[ScoopLV]

Another +1 that you'll have to start as a barback. You don't want to get in at Robuchon -- you'll be a wine slinger. You want to get in at the clubs. That's where the money is. That's ALSO where the longest lines to move up to bartender are.

Besides experience, charisma and sex appeal are both necessary to make it to the top tier. The people AT the top tier have been working their way up since they turned 21. You'll get 15-20 good years that way, if you hit the gym often. But then you'll get bumped from the club because you're not young and hot enough.

At the top tier it's all about margin -- selling $30 cocktails instead of $10 drafts. At the lower levels it's all about volume.

[BBMW]

I wouldn't worry about physical proximity to the strip too much. The better residential areas are not near the strip. Conversely, nothing in the Las Vegas valley is prohibatively far from the strip.

Originally Posted by vuhnan81

I sort of expected conflicting advice. Thanks to both of you for your input.

Assuming I go through with it and I move to Vegas, where should I look to live? I don't have a lot of other expenses, but my employment status is very uncertain. My initial thought was something close to the strip. Safety and convenience are my two primary concerns. I am living alone, so I don't need a ton of space. I can't afford anything ridiculous, but I've noticed studio apartments in the luxury high-rises are relatively affordable, and the locations are unbeatable. They're definitely on the higher end of what I'm willing to pay, but I've heard Summerlin and Henderson can be tough commutes during rush hour. What do you think?

[ScoopLV]

Our house doesn't even have highways leading to the strip. It's a 15-minute drive just to get to Route 95. And once we get to that point, it makes more sense to just stay on the surface streets and drive to the strip. It takes us anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to get to the strip.

The point is, our commute is worse than most, and it's still not all that bad.

[dewpohl]

Stop listening to people telling you jobs are not possible unless you know someone. First off, this is a female dominated town, don't think you will be bartending at a major club on the strip. However you can find jobs off the strip that pay well!! Since this is a hospitality town and you have a variety of experience youll be fine.
Its dirt cheap to live here and everything is close distance. Try it out and see for yourself, you might love it...

[Datafeed]

Good luck man.

[eventusstultorummagister]

Originally Posted by dewpohl

Its dirt cheap to live here...

Only if you're willing to live cheap n' dirty.