stories after being eliminated from poker’s biggest event. PokerPalooza will take place in the Rio Pavilion, directly adjacent to the WSOP playing area. It's for poker players, fans and non-players as well, so come on by (it's free!). For more info, visit their web site.

By the way, our newest contributor is good friend Tony Brook. His column, called "Tony Brook: Magician at Large" contains his report from Norway, where he was performing way, way underground. Read it HERE.

Magically yours,

Steve

READ STEVE'S BLOG

TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/stevedacri

<TOP>

Compiled by David Neubauer

PRODUCTION SHOWS:

Bite (Vampire Strip Revue)
Antonio Restivo
10:30 pm (dark Thurs.) Stratosphere.

Criss Angel – Believe
7 & 10:00 pm (Dark Wed. – Thurs.) - Luxor
http://cirquedusoleil.com/crissangel

Crazy Horse Paris
Stephan Vanel
8 & 10:30 pm, (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand.

David Copperfield
Now thru -July 1, July 16-19
7:30 & 10 pm (and 4:30 Sat.) MGM Grand.
www.mgm.admission.com/cgi/guide.cgi?l=EN

Gerry McCambridge - The Mentalist
8:00 PM Sunday, Saturday at 6:00 PM
Hooters Casino Hotel.

Haunted Vegas Tour & Show
Robert Allen, Jack Hayden & Zamora - Greek Isle.
9:00 pm tour and show (Dark Fri.)
$10 off coupon:

<TOP>
Lance Burton, Master Magician

7 pm Tues - Sat & 10 pm Tues. & Sat.
Monte Carlo.

Mac King Comedy Magic Show

1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.)

Clint Holmes Theater - Harrah's.

Magic’s a Drag
Steve Weston (aka Cashetta) 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun.) – Harmon Theater, Krave – Planet Hollywood

www.magicsadrag.com

Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show

4 pm. (Dark Thurs.) Main Showroom - Flamingo Hotel.

Penn & Teller

9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio.

Rick Thomas
Sahara Hotel
3 pm and 7 pm, schedule to be announced - opens July 16

Steve Dacri: Intimate illusions -
on tour

Stars of Magic Showcase of Prestidigitation
Dixie Dooley produces and hosts. 7:00 pm (Dark Wed. – Sat.)
The Dymonds, David Darkstone, MC Bill Robinson, Royal Resort & Hotel.
www.thestarsofmagic.com
2 for 1 Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/couponstarsofmagic.html

Superstars of Magic
7:30 & 9:30 (Dark Tues.) Steven Best and Cassandra, Vegas Club Showroom.
2 for 1 Tickets: www.vegas4locals.com/couponsuperstarsofmagic.html

V, The Ultimate Variety Show

Jason Byrne (most Tues. - Sat.)

7:30 & 9 pm, Planet Hollywood Resort - www.vtheshow.com
2 for 1 coupon

Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur
Tiffany Theatre, Tropicana
2 and 4 pm. (Dark Fri.)

$10 off coupon

<TOP>

OTHER VEGAS MAGIC

RESTAURANTS:

Eric Allan, Outback Steakhouse (Green Valley), Fri. & Sat.

Jayden LaCross, TGI Fridays, Wed. & Sun.

Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show

Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230.

Las Vegas Magic Organizations

Darwin’s Magic Club meets every Wednesday at 10pm.
at: Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave.

I.B.M. #257: 7 pm 1st Monday.

Las Vegas Children’s and Family Entertainers Association

7 pm every 3rd Monday, Amazing Clowns, 3525 E. Flamingo.

YMS (Young Magicians Society)

7 pm every 2nd Monday, IHOP Boulevard Mall on Maryland Pkwy.