Moderator: Doug Brown Talent Buyers Network
Steve Gietka Trump Entertainment Resorts
James Grimm Hellman Enterprises
Terry Jenkins Boyd Gaming
Bob Rech Potawatomi Casino
Joanna Scott Agency for the Performing Arts

Variety and competition: for casino talent buyers, those are the two biggest challenges when filling in the dates.

Steve Gietka said that in his market, one of the biggest challenges is recognizing the value of more contemporary entertainment and the price of that entertainment. Artists that wouldn’t have considered booking a casino gig in the past are now taking that route with good results.

Terry Jenkins, director of entertainment for Stardust Hotel & Casino, said his task is trying to find something new to throw into the mix with the overabundance of entertainment options in Las Vegas.

Joanna Scott had a different angle.

“I’d say my biggest challenge is whether to encourage a casino to get on board in the early stages of an artist’s career rather than waiting until the act is out on the market,” she said. “I’d like to see them play as many casinos throughout the country as possible. I think if the act is right, it will work no matter what.”

There are differences between a casino promoter and a regular venue promoter, and Gietka said that in his experience it pays to learn as much as possible about the “other side.”

“I’ve always had an appreciation for the people who are out there promoting and putting their money on the line, etc.,” he explained. “Casino buyers really don’t get a lot of respect but have earned a lot more in the last 10 years or so.

“The bottom line is agents are doing what’s best for their artists, and you have to convince them the best thing to do is to consider a casino.”

When Brown asked the panelists what the future holds for casino entertainment, each agreed the industry is strong.

“There’s no question that casinos are here to stay. We’re in the entertainment business and, whether anybody likes it or not, we’ll be here for a long time,” Bob Rech said. “I think what really needs to be done is communication. We’ve got to start communicating among each other instead of dividing each other. It just strengthens us.”

Gietka added, “There’s a uni-verse of people out there that wants to come to an entertainment experience, which really no one other than a casino really provides. You have your entire experience under one roof, whether you’re
a patron or an artist.”