Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003 | 8:20 a.m.
Two years after the 9-11 attacks, the Las Vegas entertainment world is back to normal.
Well, if you consider "Blue Man Group," "The Amazing Johnathan" and "Zumanity" normal.
"There was an impact on entertainment initially, right after 9-11," Frank Leone, president of Musicians Union of Las Vegas No. 369, said. "Of course what seriously was affected was the convention business a lot of it was canceled."
Conventions mean work for musicians, everything from intimate gatherings to productions specifically for conventioneers.
"There were music jobs from cocktail parties to symphony orchestras," Leone said. "These were wiped out when the conventions were canceled."
Many lounge performers were laid off because of budget cuts that were blamed on a decline in business, which was blamed on 9-11.
"People were afraid to travel, and then there was the implementation of all the new airline rules pertaining to national security," Leone said. "It made travel difficult."
Leone said recovery was slow, but eventually conventions came back.
The success of new shows are a clear indication that entertainment once again is a strong part of the Las Vegas economy.
"Shows like 'Mamma Mia!' at Mandalay Bay and Celine Dion at Caesars use live bands," Leone said. "This is a good thing."
Performances by some of music's biggest acts Luciano Pavarotti at Mandalay Bay's Events Center, Andrea Bocelli at The Aladdin Theatre of Performing Arts and Paul McCartney at the MGM Grand Garden Arena are routinely selling out, another clear indication that the tragedy of 9-11 is beginning to become a distant memory.
Perhaps one of the driving forces behind the local recovery of entertainment is competition.
New casinos are cropping up all over the nation. Vegas must offer tourists something more than slot machines and restaurants to remain competitive.
"Venues are trying to find and create shows, like 'Zumanity,' that have a unique theme unlike anything else being done elsewhere," Leone said. "The Celine Dion show is a good example. Hers is a production that can't been seen anywhere else in the world a combination of a fantastic production, a superstar and a super producer (Franco Dragone).
"I think we will see more of this down the road. It keeps Las Vegas highly competitive against other gaming venues."
Leone noted that one thing that has not come back, and might never, are big bands routinely employing 30 and 40 musicians.
"We expect to see more shows using, quite resourcefully, smaller complements of musicians," he said. "They are not combos but they're not big bands, either.
"We're seeing eight-, nine- and 10-piece backup groups, with electronics added, like synthetic keyboards, so we still have the character of larger forces, of fuller sounds."
Leone said audiences appreciate the live musicians, who have a greater impact on the theatrical experience than do recorded tracks.
Faded flags
Leone noted that one short-lived trend after 9-11 was shows with patriotic themes.
"That seems to have leveled off," he said.
But Pam Potter, who manages several local entertainers, says it has more than leveled off.
"It's faded," she said. "Right after 9-11 people took rockin' oldies and other shows and tried to increase business and capitalize on patriotism by changing their name to things like 'The All-American Show.' "
Although patriotism is a long way from being dead, it too is no longer the fad it was in the months following the attack.
"Right after 9-11 how many flags did we see on cars?" she said. "They were everywhere. Now there are very few, and most of them are tattered and torn."
The fact that patriotism is not as fashionable is it was two years ago hasn't stopped Potter and a new production company she works with, Star Factree Entertainment, from moving forward producing "Salute to America."
Potter says the revue, a portion of whose profits will go to American veterans, should be ready in January.
Michael Gilmartin, director of public relations at the Stratosphere, recalls that immediately after 9-11 the entertainment business went on life support.
"We were planning to launch an outdoor concert series on Sept. 14 with the Beach Boys," he said. "But with 9-11, that went out the window. We went through two or three concerts, even though (the dates) were shattered."
On the other hand, he said, there was a surge in attendance at their "value-oriented" production show, "Viva Las Vegas."
"Later on, with the interest in patriotism, it helped our 'American Superstars,' " Gilmartin said.
But things are looking up at the Stratosphere, whose tower is being refurbished.
"We had some great concerts in the spring with higher-end acts, like LeAnn Rimes," Gilmartin said. "There were no outdoor events this fall because we're refurbishing the tower.
"The base of tower is more elegant, very upscale. The Broadway showroom has been totally redone. In the upcoming months we're going to totally redo the tower, including the lounge."
With new venues for entertainers, Gilmartin is looking forward to shopping for talent.
"We're going to spend time this fall, winter and spring looking at midline acts, like Paul Revere and the Raiders and some others, and then we will revisit our outdoor events," Gilmartin said.
Candi Cazau, public relations director for The Orleans and Suncoast, says those hotels actually had an increase in business when things were on the decline on the Strip.
"I think many people were too nervous to go to the Strip," she said. "Our business doubled and tripled."
In spite of the increase in business since 9-11, Cazau says there are so many shows competing for entertainment dollars that it's hard to sell out every night.
"Prices have gone up, the income of locals is not as flexible as it was two years ago," she said.
Adult shows have also impacted other entertainment. That is not good for some local venues, such as Coast properties, that provide family friendly entertainment.
"All of a sudden raunchy is in," she said.
Killer taxes
Perhaps far more devastating to entertainers in Las Vegas than the 9-11 attacks is the 10 percent entertainment tax passed by the Legislature this year.
Four pianists were laid off in August from the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas because of the new law passed in July.
The pianists launched a letter-writing campaign, and state gambling officials said last week they have drafted guidelines that, if approved, could allow the pianists to return to work.
Casino-based restaurants with musicians who provide "ambience or background" music for patrons would be exempt from the entertainment tax.
However, what about non- casino-based restaurants, and entertainers who put on a show?
Brian Firth, leader of the Dummkopfs, learned late last week that his band was no longer employed at the Mount Charleston Lodge because of the entertainment tax.
"We all went up (Saturday) to pick up our gear," Firth said.
The Dummkopfs had provided entertainment at the lodge on Sundays for 20 years. Firth was upset by his sudden dismissal.
"We were told that the way the new law was worded, the lodge would have to pay a 10 percent tax on everything it made that day, not just for the time that we performed," Firth said. "They just can't do it."
"This is supposed to be the Entertainment Capital of the World, but the politicians are killing entertainment."
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