A day in the life of a host

[BlackPetaa]

I'm interested in just learning more about the business this is mainly addressed to anthony and noah. What types of things do you guys do each day to get ready for your specific club nights? what are your typical days and nights like? what are some of the job duties you have to perform? How did you guys get your start in the industry?
I just want to learn a little bit more about the LV industry

[IRockNvegas]

Great question

[wowzers83]

yea....do you guys have two phones? one personal, on work? Do you carry/or respond to questions on your off day? what time do you wake up?

[Chuck]

By looking at post times on the forum...my guess is Anthony sleeps about 5 hours on average between 6am and 11am. The rest of the time is a neverending shitstorm of texts, emails, phone calls, meetings, handshakes, and Patron shots....24/7/365.

[timbuck2]

And how do you keep track of all of the texts that you get? Do you keep records of your customers? (IE - Timbuck2 was here on March 13 with 5 people. He had a 2 bottle minimum. Tipped me $100).
Or do you just have a massive text inbox and just roll with it?

[Chuck]

And how do you keep track of all of the texts that you get? Do you keep records of your customers? (IE - Timbuck2 was here on March 13 with 5 people. He had a 2 bottle minimum. Tipped me $100).
Or do you just have a massive text inbox and just roll with it?

As far as that goes here is a must have IMO for any host
http://www.nutshell.com/

It's a CRM service for smart phones that integrates with google contacts and stuff. You can track financials for each contact and it syncs live over multiple devices and you could even share info with other hosts in the same venue. I'd be surprised if the big clubs didn't already have something similar deployed.

[AnthonyHyde]

I'm interested in just learning more about the business this is mainly addressed to anthony and noah. What types of things do you guys do each day to get ready for your specific club nights? what are your typical days and nights like? what are some of the job duties you have to perform? How did you guys get your start in the industry?
I just want to learn a little bit more about the LV industry

No day is ever the same but a typical day would consist of a meeting at noon, then sometimes ill hit up my hotels, and visit my concierge/casino hosts/etc. some times ill bring them cupcakes or starbucks, or take some sort of lunch. Sometimes ill hit up the pools if we have a cabana or ill visit clients. come home around 5-6 and either gym or nap. get to the club around 830-9 and work till about 2-3. if i have clients at another club that i set up ill go visit them when i get off. i get to bed typically around 5-6 every night.

on off days ill still go to the pool to visit clients. at night we have what are called outings. basically another club gives our club a comped table with a few bottles and we go there to support them on their industry nights. Mon- Marquee, Wed- Surrender, Thurs- Tao. Sunday as of late, has been my day of rest, but if i go out i typically go to bank. This is a job that is all about building relationships and keeping those relationships. going out is the best way to network. networking is the best way to get business.

as for answering text/calls/emails/etc, me personally, i answer everything right away. some hosts have different folders on their phones or computers and hold off on answering people till closer to their trip.

[AnthonyHyde]

yea....do you guys have two phones? one personal, on work? Do you carry/or respond to questions on your off day? what time do you wake up?

some hosts have 2 phones. there are a few reasons....

1. 1 iphone and 1 blackberry
blackberrys are best for business and most hosts use them, but everyone wants an iPhone. about half of the people with iPhones probably couldn't tell you the number for their iPhone.

2. 2 blackberrys
one is their personal blackberry that they pay for and one is the companies BB that they are required to carry. this is mainly because the companies BB is hooked up to an enterprise server.

3. when a host "retires" sometimes they will give/sell their phone to another host so that their clients are are now being taken care of by the new host.

i carry 1 phone. having 2 is stupid and a waste of money in my opinion. i got rid of my iPhone a year ago because i was sick of people i never really talked to from my past, hitting me up thinking they could get something free out of me when they come to vegas. good friends i try to take care of as much as i can, but honestly, most people get one simple answer:

"if you're coming to vegas, the answer is NO and the price is EXPENSIVE."

[AnthonyHyde]

And how do you keep track of all of the texts that you get? Do you keep records of your customers? (IE - Timbuck2 was here on March 13 with 5 people. He had a 2 bottle minimum. Tipped me $100).
Or do you just have a massive text inbox and just roll with it?

when i save names in my phone i put in first and last name, in the "company" section i put whether your JC, or where you work, and if you're a bottle buyer or not. in the notes i put descriptions like where your from, how much you spent(if relevant) or if its a girl contact whether you're attractive or not.

[AnthonyHyde]

And how do you keep track of all of the texts that you get? Do you keep records of your customers? (IE - Timbuck2 was here on March 13 with 5 people. He had a 2 bottle minimum. Tipped me $100).
Or do you just have a massive text inbox and just roll with it?

As far as that goes here is a must have IMO for any host
http://www.nutshell.com/

It's a CRM service for smart phones that integrates with google contacts and stuff. You can track financials for each contact and it syncs live over multiple devices and you could even share info with other hosts in the same venue. I'd be surprised if the big clubs didn't already have something similar deployed.

that looks awesome but unfortunately it doesn't work for blackberry.

[Chuck]

Thanks for the insight Anthony...that was truly the most riveting read I've had in a while. Loved your response to the free-loaders! LOL

As I suspected the hosting game sounds like hard work. Granted you're "office" is pretty badass....but it's gotta be damn hard to be "on" ALL THE TIME! You never know when you're going to run into that next big client...a day's rest could cost ya big and you wouldn't even know it.

The dedication it takes is second to none...I think I'm going to start looking for hosts to snatch up to come work for me. That amount of self motivation and dedication to one's craft is rare and invaluable. One of the few things that can't be taught. Cheers to you my friend.

P.S. Hope those invaders took it easy on you the past few days...

[BlackPetaa]

And how do you keep track of all of the texts that you get? Do you keep records of your customers? (IE - Timbuck2 was here on March 13 with 5 people. He had a 2 bottle minimum. Tipped me $100).
Or do you just have a massive text inbox and just roll with it?

As far as that goes here is a must have IMO for any host
http://www.nutshell.com/

It's a CRM service for smart phones that integrates with google contacts and stuff. You can track financials for each contact and it syncs live over multiple devices and you could even share info with other hosts in the same venue. I'd be surprised if the big clubs didn't already have something similar deployed.

that looks awesome but unfortunately it doesn't work for blackberry.

Anthony, First off i would like to thank you for taking the time to answer all our questions. Ya I usually see I think there hosts or people who work for the club getting tables and stuff towards the ends of big nights like at 5 - 6 in the morning usually they look like pretty wild tables. Another question do you guys get paid per bottle/person you sell get to enter or is it like a salary plus comission. Did you just apply for this position or simply somehow land in it because you knew people?

[tc3]

Quick question........ With all of the free invaluable advice that Anthony provides to this forum why isnt he listed as the main contact for HYDE???


When you browse through threads you see some of the other host contacts dont answer emails, return calls, follow up, etc... Lots of complaints......


Wasnt JROC from the Pauly D show listed as a host??? Yikes, I wouldnt want that dude arranging my night.


I'm sure other members will chime in and agree with me.

[NoahRam]

Quick question........ With all of the free invaluable advice that Anthony provides to this forum why isnt he listed as the main contact for HYDE???


When you browse through threads you see some of the other host contacts dont answer emails, return calls, follow up, etc... Lots of complaints......


Wasnt JROC from the Pauly D show listed as a host??? Yikes, I wouldnt want that dude arranging my night.


I'm sure other members will chime in and agree with me.

Lol, JRoc was the VIP Services Manager (Head of all the hosts) for Palms if I remember right. I used to go through him for everything Vegas like a year or 2 ago. I haven't seen the show, but I can only imagine based on how you said it. He's currently corporate with SBE I believe (Anthony would know better).

[NoahRam]

Sorry, I'm just now getting to reading this thread...

Past info: Started promotions in Hollywood 4 years ago with a company called Hollywood Clique and opened a lot of small spots. Ended up going independent for a bit doing places like Les Deux Hollywood when celebs were always out partying hard and reality TV was getting big. Then joined a new company as a promoter and eventually worked my way up to Managing Partner with that independent promotions company and running the door at Les Deux and The Kress Rooftop. Worked with Playhouse off and on since they opened. Ran around with random celebs, socialites, and overall drunk messes. This lasted a little over 2 years. Then I went independent again doing Playhouse, Supperclub, Roxbury, and a few SBE spots for a bit until a month and a half ago I joined the inhouse team with Marquee.

Day-to-Day: a whole lot of texts! lol. I contact regulars, people that send me referrals, go through my schedules, browse Facebook and Twitter, see what big parties are going on and who's doing what, go by the office most days, talk with other teammates, walk/feed the dogs, eat/sleep/etc, talk to other hosts and promoters just to touchbase, and probably a whole lot more my brains not registering as important.

Money: starting it won't be great and definitely don't rely on it for any sort of main income. once you start getting decent at your job then you can consider it a part-time gig for decent cash. once you get good and go full-time it'll either be just enough or a hell of a lot depending on how much time effort and dedication you put into it just like anything else.

Most promoters/hosts I know spend a lot of money on other partys and hosting as well including myself. When we're not working we're probably out somewhere and probably spending money on drinks and food taking care of others. It's a blessing and a curse to be in the business of making sure others are happy and taken care of lol.

EDIT: One phone (BlackBerry), have small amount of notes but most of it's in my head or past texts/emails.