Line dancing: Getting into the clubs requires the right clothes, hard cash

Insider tips for clubbing in Las Vegas, including how to avoid long waits and snubs from doormen.

By Jon Bream, Star Tribune

Last update: January 7, 2006 - 4:16 PM

Clubbers, do you want to spend your time in Vegas waiting in line or partying?

Here are a few tips to avoid the long queues. But be forewarned, unless you have connections like P. Diddy, you will be dropping some Benjamins before the night ends.

Plan ahead. Get on the Internet before you go to Vegas. Not all clubs are open every night. Some accept reservations.

Act like you belong. Confidence helps, says Vegas regular Doogie Wolfson of Golden Valley. Don't be afraid to approach a doorman and slip him $20, Wolfson says. And tip generously all around, especially if you plan on returning to the club; leave your name or business card (for a future visit) with the host or doorman when you're greasing their palm.

Tipping the doorman for admission works only at midlevel and casual clubs, warns Xania Woodman, nightlife columnist for Las Vegas Weekly and www.thecircuitlv.com. "At higher-end clubs, his hands will be tied."

For women, doormen should be impervious to your come-ons, says Woodman, 27, who goes clubbing four or five nights a week. "Cash is the only Kryptonite, and women rarely will tip enough zeros to make anything happen. But if you are a group of young, hot, single girls, make your presence known immediately and you'll probably get in before you can even get your ID out."

Dress the part. Getting into Vegas clubs is a privilege, not a right, Woodman reminds. "Next in line does not always equal next into the club," she says. "Discrimination is common where clothing is concerned."

So guys, wear shoes (not sneakers), shirts with collars and pants (not jeans). Sport coats are OK but ties aren't necessary, says Woodman.

For women, "anything goes," she says. "Just no super-casual clothes. If you even have to ask, go change."

Buy front-of-line tickets. They'll cost you more but it's worth it. For example, at Light at the Bellagio, front-of-line tickets are $50 while general admission is $30; at Ghostbar on weekends, the tariff is $50 vs. $25. Many front-of-line tickets have restrictions such as arrival by midnight.

Make a reservation. Some clubs allow you to book tables or VIP booths online or in person. Tickets also can be purchased from such third parties as clubplanet.com and wanttickets.com. The tables and VIP areas usually require what's called a bottle fee, the minimum amount you should spend on drinks, which may run as high as $350 (plus tip).

Hire a guide. Even though he has some connections as a producer at KFAN radio in the Twin Cities, Wolfson and his buddies usually enlist a limo driver for taking them around town and providing entree at certain clubs.

To get into such high-end hot spots as Pure (at Caesars Palace), Light (at Bellagio) and Tao (at Tao), Woodman recommends hiring a VIP hosting company such as Vegas VIP or Vegas Passport; fees can run $500 and up. "Your host will meet you, walk you in, and make sure you're cool," the clubbing columnist says.

Travel in groups. For guys, never more than four in your entourage unless you are ponying up for bottle service, in which case six is ideal. For women, travel in large groups with no men, Woodman suggests.

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719