I'm new to the board and am loving every minute of reading the posts. What a great group of guys! But, then again, cigar smokers always seem to be good guys.
In any case, I need some advice from those of you who have attended CA Big Smoke weekends. My wife has agreed to go to Vegas with me in Novemeber so that I can attend the Big Smoke at Mandalay Bay on Saturday night, November 13. Before I make the investment of buying plane tickets, Big Smoke tickets and paying expensive weekend rates at a Vegas strip hotel, I'd like to know if those of you who have attended one of these events before thinks it merits this investment.
What can I expect from the Saturday night event? Is it enjoyable even if you don't know anybody there? Are the cigar giveaways you get worth the ticket $$$?
Any guidance you Big Smoke veterans can offer would be appreciated.
I've been to one and I'm glad I went, but I doubt I'll go to another. My favorite part of the weekend, aside from meeting some of the guys here on the board, was the daily events: Cigar tastings, lunch with David Savona, cigar rolling and the seminar with Kelner on what a cigar maker is trying to accomplish blending tobaccoes.
The evening was good, I got to meet the Fuentes, but to be honest it was chaotic, the food and drink lines were too long and there was nowhere to sit. Also, the booth giveaways were terribly run.
Now that Vegas is taxing cigar makers for the sticks they giveaway, you may not be getting as many as before. All in all; however, my wife and I had a great time. I love Vegas and don't get to go there as much as I'd like.
I'm going to Vegas this November too. And this is also my first Big Smoke event. I wanted to go last year but my company had a new account start up that very weekend so the group of us that were going to go missed it. Man we were bummed. But that didn't stop us from lighting up after we left the Client's site.
...Ruger, I hope that they've read your comments and improved on the concern's you've listed. Otherwise, I'll have to make plans to get really, really drunk after I attend the evening event.
~"The freedom's I've served my country to defend are being taken away.... by my own country."
I have been to many Big Smokes here in NYC. The price has been going up every year and as far as I am concerned, the quality is going down.
You get a nice selection of cigars, a tote bag and you get to sample some food and drink. The Las Vegas Big Smoke also has seminars and a few other amenities that the other Big Smokes do not have.
Look at it as a vacation with the added benefit that you are going to have a great cigar weekend.
Doc ***** Tobacco is a filthy weed, I like it...
SNOB Member 1033 1/3
Posts: 9574 | Location: New York City | Registered: May 02, 2002
I went to the event last November in Vegas and I was pretty dissappointed. You get a book of coupons that you turn-in to each manufacturer's booth for a cigar. Drinks and food are the same but no coupon needed. The food (appetizer plates that everyone keeps going back for more of) was good, but I don't really enjoy waiting in line constantly. Espescially while dodging other peoples lit smokes as they pushed their way to the displays. After waiting in a monster line to get in...guess what was inside... more lines! The ballroom of the Mandalay Bay looked like the Motor Vehicle Dept.!! I kept expecting to read an eye chart or show my insurance card at the next line. Of course the reward for all this "que-ing up" as the English would say...is only to find myself juggling a tote bag, a burning cigar, a coupon book, a drink and plate. I looked around for a place to lighten the load (maybe organize a little bit) ...THERE WERE 12 tables for 6000 guys. People were sitting on the floor around the perimeter of the room! $175 a ticket..yeah... grab, grab, grab and sit on the floor!!! Very sophisticated this cigar scene! I wonder if James Suckling was sitting on the floor next to me?
The cigars were okay, some very nice finds that I wouldn't have tried otherwise and some dog rockets. And I met some great guys...Cigar folks always seem to have great senses of humor. One guy sitting next to (who I'm certain wasn't James Suckling) kept calling the Maria Guerero he was trying the "Maria Gonnorhea" Laughed MAO! And its kind of cool to know that there are more of "us" out there and its kind of interesting to meet the makers - loved meeting Tim Ozgener. But, mostly I found the whole thing very "uncivilized" and very "un-relaxed". And a poor way to spend $175
Posts: 148 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: March 01, 2005
Mr. Fingers - Sounds like nothing has changed, unfortunately. You have to wonder how many people are like me. I've been to one and that was enough. If they offered a cafeteria plan for the LVBS: $175 for the BS Evening $175 for Saturday seminars $175 for Sunday seminars ...I might go to another. But since they bundle the evening with the daytime events, and I have no desire to attend another BS Evening for exactly the reasons you noted, I won't be attending another Big Smoke...Vegas or elsewhere...since Vegas is the only location that includes the daytime aspects.
A real shame too. With some small changes, the evenings would be so much more enjoyable and I'd likely attend the LVBS yearly. My wife loves Vegas, so it would be a good reason to go.
Ruger, I'm sure there are many that see through the smoke screen (Look Out! Cigar Pun coming through!) and won't go again. But, there were a lot of people there that night, and a lot of them seemed okay spending the whole night staring at the back of some other guy's bean.
I agree that some of the seminars sound great, and I do have some interest there..but $500 and two days is a serious commitment. There must be a way they could spiff the Big Smoke thing a bit. For $175 over three hours I think they could swing a seated cigar dinner and hand out the bags like goodie bags...have the reps come around to the tables and meet and great. Seems to be more the style of the seminar lunch and breakfast.
The thing that gets me is as it stands now, the BS is SOOOO Not Cigar Aficianado's image! There are article in the Mag about home smoking rooms, custom made clothes, getaways to the play great golf courses, etc....but, I don't think I've ever read any "out of the humidor" pieces about the proper method for eating and smoking while standing in crowd.
Posts: 148 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: March 01, 2005
Fingers - Too true! But I suspect Marvin makes a nice chuck of change off the LVBS. At the one you went to, did you see Marvin? Did he socialize with any of the patrons? He didn't at the one I was at. The only people he appeared to have time for were the Cigar Makers in attendance. If Jordan or Sam Jackson or any of the other celebrity cover stars had attended, I'm sure they'd have had his undivided attention.
I did get to have lunch with David Savona; however, who struck me aa a really decent guy. But as long as Marvin owns and runs CA, I wouldn't expect anything to change.
I did not see Marvin in attendence. I did see David Savona around the room -- who looked like he was working pretty hard. He was running all over the place with notepad and photographers in tow making sure the event was covered for the mag.
And by the way...whats up with the groups of guys in costume? There is sucha thing as too much male bonding (in my book)...I draw the line somewhere before the matching cow suits.
Posts: 148 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: March 01, 2005
I'm not sure why they are cows, but they are harmless. Quite funny actually. Last year one of them put one of their cow tattoos on my thigh......with his tongue!
Hmmm...did he delicately apply the tattoo with a light, yet firm approach? Or was it a kind big slobbery cow tongue kind of affair? Did he ask first or just drop and lick? Pretty studly move for a cow! Maybe they work for Gateway Computers?
Posts: 148 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: March 01, 2005
He went with the "light, yet firm approach" and then blew it dry before he let my dress back down. I believe he asked my husband if he could give me a tattoo.
I'm pretty shy, so when the crowd gathered to watch and take pictures, I was quite mortified!
Originally posted by Mr. Fingers: I went to the event last November in Vegas and I was pretty dissappointed. You get a book of coupons that you turn-in to each manufacturer's booth for a cigar. Drinks and food are the same but no coupon needed. The food (<a href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=11&k=appetizer%20plates" onmouseover="window.status='appetizer plates'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">appetizer plates</a> that everyone keeps going back for more of) was good, but I don't really enjoy waiting in line constantly. Espescially while dodging other peoples lit smokes as they pushed their way to the displays. After waiting in a monster line to get in...guess what was inside... more lines! The ballroom of the Mandalay Bay looked like the Motor Vehicle Dept.!! I kept expecting to read an eye chart or show my insurance card at the next line. Of course the reward for all this "que-ing up" as the English would say...is only to find myself juggling a tote bag, a burning cigar, a coupon book, a drink and plate. I looked around for a place to lighten the load (maybe organize a little bit) ...THERE WERE 12 tables for 6000 guys. People were sitting on the floor around the perimeter of the room! $175 a ticket..yeah... grab, grab, grab and sit on the floor!!! Very sophisticated this cigar scene! I wonder if James Suckling was sitting on the floor next to me?
The cigars were okay, some very nice finds that I wouldn't have tried otherwise and some dog rockets. And I met some great guys...Cigar folks always seem to have great senses of humor. One guy sitting next to (who I'm certain wasn't James Suckling) kept calling the Maria Guerero he was trying the "Maria Gonnorhea" Laughed MAO! And its kind of cool to know that there are more of "us" out there and its kind of interesting to meet the makers - loved meeting Tim Ozgener. But, mostly I found the whole thing very "uncivilized" and very "un-relaxed". And a poor way to spend $175
...Man, my wife is gonna be pissed!!!
~"The freedom's I've served my country to defend are being taken away.... by my own country."
Originally posted by SmokinHot: I'm not sure why they are cows, but they are harmless. Quite funny actually. Last year one of them put one of their cow tattoos on my thigh......with his tongue!
They attend every LVBS, afaik. They are called the "Calves", iirc. They are the "Cigar Aficionados of Las Vegas excess society"...or something like that.
DeMarco...Is your wife gonna be pissed 'cause of the way the thing is run (since you quoted my earlier post) or because she hate guys in Cow suits? Did I thread-jack my own thread. Can I do that? Where are the Forum sgts. at arms when we need them.
If its the former, maybe the prospect of having an anonomous guy dressed as a cow offer 1) raise her hem line 2) apply a temporary tattoo to her thigh with his tongue and 3)Blow on it till dry.
BTW...Smokin' that is quite a story...I notice you are returning for the whole weekend this year
I know from personal experience and past posts that the whole prospect of women/cigars (my wife will often share mine)of course makes those whose mates don't, swoon. But to think they're licking the thighs of other men's wives! Really!
Posts: 148 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: March 01, 2005
I went to the Vegas evening, while you are correct about the long line that formed before the doors opened, if you wait till just after the doors open you can walk right in with out a wait.
As far as the crowds for the smoke, well that really wasn't that big of a deal, I had all my smokes with in an hour and that included taking time to get drinks and talk to people i meet while walking around and checking out the cars.
The food was very good and the lines were pretty quick. Also the drinks tables didn't have any waiting all night.
All in all it was a great time and i am looking forward to this year.
F.P.N # 2 FSN# 840 "A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" ----------------------------------- Warning! Do not cut your cigars down, it may cause Damage. That is all. ----------------------------------- I refuse to tip toe through life only to arrive safely at death. ----------------------------------- "F*&K the G ride, i want the machines that are making them" __________________________ A Society of sheep begets a goverment of Wolves.
Posts: 1798 | Location: Hollywood, CA USA | Registered: September 16, 2003
I got on the board and was surpised to see a thread I started at this time last year was activated once again. . .I guess because it's Vegas Big Smoke time.
I did go last year and, yes, there were long lines and getting cigars at some of the booths was like being on the bottom of a pile after someone fumbled a football, but it was still enjoyable.
The food was great, and I certainly got a belly full of free beer. It was also nice to see and meet the Fuentes, Toranos, Onzegers (sp?) and others, which I also got to do at RTDA.
Some of the cigars we got were better than others, and I was unhappy that the CAO Moontrance flavored crap was one of the cigars handed out. But I didn't feel ripped off when I went through the bag later.
A buddy of mine went for the entire weekend and he raved about the seminars and meals that come with the full package. He got some special smokes last year, inluding a couple of 40th anniversary Padrons, and I'm sure with this being the VBS's 10th anniversary year, they'll have some great smokes this year, as well.
I'm going back this year and attending the Friday night event. I really wanted to do the seminars, as well, but I didn't want to tie up all of my time in Vegas.
Since I couldn't get any of my herfing buddies to go, my wife is attending with me. She is not looking forward to it, to say the least, but give her credit for being a trooper.
