[DaveyM]

Originally Posted by thetalentedmisterdiamonte

The larger and the more luxurious resorts won't hire you as a cocktail waitress unless you have at least one preferably both of these requirements:
you know someone on the inside in that department you're applying for
or
you have previous experience of 1 year or more in that position at an off strip locals casino/hotel or downtown casino/hotel
There's lots of women who relocate to Las Vegas every month looking to apply to become a cocktail waitress. Many of them very beautiful and many of them with plenty of food and beverage serving experience. The bottom line: you'll have competition.
But don't give up. You just need to reasearch, learn about the position you're applying for ahead of time, make contacts, build working relationships, become very good at what you do, even build a clientele so when you apply to bigger better properties the gamblers will follow you.
Everyone must start from the bottom and work their way up the ladder.

I would think getting in to the cocktail waitress profession is a ton easier than trying to make it in the music business out there (like my daughter is doing). Good luck and stay true to yourself.

[jfkIII]

It's sounds like baseball where you have to start off in the non-glamorous minor leagues...or like acting, where you have to start off in community theater. I would think that if you want to go straight to the majors or Broadway (i.e., waitressing at Wynn, Bellagio or Venetian)...you better be the best of the best or you've got to put your time in at the lower levels and work your way up.

[dynimagelv]

you are exactly right JFK.....or at least "put up a good front"

[lasvegaslogos]

My wife is a cocktail waitress currently at Venetian. Now for some myths and truths.
You do not need to be a 10+ to get in on the strip but you do need some experience and you do need to be good looking. You will also need a sheriff card, a TAM (alchohol awareness) card, and a local address, most casinos wont even bother with your app unless you are already living here
You do not need to turn tricks, but it is not easy work either.
You will start on "Extra Board" which means you will not have a set schedule and will probably work about 32 hours a week. This is how you will build up seniority, Seniority will allow you to work your way up from a full time grave shift. The most likely shift you will be able to get full time, to either day shift (better hours) or swing shift (best pay)
Some casinos rotate their waitresses from slots , pits and lounges. Others have set areas. Coming in new you will want a casino that rotates because otherwise to get into a pit area (the best pay) will take many many years. You can figure working on the strip at a descent casino you should be able to make 100.00 to 150.00 a day in tips plus salary (usually in the 10.00 an hour range) Pit girls can make 250 to 400 a day.
For this great pay you will be trading 8 hours a day , in high heels, wearing little clothing and dealing with tourists that think all cocktail waitresses turn tricks at night. The majority of cocktail waitresses have husbands and kids and a normal life at home.

[gottago2]

That's a pretty accurate description of how to get started in cocktailing... If you can, try to work in a nightclub or even at a partypool like Wet Republic at the MGM or Tao Beach at the Venetian during the summer time you'll make tons of money but you do have to be extremely goodlooking and in great shape to work at one of the party scenes out here in Vegas... its also easy money compared to working on the casino floor, because if you work in the casino you may get a dollar or two per drink because most likely you'll work in slots on a graveyard shift , but if you work at a nightclub or at a partypool then its bottle service and you can make over $1000.00 in one night!!! Its a very competive field though because everyone wants in but only a select few gets in... Good Luck!!!

[JohnG72]

Lasvegaslogos...very good post.

I'll add that how much you make depends on how hard you are willing to work. If you deliver a round of drinks, go back to the bar for the next round, and spend 30 minutes on an "emergency" phone call with your bf or whatever, you are gonna make less money(by a lot) than the lady who picks up the new round, delivers, and goes back for another round.

Don't laugh, I've seen it happen. The lady never got fired, but constantly wondered how she was making so little when her co-workers were making twice what she was.

[Nativechief]

Its like this . Few places will hire you if all you are looking for is the "money"shifts. You have to earn them by working YOUR FAIR SHARE of day shifts..........plus you GOT to be very attractive and experienced.

[Sea2LV2Hou]

Depends on your boobs...

[Pfhtex]

I worked as a manager at the Paris Hotel from 1999 (pre-opening) until 2001.

Casino employment is UNION CONTRACT driven. Every property, except the Venetian. What that means is: you adhere to Union guidelines. Meaning upon hire, whatever shift you get, you get. Could well be Graveyard (2AM - 11AM), Day or Swing. You are assigned a Seniority Number at hire. Therefore, upon hire, your number will be the lowest. Things like asking off for Holidays, switching shifts, and applying for a different shift, will be prioritized based upon seniority.

I can remember the cocktailers at Paris walking around literally in tears due to the hard cobblestone floor and the heels they had to wear. They successfully had the heel height reduced. I felt really bad for them, those shoes sucked.

Anyway: You will want to apply in person. You will want to know the webs of ownership, ie. which companies own which hotels.

Fortunately, this all requires a trip to Vegas! Look your best, SMILE and talk to every single employee you can. Flirt. The guys in the polyester blazers and name tags can get you farther than you might think.

But there is no casting couch, or anything like that. Too much liability.

So let's talk money: Depending on your Hotel, Area, and shift you can make well over $500 a shift, with the occasional several-thousand dollar night. OR....you can work at a lower tiered hotel and make less.

Think size: The Hard Rock has a small casino floor with a bigass bar in the middle. However, the Mandalay Bay has a huge floor, great ancillary attractions like House of Blues/Foundation Room, great pool, events center and a nice sports book that all keep people IN the property. That Maloof Bros. property is a rinky dink pit. Rio is actually good, but you'd have to cover a lot of ground to bank. Bellagio - - more of a tourist spot than you might think. Mirage just got remodeled. Wynn is killer.

But Venetian is a home run. I would be sure to include it in your visits. Things to look at: How many drinks are the girls carrying? footwear? are the outfits sexy? uncomfortably so? Do you notice the girls talking negatively about the job? etc.

It could be a fantastic move if you navigate your decision process. Good luck!

[Joe3788]

Good post pfhtex.....I always said if I were a good looking 21 yr old in this great country of ours I would move to Vegas ...cocktail for 10 years and retire. No reason a qualified good looking woman cant make $200K a year slinging drinks.