Thanks, everybody

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This posting is from: Tina Tawdre
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>I would like to invite you to share with us any thoughts, feelings,
>comments (both positive and negative), anecdotes, suggestions, etc.
>regarding DLV 2003. Anything from one sentence to a blow-by-blow account
>of your DLV experience will be welcome.

1). Sahara Hotel

Wasn't as bad as many said it would be. After 4 years of listening to
an annual debate about it, I decided to check for myself. at my 5th DLV
Adequate, if old, rooms. The buffet (a frequent source of complaint)
was actually excellent and a good value. Way too many children and
(particularly) teenagers, probably a direct result of its budget prices
and its deliberate marketing (NASCAR, etc) to the family market.

Excellent and convenient parking facilities. Great location close to
many GLBT venues.

I do wish they had security chains on their doors.

2). Drag Shows

Every year, people ask that we put drag shows on the schedule, then most
of our girls sit on their hands and don't applaud and don't tip. This
was particularly apparent for the Flex show (just like the same lack of
response last year), though somewhat better at Sasha's. The show at
Flex was adequate. You can't expect Manhattan cabaret every night in a
neighborhood bar.

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Schedule blow-by-blow ("Why, you hardly even know me." - Red Peters)

Monday, April 21:
1:00pm Brunch with Tina
7:30pm Happy Hour at Spotlight

Amazingly, a few girls even showed up for Brunch that first day, and the
numbers got bigger each day after that I heard about.

Unfortunately, personal problems kept me from going out to Spotlight on
Monday (more about that in a separate mailing), but Danny and I did pop
in there on 3 other occasions. We liked it a lot. It reminds us of one
of our favorite bars here in Austin. And it's bigger inside than it
looks. Would hold 50-60 easy.

Tuesday, April 22:
6:00pm Pre-DLV dinner
8:00pm Welcome celebration
11:00pm Dancing

We ate at Hamburger Mary's on 2 separate nights. Nothing special, but
very big burgers. Staff was always outstanding in the friendly
department.

Flex was great as usual. And did you notice that they did have 2 people
behind the bar.

We were too tired to do the dancing at SRO. Did anybody go to this? I
asked around and didn't hear of anybody who did. If so, please comment.
Feedback on this place is important.

Wednesday, April 23:
Ev Red Shoe Night
5:30pm Happy Hour
6:30pm Dinner, possible show
10:30pm Karaoke

I did see some red shoes on some, but I'm waiting for the pictures.

Sasha's was great. Tell your friends, they need all the business they
can get. On other nights we stopped in, there were very few customers,
particularly ones with much money to spend.

Karaoke at Goodtimes was fun. Some complained about the long wait times
between singing their songs. That's normal when 50 t-girls invade a
regular neighborhood bar. They don't kick out the regulars just because
we show up once a year.

Thursday, April 24:
1:00pm Buffet lunch at Bellagio
1:00pm Brunch with or without Tina
1-4pm Glamour Boutique Open House
2:00pm Passing Seminar
7:30pm Jubilee
9:00pm Limo Tour
9:30pm Late Night Social Hour

Yes, as I warned everyone that I would, I skipped my namesake brunch to
do lunch at the Bellagio. I thought the Bellagio was very nice and an
excellent value for the money. My vote for nicest buffet in LV. Danny
and I paid more for less at Caesar's during this same trip.

I "passed" on the passing seminar, even though I had registered. Simply
under-estimated the time the Bellagio would take. For me, it took much
longer to get everywhere this year. Traffic seemed heavier, regardless
of time of day, and construction at several parking garages
significantly added to delays all week. Also, sore ribs. :-)

Jubilee gets my vote as the best night-time show we have ever attended
at DLV. Better than Splash, better than Folies, and better than LaFemme
(and I even organized some of those in previous years). Jubilee was
just an outstanding mix of song and dance and costumes. And no quickie
either, running a full 1 hour and 40 minutes. Three cheers for Aiko!!

There wasn't much going on (or very many people) at Hamburger Mary's for
the Late Night Social Hour after Jubilee. After about an hour, most of
us drifted on to other places in small groups. But, it did give me an
opportunity to meet the famous "other" Tina - Tina from San Diego.

This year, we had so many name duplicates (Tinas, Dannys, etc) that I
would suggest we put an explicit (though optional) last name field on
the electronic registration form.

Friday, April 25:

7:30pm Annual Mixer
11:00pm Dance Night

When, oh when, is Goodtimes going to get the message and have 2
bartenders on Friday night when we are there? The late night bartender
(Manuel ??) is a nice guy, just as he is on karaoke nights on Wednesday
(and he was also there last year). But, the earlier guy could have used
a personality transplant. And apparently waving money at him and tipping
generously was not enough to get good service. He missed several
chances to sell me another drink. Or, maybe he thought I was drunk from
just one. :-)

I heard that nobody hung around long for Dance Night at Gipsy. My rib
problems kept me from getting there this year, which was embarrassing
since I pushed to have it on the schedule. People told me that several
girls did show up, but were put off by the lack of any kind of crowd and
so went to other places. Which is fine, as long as everyone had fun. I
sincerely hope that no one got left out.

I also heard that a few girls were put off by the concept of the male
dance revue. That was a very recent change in the Gipsy schedule that
was not even reflected yet in their magazine advertising. That wouldn't
have bothered me, since t-girls run into this all the time in gay clubs
if they go out much, but to each their own.

Gina, I did get the word about your AM thing at the Charles Bar. Wish
I'd had the energy to make it there.


Saturday, April 26:
11-3 SBS Garden Party
7:00pm Happy Hour
8:00pm Buffet dinner
10:30pm Showgirls Of Magic

I already apologized to Mindy and Diane for missing the Garden Party and
bought them drinks to make up for it (their idea of the value of
reparations). They are such wonderful people.

The San Remo staff was its usual friendly self. Same nice female
bartender by the theater during Happy Hour. Good food and nice waiters
at the buffet (also nice waiters in the early AM when we had midnight
supper).

Tiny and the SGOM cast were both fabulous performers and very patient
people for the pictures afterward. Very, very patient afterwards.

Personally, I thought that, as a group, we could have been a bit
prompter at responding to their requests during the posing shuffle.
They worked very hard to create an excellent layout, given the stage
lighting restrictions and our group's large size. Those performers had
just done a full show (their 2nd show of the night) and then stood an
additional 20 minutes under the lights with us (I timed it). More of us
should have personally thanked each of them. I was embarrassed that
there was not more courtesy shown.

I'll be forwarding my pictures over the next few days, starting tomorrow.

Hugs,

-- Tina

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(This posting was entered by Tina Tawdre, an external user of MyDLV.)