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Under the Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman's Story
- 4-26-2010
- Categorized in: Las Vegas, Other Articles
Jay Rankin didn’t research Las Vegas; he lived it. His six years as an MGM Grand doorman gave him the insider’s view of real Vegas life, the grit behind the glitz. Jay reveals a Vegas few people know exists.
In his position as a doorman, Rankin found himself at the intersection of two worlds: the flashy, electric exterior of the Las Vegas Strip, and its gritty hidden infrastructure. Surrounded by hordes of visitors whose singular goal was often to cross lines, Rankin faced a nightly fight for his sanity and his safety.
Imagine working a 2 a.m. cab line populated by the desperate and the drunk, by high rollers and hookers. Imagine a workplace characterized by up-close-and-personal vice and violence. Now imagine getting through each shift under scrutiny from surveillance cameras, supervisors, and guests alike, knowing that one false move-whether in self-defense or in the best interests of another-might get you fired, or worse.
“Vegas is carefully constructed to propel visitors toward disaster,†writes Rankin. “Most guests are in freefall. Naïve, unsuspecting, they have no defense. I witness the assisted suicide every night; I’ve seen it a million times. I’m almost guaranteed to be there when the thrill ends.â€Â
One thing’s for sure: Vegas is not your average American town, and working as doorman at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is not your average briefcase-toting job. Earning a living in Las Vegas is a nonstop thrill ride with an unknown destination. Look over Jay Rankin’s shoulder as he navigates pitfalls and temptations, and gets off the tracks just in time.
Buy Jay Rankin's "Under the Neon Sky".
In his position as a doorman, Rankin found himself at the intersection of two worlds: the flashy, electric exterior of the Las Vegas Strip, and its gritty hidden infrastructure. Surrounded by hordes of visitors whose singular goal was often to cross lines, Rankin faced a nightly fight for his sanity and his safety.
Imagine working a 2 a.m. cab line populated by the desperate and the drunk, by high rollers and hookers. Imagine a workplace characterized by up-close-and-personal vice and violence. Now imagine getting through each shift under scrutiny from surveillance cameras, supervisors, and guests alike, knowing that one false move-whether in self-defense or in the best interests of another-might get you fired, or worse.
“Vegas is carefully constructed to propel visitors toward disaster,†writes Rankin. “Most guests are in freefall. Naïve, unsuspecting, they have no defense. I witness the assisted suicide every night; I’ve seen it a million times. I’m almost guaranteed to be there when the thrill ends.â€Â
One thing’s for sure: Vegas is not your average American town, and working as doorman at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is not your average briefcase-toting job. Earning a living in Las Vegas is a nonstop thrill ride with an unknown destination. Look over Jay Rankin’s shoulder as he navigates pitfalls and temptations, and gets off the tracks just in time.
Buy Jay Rankin's "Under the Neon Sky".