*** OFFICIAL GUIDE TO VEGAS FOR UNLV 9/18 ***

Legend12

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My wife and I were just in Vegas last week. The casino workers had all just put mask back on the day before we got there and we’re not happy at all. As long as the rest of us don’t have to wear them by the time the game rolls around in September should be a great time. We went to Vegas a couple times during the pandemic and wearing masks out there as you can imagine it’s not super fun.

biggest thing is every restaurant it seems like requires Reservations because there is a shortage of workers right now. Heard from several people working out there saying that lots of people are enjoying benefits from the government versus coming back to work. Keep it in mind as your plan meals do you wanna get those booked ahead of time

Mask mandate for all guests went into effect yesterday.
 

Cycsk

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Once again, thanks so much for your investment in us having a great time in Vegas. Tonight I was looking at shows and was blown away by how many magic shows there are. I was thinking about Penn & Teller (I'm old). Never been a big fan of Copperfield. And Criss Angel is over the top for me. But I may be totally out of touch.

Do you have anything to add to the reviews I found on this site? It does a pretty good job, but it lacks the unique 2015-esperspective.


1) Penn and Teller have been a popular team of magicians in Vegas for years. Their shows are held at the Penn & Teller Theater and the Rio All-Suites Hotel. They try to incorporate a lot of comedy into their acts while keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.
Each of the magicians have their own unique style and mannerisms. Penn is the taller magician who does all the talking for the duo.
His partner, Teller, is the shorter and funnier magician who never says a single word. Their style of magic and comedy make this the best magic show in Vegas.
Penn and Teller have a special chemistry that is unmatched by any other comedy duo. As you watch Penn and Teller perform on stage, you will be astonished every second of the show. You must be ready for all their magic tricks because you never know when they’re going to reveal themselves.
Sometimes the secrets of their tricks are revealed to the audience, while other times they are not. If you try to figure out how they did a particular trick, you will become startled by another trick that you didn’t expect. Then you’ll be left wondering once again how they did that trick.
After the show is over, Penn and Teller are kind enough to greet their guests in the theater lobby. They have discussions with guests, take photographs with them, and sign autographs.
Out of all the magic shows in Las Vegas, the Penn and Teller show is a must-see event. These magicians in Vegas have enjoyed decades of success for a good reason. They’re talented, funny, entertaining, and exciting.

2) David Copperfield is the wealthiest magician working today and for a good reason. His magic shows in Vegas clearly demonstrate his magnificent skills as an illusionist. People all around the world know the name “Copperfield.” It has become synonymous with the word “magician.”
Copperfield doesn’t just do small illusions and tricks. While your average magician might make a rabbit or bird disappear, Copperfield can make something as big as the Statue of Liberty disappear. He’s even walked through the Great Wall of China, or so it seemed.
For over three decades, Copperfield has attracted the attention of millions of people in multiple countries. Some of his greatest illusions were aired on television and shown to a worldwide audience. He’s even done performances on Broadway too
In Las Vegas, Copperfield performs at the MGM Grand Resort Hotel. He is one of the few magicians in Vegas who has their own theatre. The MGM Grand is the home of the David Copperfield Theater, where he performs all his magic shows in Las Vegas.
Copperfield’s magic shows get right to the point. They don’t try to distract you with showgirls and overproduced lighting and effects. You simply see Copperfield perform his stunning illusions and tricks.
Some of them are easy to figure out while others are more complex. The best part is when he chooses a random person from the audience to participate in his magic show.
Every other magician on the Las Vegas Strip wishes to be as popular as David Copperfield. If you’re interested in Las Vegas magic shows, then you must go ahead and see Copperfield. He is a one-of-a-kind performer.

3) Criss Angel is a powerful name in the world of magic. His name is to magic what Prince’s name is to music. You might already know Criss Angel from the television show he had.
But there is nothing like seeing him in person. He’ll take you on a magical journey filled with excitement and wonder. His co-star on stage, Chloe Crawford, assists him.
Criss Angel Mindfreak is performed at the Planet Hollywood Hotel in the Criss Angel Theater. Yes, he has a theater named after him in Planet Hollywood because he is such an adored performer.
Mindfreak offers mysterious illusions to audiences by utilizing 3d effects and pyrotechnic landscapes that are both stunning and immersive. In addition, you’ll see musicians, DJs, and dancers performing their hearts out.
Criss performs over 75 classic illusions as well as original illusions with the help of the latest innovative technology. You’ve never had an immersive experience quite like this one before.
Before the main magic show begins, there is a pre-show that lasts 30 minutes long. It is called Criss Angel Mindfreak Live, and it tells the story of Criss Angel and how he grew to become one of the best Las Vegas magicians. After that, a few funny characters like FiFi and the Great Maestro will perform a comedy magic act.
If you enjoy a good theatrical performance, comedy routine, and original magic show, then you will have all these elements rolled up into one eccentric and exciting performance.

4) Mat Franco. If you’re a fan of the television show America’s Got Talent, then you probably saw Mat Franco on it during Season 9. It was the first time he had ever been seen on a national stage, and it didn’t take him long to make a good first impression.
While on stage at the LINQ Hotel & Casino, Franco offered fresh and original magic that was fun and heartwarming to watch. He defied the odds by becoming the only magician ever to win America’s Got Talent. At 29 years old, that is not bad for someone who taught himself magic for almost the last 20 years.
After his success on America’s Got Talent, Franco was given the opportunity to host his own magic show in Las Vegas. Ever since then, he has grown a huge fan base amongst audiences by letting guests become part of his shows.
Franco incorporates adventure and his own personal brand of humor into his magic shows in Vegas. If you’ve never seen Franco perform live before, it will be an experience that you will never forget.

5) Paranormal Mind Reading Magic. International mentalist Frederic Da Silva brings his magic act back to Las Vegas for the second time. His show Paranormal Mind Reading Magic uses a combination of magic, mystery, mind reading, and hypnosis in order to amaze audiences with his mental powers.
Frederic originally made a name for himself by demonstrating his mental abilities on European television. He was the winner of the 2010 Nostradamus d’Or Award for Best European Mentalist, the 2011 FISM European Championship of Magic, and the FFAP French Championship of Magic. He is most famous for his television appearance on France’s Got Talent.
Now that he’s brought his mental abilities to Las Vegas, Frederick has become an international star. You can see his show Paranormal Mind Reading Magic at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas.
Some of his mental tricks include:
  • Guessing what is in your pocket.
  • Stopping a watch at a certain time.
  • Guessing the name that you are thinking of.
The secret of his mental abilities remains a mystery. Perhaps he really does know magic.
 

Cycsk

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6) Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show. The Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show is definitely on the list of the best magic shows in Vegas because of its originality and charm.
Nathan Burton brings his delightful personality on stage as he performs his illusions with the help of beautiful showgirls. If you like comedy and magic rolled into one show, then you’ll love the Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show.
Nathan has been in the spotlight ever since his appearance on the first season of the NBC reality television show America’s Got Talent.
Although the judges voted him out, the millions of people watching his act were amazed at what he could do. Even the judges praised him for his talents, despite not selecting him as the winner.
Ever since then, Nathan has appeared on numerous television shows. Some of which include Miami Ink on TLC, Last Cake Standing on The Food Network, Storage Hunters on truTV, Miss USA Pageant on NBC, and many other television shows. In total, Nathan’s performances have been seen by over 1.4 billion viewers.
But if you want the best experience, then come see him live in Las Vegas at the Saxe Theater. It’s at the Miracle Mile Shops in Planet Hollywood.

7) Piff the Magic Dragon Show. Come see “Piff the Magic Dragon Show” at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The main performer is called Piff the Magic Dragon, and his sidekick is a chihuahua named Mr. Piffles.
This dragon and dog duo perform unbelievable magic acts while adding humor and laughter into the mix. The audience is up to 30 feet from the stage, so you’ll have a clear view of everything.

8) Mac King Comedy Magic Show. The Mac King Comedy Magic Show also makes it on the list of the best magic shows in Las Vegas. Mac King has had a longer run in Vegas than any other magician. He is really a mix between a standup comedian and a magician.
The jokes he tells are clean and hilarious to people of all ages. When he performs his magic acts, he uses his unique imagination and sleight of hand while continuing to remain funny and humorous.
King will use a variety of props and tricks during his act. Some of which include live animals, Fig Newtons, hand shadow puppets, rope tricks, and more. You might even see a few Liberace and Elvis impersonations too.

9) The Mentalist. The Mentalist has been a successful magic show in Las Vegas for over 12 years now. No other mentalism show has ever lasted this long in Vegas. Gerry McCambridge is the star of the show. He is the “mentalist” who has the ability to read people’s minds.
During the show, Gerry selects random people from the audience and reads their minds. He also predicts random things that are going to happen during his performance on stage.
As many as 80 guests from the audience get to participate in his show. Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to get selected as part of this group of 80.
Come see for yourself by making your reservations today at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

10) Marc Savard Comedy Hypnosis. Marc Savard is a master hypnotist who performs very exciting magic shows in Las Vegas. His show “Marc Savard Comedy Hypnosis” involves the combination of comedy and hypnosis. Marc will pick strangers from the audience and hypnotize them to do funny and unusual actions.
What is unique about this show is how Marc makes his audience the main attraction instead of himself. The people who voluntarily come on stage actually become the stars of the show while Marc just gives them a couple of simple guidelines to follow.
For example, Marc hypnotizes the volunteers to think they’re musicians. They’ll start playing instruments as if they’re experts at them.
As the volunteers listen to Marc’s humorous commands, they will follow every word the best they can. This is when the true humor and excitement of the act comes into full swing.

11) Mike Hammer Comedy Magic. When you observe the magic and humor of Mike Hammer, you’ll see that he is truly good at what he does. He is a master at blending magic and comedy together in order to fascinate audiences. This is what he’s been doing successfully for over 25 years in counting.
In the Canyon Club at the Four Queens Hotel in Las Vegas, Hammer offers a magical performance with a variety of illusions in his act. You’ll see mind-reading, daring escapes, pranks, gags, and his unique ability to swallow double-edged razors.
Hammer does a lot of improvisation with the audience too. He’ll ask random members from the audience to help him create a unique show for everyone.
This requires him to use his advanced experience and magic skills to create an original act each time he performs. How many other magicians can do that?

12) Murray the Magician. Murray the Magician, stars a wild blonde-haired magician named Murray. When he performed his magic on the NBC reality television show America’s Got Talent, Murray was a semifinalist.
Murray’s other television credits include Pawn Stars, Tough Love, Reno 911, Celebrity Blind Date, Celebracadabra, and Celebrity Blind Date.
Roughly 22 million people throughout the country watched him on America’s Got Talent. Murray took a 1918 steam train and caused it to disappear completely in only a matter of seconds. His magic trick became the largest ever done on television too.
Murray loves to use larger items in his illusions. He’s made a Ferrari just appear out of nowhere. He turned a showgirl into a tiger that weighs 450 pounds.
His audiences are always studying his magic acts and trying to figure out how they’re done. Most of them always leave stumped. But they have fun, and that’s the most important thing.
The Fans Entertainment Hall of Fame honored Murray by giving him the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Award under the category of “Career Achievement in Comedy Show of the Year.”
Murray invites families to come to see his magic show. The humor is family-friendly, so there are no worries there. It is okay to bring your kids.

13) Adam London’s Laughternoon. Adam London is a very talented magician who performs at The D Casino & Hotel.
London’s grandfather inspired him to become a musician after witnessing his card tricks. London did his first performances in music theater while attending college.
He went on to touch up his comedy routine by performing in comedy clubs, such as the Improv Comedy Club and L.A. Comedy Club.
For many years, London traveled the country to perform his magic acts on stages in every major city and state. He eventually found himself performing in The D Showroom in Las Vegas. The name of his magic show is Laughternoon because he makes you laugh with his illusions in the afternoon.
By using a combination of wit, comedy, silliness, and illusions, he keeps audiences thrilled the entire time. The humor is clean, and he has a lot of interactions with his guests, so families are encouraged to come to the show to experience this for themselves.

14) Xavier Mortimer’s Magical Dream. Xavier Mortimer is one of the classic Las Vegas magicians that people love and adore. He formerly performed with the Cirque du Soleil group, which is known throughout Vegas for their diverse acts and skillsets.
As for Mortimer, he took his experience as a Cirque performer and created his own permanent magic and comedy show.
If you haven’t been fortunate to see Mortimer in person yet, then perhaps you remember him from Season 10 of America’s Got Talent.
He also performed at the European magic festival called L’Eau d’Olle and won several awards for his magic acts there, including the Gold Star.
Mortimer’s Magical Dream show in Vegas combines the theatrics of Charlie Chaplin with the wonder of Mary Poppins. He offers an elegant performance that is appropriate for guests of all ages. Come see Magical Dream exclusively at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas.
 

Cycsk

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15) The Magic of Jen Kramer. Jen Kramer practices the kind of magic we’d all love to possess. How would you like to change a $1 bill into $100 bill? As one of the only female magicians in Vegas, Jen has an impressive resume in the world of magic. She’s appeared with other magicians on other shows like Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusions.
Jen may seem like a very sweet young woman, but this Yale University graduate loves to tell jokes and get her audience happy and excited. She is the recipient of the 2016 Female Magician of the Year Award as well as the Merlin Award.
She loves to get her audience to participate in the act, so you might get in on the action.

16) Shin Lim is a true success story. He learned how to become a master magician by watching YouTube videos. All of his magic acts and routines are original and self-choreographed, which have earned him international recognition. People just love watching the grace and precision of his performance style.
Shin’s sleight of hand skills with cards made him the winner of the 13th season of the reality television show America’s Got Talent.
He continued on to America’s Got Talent: The Champions and got first place on there as well. No one is faster and cleverer with a deck of cards than Shin Lim.
You can currently see him perform at The Mirage.

17) Hans Klok is known as the “World’s Fastest Illusionist.” Come see him at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. Hurry because he’ll disappear and reappear before you know it.
Ever since Hans got his first magic kit as a child, he has been addicted to practicing the art of magic, illusions and trickery. His addiction led him to become a successful magician in Vegas.
Hans is a record-breaking magician by performing the most illusions within a 5-minute period. The record he set was for performing 12 huge illusions in 5 minutes.
Come see Hans live. The tickets are very affordable, and the talent on display is incredible.

18) Séance is an adult-oriented magic show which has a dark or gothic style theme to it. Within Binion’s Gambling Hall of the Hotel Apache, there is a special “Séance Room” where this show takes place. Binion’s Gambling Hall is an older area of the building, and it’s said to have paranormal activity taking place there.
When you attend Séance, you’ll see paranormal experts try to make contact with the spirit world on the other side. Since Hotel Apache is believed to be a haunted hotel, this makes it the perfect setting for a paranormal show like this one. The performance is basically an accurate recreation of a séance session from 1932.
This is an educational and interactive show. You’ll have interactions with various paranormal artifacts as you make an attempt to pass on over to the other side and talk to the spirits.

19) Amazing Magic with Tommy Wind. Tommy Wind became interested in magic after learning a few magic tricks from his grandfather. His interest in magic continued well into adulthood, and now he is a master magician himself.
At the OYO Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Tommy performs his Amazing Magic show which includes a combination of music and magic.
You’ll see a woman disappear as she plays the harp, a guitar levitating in thin air, and a sequence of duelling drums. You’ll also be treated to beautiful showgirls, comedy acts, great music, and so much more.
Tommy loves to combine music with his illusions. He’s done so in Atlantic City and New York City where he originally performed.
His television appearances include I Do! on NBC and Criss Angel’s Mindfreak. The International Brotherhood of Magicians has given him great praise for his work.
 

UNI1ISU2

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Wow. Just looked to see if hotels have gone down in price since I booked. Tropicana is now $273 a night. MGM over $320 a night. Flamingo $350
 

cycloner29

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Without resorts fee added, our 6 night stay at Mandalay Bay would have been over $1200, but booked at around $650. Black Friday Sale for the win!

FYI- just got an email that our United flights have changed. Just delayed our connecting flight from Denver to Des Moines 2 hours. Hope that’s all the changes!
 

Cycsk

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@ISUCyclones2015, if you were hired to help me have a good time in Vegas, knowing what you know about me, what shows would you recommend?

Or not recommend. For instance, are there shows that might appeal to me in theory (Penn & Teller), but that do not live up to their billing?
 

Im4State

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Just saw the Raiders decision. I'm hopeful that is a "stadium" policy and not just Raiders. I have no problem showing my card.

I'd love for the casinos to do this too! One of the main reasons I got the vaccine after already having Covid last December.
 
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KnappShack

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Just saw the Raiders decision. I'm hopeful that is a "stadium" policy and not just Raiders. I have no problem showing my card.

I'd love for the casinos to do this too! One of the main reasons I got the vaccine after already having Covid last December.

Well if Las Vegas is known for anything it's responsibility.....
 

KnappShack

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May 26, 2008
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@ISUCyclones2015, if you were hired to help me have a good time in Vegas, knowing what you know about me, what shows would you recommend?

Or not recommend. For instance, are there shows that might appeal to me in theory (Penn & Teller), but that do not live up to their billing?

I saw P&T a few years back. It was.....OK.

Probably the best time I had at a show was Jeff Dunham or a Prince tribute.

The Prince tribute was a hell of a lot cheaper and I got to dance to a Morris Day tribute band live.

Sadly old Vegas (Sinatra's Vegas) is pretty much gone. Not that long ago you could still hit a classic casino and smell the Aqua Velva or Hai Karate in the air.

Drink some booze. Score some weed. Shoot some guns. Make bad decisions. But always step away from the table when they change dealers
 

Cyched

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Just saw the Raiders decision. I'm hopeful that is a "stadium" policy and not just Raiders. I have no problem showing my card.

I'd love for the casinos to do this too! One of the main reasons I got the vaccine after already having Covid last December.

The other threads got nuked, but I believe if you have an iPhone you can scan your card to the Notes app if you don’t want to carry the paper copy.

I don’t have a problem showing it either; I’m assuming I’ll need to for our flight
 
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Jul 20, 2021
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Unless you want to take your chances on continuous shuffle!

weekends all the min's go way up to 25 it seems like (gotta make up for the pandemic losses somehow!)

Yeah I have been worried about how high the minimums are on the strip now, especially with so many events that weekend and with downtown being so crowded. I’ve been trying to find cheap min tables near the strip. Researching some recent TripAdvisor forums, it sounds like OYO just off the strip has cheap black jack (not sure the odds) and $10 craps tables on the weekends.

Any thoughts on OYO (for casino not to stay)? It’s next to Tropicana across from MGM Grand.

It’s be awesome to have a craps table full of Cyclone fans (that I don’t lose $300 in 3 turns, lol)!
 

Im4State

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LOL Never been to OYO. We went to Trop to play BJ in July. It was decent during the day but very few tables open over all. I noticed they tried to only open so many tables and they kept the min's up on most of them. Felt like they were trying to push people into the tables they wanted you to play on.
 

Cyclones_R_GR8

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Yeah I have been worried about how high the minimums are on the strip now, especially with so many events that weekend and with downtown being so crowded. I’ve been trying to find cheap min tables near the strip. Researching some recent TripAdvisor forums, it sounds like OYO just off the strip has cheap black jack (not sure the odds) and $10 craps tables on the weekends.

Any thoughts on OYO (for casino not to stay)? It’s next to Tropicana across from MGM Grand.

It’s be awesome to have a craps table full of Cyclone fans (that I don’t lose $300 in 3 turns, lol)!
I stayed there about 10 years ago when it was called the Hooter's Hotel and Casino as it was dirt cheap ($28 per night). Not sure if they've done any renovations but it was ready for them back then.
 

Cycsk

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I saw P&T a few years back. It was.....OK.

Probably the best time I had at a show was Jeff Dunham or a Prince tribute.

The Prince tribute was a hell of a lot cheaper and I got to dance to a Morris Day tribute band live.

Sadly old Vegas (Sinatra's Vegas) is pretty much gone. Not that long ago you could still hit a classic casino and smell the Aqua Velva or Hai Karate in the air.

Drink some booze. Score some weed. Shoot some guns. Make bad decisions. But always step away from the table when they change dealers


Looks like the Prince tribute show is at my hotel (Tropicana). I'm thinking about trying some of the more edgy magic/comedy shows. However, I've never actually seen Penn & Teller in person. Murray the Magician is also at the Tropicana.

What sort of discounts will I get for going to shows on the property where I'm staying? Oh my, what an Iowa Dad question to ask!