Las Vegas & The MoviesWritten by Iulia Pascanu
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Casino This one, released in 1995, is classic. It approaces "sin city" way nobody dared before. The story is based on almost fabulous life of Frank Rosendhale (impersonated by Robert de Niro), best handicapper of all times, and his beautifull wife Gery (impersonated by Sharon Stone). Las Vegas made them rich and television made them famous. "Casino" hit box-offices, but Frank said director Martin Scorsese brought spotlights on his own chopped vision of Las Vegas; blamed him that he was not really interested to either understand casinos or be faithful to real story; thus, Frank Rosenthale would have told it differently. The Winner Las Vegas footage has proven a good luck charm for Francis Ford Coppola's famous nephew, Nicholas Cage. He started with Honeymoon in Vegas in 1992, grabbed an Oscar on road with Leaving Las Vegas and made a come-back with Con Air in 1997; literally, Nick Cage forced his landing on Hard Rock Hotel guitar... Just another subjective list * 1971 - Diamonds Are Forever, from James Bond (Sean Connery) series * 1974 - The Godfather Part II * The Rocky series (parts III and IV) included brief glimpses from Las Vegas * 1987 - Heat, 100% Las Vegas made, starring Burt Reynolds * 1988 - Rain Man, with Dustin Hoffman, action set mostly inside Caesars Palace * 1991 - Bugsy, story of Bugsy Siegel and making of Flamingo. Casts Warren Beatty and Annette Bening * 1993 - Indecent Proposal. Some reviews advice to "save money for slots" * 1995 - Heat, this time starring Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, only movie two "monsters" have met * 1995 - Showgirls, mostly a movie about... girls, including many scenes at Stardust
Iulia Pascanu writes for http://www.bestlasvegashotels.info where you can find more information about the best hotels in Las Vegas. Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto:iuliap@gmail.com
| | StagefrightWritten by Tom ''Ketchfish'' Inglis
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"Tonight is night of my best performance ever" "Damn, I'm good!" "Every female in house wants me" "You look pretty stupid in your underwear" Okay, I made last one up on spot but you get idea. Take a self-affirming thought, turn it into a phrase and repeat it over and over in your mind. BE ON TIME AND INSIST YOUR BANDMATES DO THE SAME Feeling frantic trying to get set up in a hurry, starting show without a sound check, having club owner watching you get ready to play, etc. These add an enormous amount of stress to beginning of your show. If you have a bandmate that constantly shows up at last minute or late, fire him and replace him. This person is no pro and he'll drag you down. If you are always late, shame on you! Buy a watch. Leave your house an hour early. Grow up, there are other people's reputations depending on you. I make it a point to be first person to arrive at a venue.but I don't go inside until second person shows up. That way I don't feel nervous in an unfamiliar place with only strangers around me. DRINK WATER No alcohol before third set. (or none at all ) And no pot smoking, it makes you paranoid. Save it for after show if you must partake. ESTABLISH A PRE-SHOW RITUAL Rituals are comforting. They make you feel comfortable in a place and in your mental space. I insist that set up be done 15 minutes minimum before show time including all sound checks. This 15 minutes is mine and I suffer no interruptions. I go to dressing room or my car and do deep breathing 5 X. I then run over first two songs in my head. I then do my mantra. At 5 minutes before show I grab a bottle of water, hit bathroom and splash my face. I time my arrival to exactly show time and count down or cue first song. No talking, no intro, just go. The goofy people in their underwear KNOW you're a professional, there to entertain them. USE THE EVIL POWER FOR GOOD I briefly mentioned "hyper-aware" state that stage fright can induce. This is your naturally occuring "fight or flee" response to a situation you percieve as dangerous. Your perceptions are heightened, you hear better, you see better...you can perform better. By way, it's not really dangerous on-stage. I've played some of roughest bars and biker clubhouses around and only time an audience member has physically attacked me is when they were an angry husband or boyfriend trying to keep me from taking their woman away from them. Just see who's with that total babe before you hit on her too hard and you're safe. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP If nothing else works, see a counselor or doctor. There are many therapies and medications that can help with extreme stage fright. I've heard of many performers who take beta-blocking drugs and swear they do wonders. Don't let your musical talent be stifled.
Ol' Ketchfish is a songwriter and musician with years of performance experience, back to the bad old eighties. He's played every kind of venue from dirt floor barrooms to church halls, from stadiums to small town bandstands. At every gig, he's experienced stagefright and he's found some techniques to use it to his advantage, so can you with a little practice. Check out his website at http://clik.to.ketchfish for more information.
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