I went to Las Vegas over the weekend.

I used the excuse of that I was going to go to the International Beauty Show Las Vegas trade show. “I’ll get a little education, a little fun, a little sun and who knows maybe a little payday from the casino”. I’ve previously learned that winning big in Vegas is a total ‘pie in the sky’ dream. Don’t ask.

I checked out the website that was IBS with information concerning the trade show. I figured that it would be a smaller show (nothing like Premiere in Orlando) but that didn’t matter. I just wanted a weekend away. I saw that you could book your room at the Las Vegas Hilton, which is the hotel that is connected to the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the show was to be held. The price for booking a room through the IBS website would have been $75. I thought to myself that I could do better since hearing that Vegas wasn’t doing well and business was down. Wellllll.. I decided to wait a few weeks and do the Priceline.com route. I first bid $45 for a 5 star hotel. Needless to say, my offer was rejected. So I tried $55 for a 4 star hotel. No dice. I then looked at current prices for a 4 star hotel room and decided that I’d try $85. Bingo! I got a room at the Westin Causaurina (or something like that), which is behind the Flamingo Hilton. I should have just booked a room at the Las Vegas Hilton in the first place! ugh…

I drove up Saturday night after work, which means that after packing I was finally on the road at 7:30 ish. A few years ago I gave up caffeine because it made it hard for me to sleep, and let me tell you, I was GROUCHY getting off the caffiene bus! I decided that after a long day I might need a little ‘pick me up/keep me awake’ for the drive so off of McDonalds to get a Coke and maybe one of those new coffee drinks. After the soda was gone, I started on the ‘rocket fuel’ err. coffee. Boy oh boy!! I could have sworn that I felt the ground shaking the entire drive to Vegas but I assumed that it was from the coffee. I didn’t have to worry about falling asleep, that’s for sure!

Sunday morning I hit the trade show. I walk slowly when I peruse the trade show floor, as I don’t want to miss anything that might really be useful. I was finished in about 30 minutes. The biggest hair booth there was Farouk, and I could actually hear the platform artist as they were not blaring dance music for once. I can’t blame them though, loud dance music always attracts hairdressers like moths to a flame. I decided to check out a few business classes and sat in for the first time on a class taught by Jon Gonzales. I was quite impressed. He seemed very sincere and knowledgeable and what more could you ask for a presenter? I decided to purchase a few of his management/salon development books. The only other thing that I bought was a few brushes from Y.S.Park (my favorite hair tool manufacturer at the moment). 

Sunday night I went to this cool, celebrity chef restaurant in the Treasure Island hotel called Isla. It’s mexican food and besides the mahi mahi taco, was pretty good. The tamale was the best I’ve had. Woowzers! 

Monday I took the opportunity to visit ‘old’ Vegas or ‘downtown’. It’s still Vegas but a different side of Vegas. Just as flashy but in a old flashy sort of way. I went early and evidently no one is awake before noon downtown. 

Of course, I did the obligatory ’drive by’ shots of the Strip. I think that they came out fairly good as I was driving alone with one hand out the sunroof trying to snap pictures!

Overall, I had a nice time away from work and home. The trade show needs some juice for it to be worth while just to go for the show. I would be more than willing to lend my hand at working a classroom and a booth if IBS was interested (hint hint haha). 

Till next time. And hopefully next time will provide more hair and trade show pictures!