UNDER THE NEON SKY...A Las Vegas Doorman's Story [Paperback]

Jay Rankin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0984210911 | ISBN-13: 978-0984210916

Under The Neon Sky is a gripping, true story about a Las Vegas Doorman who worked the graveyard shift at one of the major hotels on the Strip. The sights, smells, and page popping characters are unforgettable as we take a journey that will tramsform how we used to envision the city that never sleeps. We watch as this doorman begins to emotionally break and wonder if he will become broken seeing his friends, his wife, hotel guests, and himself cross too many boundries in this riveting, page turning story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Amazon Reviews:   A great read!"
- S. Fishman
 Jay Rankin commands words like a gifted painter wields a brush.
- Daniel C. Flurry, "Doc F
 Jay's experiences in Vegas are real. Highly recommended!" - Barbara Brabec -
 "... feeling the heat of the Vegas lights on my face while I read each word.  - Stacey Pierce --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: jay Rankin (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984210911
• ISBN-13: 978-0984210916
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've had amazing jobs in my life: I am a father to my nine year old son who is my heart, my soul. I worked as a bouncer in a Country & Western nightclub. I was a probation officer for Los Angeles County in the detention camp system. I worked my way through college as a Psych. Tech inside locked units in psychiatric hospitals. I received my Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. I then worked for 6 years as the late night doorman at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. From my perspective, with a background in Psychology, I had to write about the experience of working in the eye of a las Vegas hurricane. My book, Under The Neon Sky....A Las Vegas Doorman's Story won the National Indie Excellence Award, The National 'Best Books' 2010 Awards as 'Finalist', and The 2011 International Book Award in the memoir category. For more information visit JaysLasVegas.com where you can download my fist chapter for free.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read Before Planning your trip to Las Vegas, July 25, 2010

By 

Bonnie Neely - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: UNDER THE NEON SKY...A Las Vegas Doorman's Story (Hardcover)

Under the Neon Sky: A Las Vegas doorman's Story by Jay Rankin is a fascinatingly horrifying book wirtten by the man who was for six years the doorman for MGM Grand Casino Hotel in Las Vegas. Rankin, who had earlier careers as both a police officer and as a professional counselor, took the job because he heard it was a highly coveted position for which hundreds applied because the doorman of a large hotel casino in Sin City makes a lot of money. He tells graphically many true events and happenings that he was exposed to through the years, the temptations, the horrors of behavior he witnessed in employees, visitors, and casino management. The book is a sad exposure of the underbelly of the most glamorous cities in the world, where no rules apply and people leave their reality behind when they enter the city. For employees it is a hellish life which gives great monetary tips and perks but is not worth the personal toll physically, mentally, emotionally, and on their marriages and other relationships, even the relationship with themselves. The book is really well written, very interesting. I highly recommend it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars under the neon sky, June 27, 2011

By 

kninedoug - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: UNDER THE NEON SKY...A Las Vegas Doorman's Story (Paperback)

you can't be outside the industry,and truthfully relate to Mr Rankins book. With almost 30 yrs in the business, every page is true to form. The days when the mob ran the casinos to Las Vegas becoming a corporate mongel. We in the industry are now just a number,where any day can be our last. There are a thousand people waiting for our jobs,and by the stroke of a pen,mangement will let you go and hire the next schmuck.The days of getting dressed up for an evening of shows and dinner have been replaced by the college kid who scantly walks thru the main entrance to hit nude pools.To all of us that have been trained to provide the best possible customer service,and be treated by these corporate mogels with little or no repect I say just suck it up and watch your P's and Q's.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A quick compelling read of the casino world, December 30, 2010

By 

sstaka - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: UNDER THE NEON SKY...A Las Vegas Doorman's Story (Hardcover)

As a resident of LV, it's very common to know someone who works at a casino. However getting the inside story of what goes on behind the scenes at a LV casino as a doorman, it was a page turner! Residents and visitors only get to see the surface of these casino jobs, the glitter, fast paced excitement of life on the "strip," but this book tells all. Not the very least surprising to encounter sex, lies, drugs, divorce, corruption and death in a book about LV, I couldn't put it down.