EBC Host?

[lv2013]

Heading to LV with ~8 guys June 14.

Last year, we did MDC, cabana.

I thought i was clever and reached out to Robert Montero to reserve a cabana, on the basis that he was the guy in charge and we'd have the best leverage for a good spot.

I found the experience kind of sucky, in a modern vegas way: I stopped in the day before to shake hands, tip, and "make sure we're all set for tomorrow". He said just be sure to be there right when we open at ... (10am? can't remember). I drag my hungover ass down at 10am, get ignored in the lobby for like half an hour, wait in line for a half hour, get to Robert (and grease him again)... and he sends me with someone to take me to cabana 1. Which is in, like, Antarctica. I throw a fit and end up in 7, which was great but c'mon.

This is all to say: I don't need this stress, when I'm paying $5K for some real estate for a few hours. Since I organize, I feel responsible for it to be kick-ass for the other guys, and i don't need to be stressing in the lobby and kissing ass (in addition to tipping) just not to end up with a cabana in siberia -- if I'd been even a little later or less persistent I might have been stuck there.


So, given all that, I was thinking of doing EBC this year instead, not so much because MDC wasn't good - -it was fun once that was all done -- but some variety, and have had good times at EBC before.

Who do people suggest I arrange through so I can get looked after a little more -- i.e. I can book this ahead of time, and just show up in the AM with zero stress and know someone is making sure we have as good a setup as possible given the price range we are in? I am assuming that Robert gets lots of regulars, and so a "1-off" customer like me, and a bunch of late-30's guys don't get the top treatment, and I don't necessarily blame him for that -- maybe I need someone advocating on my behalf who has a more repeat relationship and thus has to be respected? Happy to pay the market rate.

Or, maybe I was just unlucky or got a bad day?

[tomm0]

I think youre expecting too much. What dyou want these guys to do? Roll out the red carpet? You're just another group of guys mate. They see hundreds every week.

If you wanna waste time and go to meet a busy man the day before your booking just to say hi, thats up to you! Going to the most senior host guarantees nothing.

Im not sure what youre expecting really, if you have a cabana there is always a little waiting around while they sort you all out and process you all and do your ID's etc etc.

You can always book ahead of time. Youre also getting in too early aswell. Getting to MDC at 10am? Mental. You will basically get put in the first cabana available. if youre there that early they'll chuck you in to the cheapest one they can and hope to fill the others with higher spends, its basic economics.

So my advice is this, get to EBC at 12ish, dont expect anything. you have a cabana, big deal, so do loads of other people and theyre probably spending more. 5k doesnt put you in the big league at EBC or MDC. Double it or triple it and then maybe.

The beauty of these places is that everyone is treated the same, whether you are on the guest list, or going in General Admission. The only people who get special treatment at any venue are the high rollers who get everything comped, the A list and the celebrities. You arent one of those with a $5k spend sadly.

[KG25]

I stopped in the day before to shake hands, tip, and "make sure we're all set for tomorrow"

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I don't shake until I'm taken to the agreed upon location...

[Brooklyn Marc]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I don't shake until I'm taken to the agreed upon location...

Likewise, not to say that all hosts are like the one he dealt with, but tomm0 has a point these guys deal with literally hundreds of people monthly, they provide a service and some do it better than others, showing up the day before places way too much trust in a host and doesn't take into account what might happen the day after when you actually show up to party.

[lv2013]

Likewise, not to say that all hosts are like the one he dealt with, but tomm0 has a point these guys deal with literally hundreds of people monthly, they provide a service and some do it better than others, showing up the day before places way too much trust in a host and doesn't take into account what might happen the day after when you actually show up to party.

This is helpful, thanks.

Let me try to clarify my question based on these replies to make sure I understand:

Are you guys suggestion that I have the wrong plan if my idea is to lock in a nice cabana ahead of time, but rather the best plan is to just show up on the day, cash in hand, and arrange the cabana on the spot when we can agree how-much-for-what? That wasn't my intuition but it does kind of make sense -- if I try to plan in advance I'm a sure thing, and their incentive is to put me in the shittiest cabana they can get away with so they can sell the nicer one over again to someone who walks up.

[Brooklyn Marc]

No I think it's all well and good to plan in advance, by all means lock in your price and make the deal. However from your original post it seems like you paid for everything a day in advance, and yeah that's definitely not the best idea. Like you said the incentive to really go out of their way is gone. Your showing up no matter what. It would be great to have a host be appreciative that you took care of them the day before etc. but unfortunately yeah probably very few cases where that would occur. So yeah hold on to your cash until the day of and think you'll have a much better experience.

[KG25]

This is helpful, thanks.

Let me try to clarify my question based on these replies to make sure I understand:

Are you guys suggestion that I have the wrong plan if my idea is to lock in a nice cabana ahead of time, but rather the best plan is to just show up on the day, cash in hand, and arrange the cabana on the spot when we can agree how-much-for-what? That wasn't my intuition but it does kind of make sense -- if I try to plan in advance I'm a sure thing, and their incentive is to put me in the shittiest cabana they can get away with so they can sell the nicer one over again to someone who walks up.

No, book in advance. In my opinion, there are two key factors that come into play when booking.

1) Do your homework - There is an endless amount on info on the forums, so you should have no problem with this point. Know the venue. Is it considered tier 1? Who's spinning? What kind of seating do they offer, and what are the typical minimums for those locations. Knowing what to expect makes things much less stressful.

2) Communication - Before you even contact your host, you should know your group size, what you plan to spend, and somewhat of an idea on where you want to sit. Disclosing the amount you plan to tip may also work in your favor. Providing the host with all of the variables allows them to give you a much better idea of what they can do for you.

[tomm0]

So you have to book in advance, but dont think you are gonna get a VIP experience, which is what I think you are expecting. You are buying a cabana, youre not buying a host to fawn all over you and bow to your every whim.

What I do is this
1) Choose my venue
2) Research it
3) Find where the cabana is that I require - as in Cabana 10 for example, or Table 220, or whatever number it is
4) Contact the host and negotiate my price for the table/cabana I have chosen

Thats all that is required. If you turn up on the day without knowing where you want to be you are disadvantaging yourself and may end up in a place you dont think is worth it or dont like.

Finally - my original point. These guys are not there to make you feel like a prince. They are there to ensure you have a great time, yes, but they arent gonna be giving you VIP priveleges. Sadly youre not a big time player so just accept that and move on

[Lukas]

OK, 5k does put you in the top tier. 30 min of waiting is ridiculous. If your spending that much money you should have gotten your spot pre-set and also you shouldn't be waiting more then 5-10 mins for your host. Poor job by your host.

Best you find a better host for next time.

Heading to LV with ~8 guys June 14.

Last year, we did MDC, cabana.

I thought i was clever and reached out to Robert Montero to reserve a cabana, on the basis that he was the guy in charge and we'd have the best leverage for a good spot.

I found the experience kind of sucky, in a modern vegas way: I stopped in the day before to shake hands, tip, and "make sure we're all set for tomorrow". He said just be sure to be there right when we open at ... (10am? can't remember). I drag my hungover ass down at 10am, get ignored in the lobby for like half an hour, wait in line for a half hour, get to Robert (and grease him again)... and he sends me with someone to take me to cabana 1. Which is in, like, Antarctica. I throw a fit and end up in 7, which was great but c'mon.

This is all to say: I don't need this stress, when I'm paying $5K for some real estate for a few hours. Since I organize, I feel responsible for it to be kick-ass for the other guys, and i don't need to be stressing in the lobby and kissing ass (in addition to tipping) just not to end up with a cabana in siberia -- if I'd been even a little later or less persistent I might have been stuck there.


So, given all that, I was thinking of doing EBC this year instead, not so much because MDC wasn't good - -it was fun once that was all done -- but some variety, and have had good times at EBC before.

Who do people suggest I arrange through so I can get looked after a little more -- i.e. I can book this ahead of time, and just show up in the AM with zero stress and know someone is making sure we have as good a setup as possible given the price range we are in? I am assuming that Robert gets lots of regulars, and so a "1-off" customer like me, and a bunch of late-30's guys don't get the top treatment, and I don't necessarily blame him for that -- maybe I need someone advocating on my behalf who has a more repeat relationship and thus has to be respected? Happy to pay the market rate.

Or, maybe I was just unlucky or got a bad day?

[Brooklyn Marc]

It does seem like that was one of the worst experiences I have heard about, while using a host actually.

[renator]

My advice...
Get a recommended host from the forum. Text him when youre going to the door hell take care of you. Never had a problem before...as for the able, agree on handshake for better location but give him once youre there..
Also try to build a relation so next time youre going you already know the drill and the host already knows you.
at EBC go for Anthony K or Trevor Pickering. MDC Cliff Orr, Wet Thomas Gorman and Dailyght Noah Ram...youll be good with one of these guys.

[DeX]

I think youre expecting too much. What dyou want these guys to do? Roll out the red carpet? You're just another group of guys mate. They see hundreds every week.

If you wanna waste time and go to meet a busy man the day before your booking just to say hi, thats up to you! Going to the most senior host guarantees nothing.

Im not sure what youre expecting really, if you have a cabana there is always a little waiting around while they sort you all out and process you all and do your ID's etc etc.

You can always book ahead of time. Youre also getting in too early aswell. Getting to MDC at 10am? Mental. You will basically get put in the first cabana available. if youre there that early they'll chuck you in to the cheapest one they can and hope to fill the others with higher spends, its basic economics.

So my advice is this, get to EBC at 12ish, dont expect anything. you have a cabana, big deal, so do loads of other people and theyre probably spending more. 5k doesnt put you in the big league at EBC or MDC. Double it or triple it and then maybe.

The beauty of these places is that everyone is treated the same, whether you are on the guest list, or going in General Admission. The only people who get special treatment at any venue are the high rollers who get everything comped, the A list and the celebrities. You arent one of those with a $5k spend sadly.

Didn't read through all the thread so sorry if this has been answered but I highlighted the issues with your post. So much wrong with all of this.

Hosts are required to turn tips in to be split with the rest of the hosts. You get a tip outside the property, the tip is yours. To me when a client wants to touch base beforehand and tip BEFORE he has had his fun, that more than likely means hes gonna be a generous tipper if he is treated properly. More reason to go the extra mile for that client.
Seniority most definitely matters and that is all I will say about that.

No such thing as getting there too early, in fact, it is a hosts wet dream to have all his clients get there earlier rather than later and you do get better seating by being there early in most cases. Not the opposite. Tables get lost, minimums get raised and table locations become shittier when arriving later unless you have a high min and have pre-paid so the table is on hold.

5k is a pretty decent minimum. You should have not been kept waiting, simple. It's not about rolling the red carpet, but that rope should have been opened sooner and your ticket put in right away. I know it looks like chaos outside the but hosts work very well with each other in terms of communicating and tables being walked in faster, especially at marquee.

Lastly, everyone does not get treated the same. Thats what makes vegas, vegas. The more you spend the better you get treated, the more you get away with, from what you wear to how you behave on the tables...all based on what you're spending.

Hope you don't take my post the wrong way or thing its a personal attack or anything Tomm0. there is just a bunch of lurkers and people who read these forums and the last thing they need is to be misinformed, especially when they're spending that kind of money. Oh and to the Original Poster, Anthony K has always been extremely helpful to anyone I've ever sent his way, he is your man.

[BigPimp]

Great post DeX. Necessary too. The original poster's experience is definitely not typical in Vegas.