How do independent hosts make money, and other questions

[santeeklauz]

Hello everyone. I am new here but not trying to become a promoter, just have some questions that have been on my mind for a while. I travel to Vegas fairly often and have been to many clubs, but have never got bottle service so I am unfamiliar with how hosts work. I know that direct hosts work for a group to fill tables and to bring in hot girls, and they make a paycheck plus a commission depending on how many people they bring in, correct? Now an independent host, how do they make money? I am curious because I have a friend of a friend who is an independent promoter in Vegas and hosts pretty much every single club there is. I met him a few years ago and he walked me and the friend into XS but charged us like 70 dollars a piece. Does he pocket this money, or have to split it with bouncers? He seemed to know all of the security pretty well. If he doesn't have to pay them, what incentive is there for the bouncers to let a random dude bring in other random dudes? Also, this promoter does the bottle service thing at clubs; do his clients pay him, or the club, and once again if it's the club how does he get a cut? I believe he promotes for all of the newer clubs like Jewel and Ominia, so how would he establish connections that fast and be able to walk people in? Sorry if this sounds noobish, but I figure you guys here will know better than anyone.

[rtwil]

Independent hosts make money by either tacking extra on the quote, increased handshakes or both. Hosts in Vegas are a pretty small tight group. When a new club opens they typically hire some hosts from existing clubs so an independent host or promoter who has been working in town for awhile has immediate contacts in the new club

[DeX]

This is a very loaded thread I will do my best to answer but forgive me if I don't go into too much detail.

Direct hosts: Not all of the venues pay comission. Some have a small salary and then comission. Some have a bigger salary and they have to meet a certain amount of table sales weekly and then there are bonuses. They also all have to turn in their tips and it gets split amongst them, not evenly, you get a certain percentage based on seniority.

Independent hosts: It varies, some of us have contracts or work with/for someone and we get paid comission by the venues. For those that don't and they're just starting out they tend to work off tips and other small things like trying to fill up a staff member's guestlist. The bigger and more established independent companies will charge a fee for their services.

For your promoter friend, he most likely gave most of that handshake to whoever he works with at the venue and kept only a small part of it for himself.

The hosts that work at omnia and jewel were working at other venues prior to that so he probably already had an established relationship with someone before they moved over or maybe he was referred to one of them by someone in his network.

[santeeklauz]

Thanks for the replies. I did not mean for the thread to seem loaded but I do see how it came off that way. I had a feeling the handshake was spread out among others, especially the security. I still do not understand how he gets a commission from the venue for bringing in people that would be going in anyway though, if that makes sense.

[Solo]

@ dex, that's interesting

how does one enter the independent host or club promoter career in vegas? I've done sales before and i've always wanted to try it out for the experience considering it's vegas. Not to mention, i might get excellent connects/network

[DeX]

Thanks for the replies. I did not mean for the thread to seem loaded but I do see how it came off that way. I had a feeling the handshake was spread out among others, especially the security. I still do not understand how he gets a commission from the venue for bringing in people that would be going in anyway though, if that makes sense.

I meant loaded as in there was a lot of questions, its no worries lol. You don't get commission from the venue by doing hosted entries. The commission comes from tables sorry if i wasnt too clear on that. Also in my experience people who usually tip the bouncers is just for line skip, they don't have access to the slips you need to take to the front that say how many males and females in your group are comped.

Solo promoters are always being looked for by the clubs and they deal with the guest lists. if you have no prior experience they'll most likely start you outside on the strip and then you work your up. Hosts have a certain amount they have to sell each week so if you as a promoter after a while are doing the sales numbers of a jr host or higher on a weekly basis i imagine thats when you start asking for the new position.
Independent hosting is a lot more difficult unless you already have a good network of people who buy tables a lot and who would buy them from you. I just happened to stumble on it cause of the friends i made in the industry and this website.

[Solo]

oh thanks, yeah i realized a lot of independent hosts use social media(for example michael hakkasan on a FB) does that to advertise themselves.

there's a guy named Jay Farber(2nd place in the World series of poker main event) who was an independent VIP host. Apparently he could afford a $10,000 buy in. From what you guys are telling me, it seems like independent hosts are making scraps and rely on tips...

anyway, Dex, it says you are a VIP host. Are there limitations on what you can't do? Some guy named Aloun Siharath(host) said he can't dance with his clients or take one home because of protocol. Another thing, he said they can't accept tips in person(especially in front of the establishment, it has to be done in discrete. Another thing too, there are so called "fake hosts or fake promoters" who sell tickets to the club, yet it's a known fake. So how do you differentiate the actual club promoters to the scammers

[DeX]

oh thanks, yeah i realized a lot of independent hosts use social media(for example michael hakkasan on a FB) does that to advertise themselves.

there's a guy named Jay Farber(2nd place in the World series of poker main event) who was an independent VIP host. Apparently he could afford a $10,000 buy in. From what you guys are telling me, it seems like independent hosts are making scraps and rely on tips...

anyway, Dex, it says you are a VIP host. Are there limitations on what you can't do? Some guy named Aloun Siharath(host) said he can't dance with his clients or take one home because of protocol. Another thing, he said they can't accept tips in person(especially in front of the establishment, it has to be done in discrete. Another thing too, there are so called "fake hosts or fake promoters" who sell tickets to the club, yet it's a known fake. So how do you differentiate the actual club promoters to the scammers

i would have to double check but if i remember correctly jay farber got a loan from his friend dan bilzerian to enter the tournament and he gave him back 1 mill after he placed 2nd

yes and no. there are indy hosts that book over 1 mill a year in tables with comission alone that makes for a very comfortable living. some don't do as well and have other jobs on the side.

limitations - i mean for indy hosts not really....if you work for yourself you do whatever you want really long as you are respectful to the venues, their staff and patrons. For your clients it all depends on the clients, I agree with the host you mentioned, it's best not get involved with a client or someone from their group because you can risk losing their business and their network. Some will invite you to stay and party with them, some just want you to do what you promised and be gone.

tips - maybe its the company he works for idk. I've never had an issue with someone taking care of me either outside or inside of the venue.

fake promoters/hosts - company business card and ask for their work email it will have the @clubname.com at the end

[santeeklauz]

Dex, thanks for answering, again. So if someone works for themself, and walks someone into like a pool party, do they still make money if not for a tip?

[santeeklauz]

Bumping this up because I just realized the guy has his own website. It seems a little spammy, and I am still curious as to how he makes his money, since he seems to work for every club under the sun according to the site.

[Andrew@LasVegasNightclubs]

To be a legit independent host in Las Vegas, you must have your Nevada Gaming License, which requires a large fee, a sponsor (a nightclub must sponsor you), an intense background check and finger printing. If you're not registered with the Nevada Gaming board, you can not have a contract to work with the clubs. Their are many people who work for a registered company, and their are many who just simply do it on their own.

But using an independent, Whether they are registered or not, just know there is always going to be higher prices because of "fees." They charge you to get into clubs, they charge you more than a table will cost after tax, gratuity and venue fees. And they usually ask for a "handshake = tip." So, in the end, it's always a good idea to go with a real host that works at the clubs. They have the most accurate up to date pricing, and have more leverage to get you sat than an independent host.

Our site offers a list of hosts that work at each venue. You can contact them for free here: https://lasvegasnightclubs.com/hosts/