Visitreno

[Mammothgambler]

Hi everybody! As some of you know, I got the layoff call back in March, the town of Mammoth Lakes is officially bankrupt, businesses are closing left and right, I've been without utilities for over two months through no fault of my own, and the place is turning into a ghost town. Meanwhile, my dirtbag landlord's property FINALLY got foreclosed and I have to be out at the end of the month. I've dropped a few resumes off in Reno and have actually gotten a couple of callbacks, comps are plentiful, and I'm thinking of literally taking another gamble like I did when I moved from Florida to Mammoth and moving to Reno. My apartment is completely packed, moving my stuff to storage, and making arrangements for a moving truck. Due to my current unemployment situation, finding a place/signing a lease is going to be hard right now, so:

[john]

Hey MG, if you move to Reno, don't let the casinos know. Out of towners seem to get better offers. For example, JD went into the Siena a couple of times in 10 years and gets $150 free play and room offers. I was going in 4 or 5 times a week and don't get jack.

Oh, by the way, we have hot water in Reno.

[CaSwede]

Sorry to hear about the job situation. I am sure something will show up, and you certainly have a better shot in Reno vs. Mammoth. You might think about checking in at Corporate HQ. of Visitreno.com and see if they are hiring......or is the HQ in India now?

[Mammothgambler]

Hi everyone and thanks for the info! Over these past couple of trips I've asked around, and yes, I could realistically pull this off, German Shepherd in tow and everything! The GSR, although they left a bad taste in my mouth last trip, let me know that they could waive the pet/room deposit charges for a long term stay. Ditto at Harrah's, where they've recently added pet-friendly rooms to the east tower. Both of these places have limits on how many days you can actually stay on a comp offer before a check-out is required, but are saying they would be willing to work with me. I actually was questioning my sanity early on wondering if anyone else has ever attempted such a stunt by actually living in a casino, and according to Google, it turns out there have been many, most being in situations far worse than mine (at least I know the comps are already etched in stone and I don't have to earn them). The most awesome story I saw was about a man in Atlantic City that basically didn't have a pot to piss in - within a couple of days, he lost his job, his house, his cars, and all of his assets. No casino comps, free play, or unemployment insurance to speak of. Just him and his little Chihuahua. Anyway, he walked into the Borgota one afternoon with $40 - the only money he had to his name - and wound up staying there for a whopping 4 1/2 YEARS! Another lady harrassed casino patrons by playing their keno tickets in restaurants for about a year before the law finally got on her. I'd never panhandle or go that route, but people have done it. Then, there's all these business travellers and rich people who live in hotels by choice - but I'm sure they're also paying dearly. One man even purchased a residence at the Hilton in NYC because he was a business tycoon with an 80 hour work week and nothing else mattered. So, it can really be done - and if any of you ever see a surfer dude and a german shepherd constantly walking up and down 2nd street in between the GSR and Harrah's, don't worry, it's just us!

Another option I was thinking of was maybe investigating some of those pay-by-the-month hotels in the area. The ones I've seen walking from the Peppermill to downtown are rather shady, but there appear to be some others around the airport that might work. I'd definitely go with comps before having to pay money, but good knowing those places are there.

Oh yeah, and the job scene - I applied at the Atlantis, who needs an IT technician, and they left a message yesterday that they wanted to schedule an interview, so trying to get something lined up for next week. A couple of weeks before that, I got a callback from VGT, who is a smaller gaming company that makes class II machines specifically for Indian casinos and was looking for an art manager. I had never heard of them, and unfortunately, they're either going through a major downsize or might be having some other issues - they couldn't give me any answers as to why past experience with managing 17 artists was such a requirement, but it turns out, they're also looking for 12 more artists and someone to manage them! In addition, their existence in Reno is hated - I was told that directly in the interview - and if you're a gamer, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the building of California's Indian casinos hurt Reno's economy badly, and here this company sits, in between Bally Tech and IGT, not servicing any casinos directly in Reno, but just being there. CaSwede, it's funny you mentioned HQ being in India, because guess where the initial interview call from this company came from? YUP! It was a red flag from the start because the outsourcing company that does their hiring was actually a man calling from India, with screaming children and funky music playing in the background, on a snap-crackle-pop cell phone! I never had to stop and ask someone to repeat themselves so many times. Red flag for sure. On a more positive note, Bally Tech is looking for a multimedia technician and IGT is looking for a technical artist, so we'll see. My ultimate goal is to find something in my fields of study. My interviews with the unemployment department have even dictated that - they don't want to see you give up on your career. I'm planning on drawing the benefits out for as long as I can, even from another state.

John - thanks for the heads up regarding local vs. out of town comps. I thought it was reversed for some reason, but I don't think I investigated anything outside of the food discounts casinos give locals.

I'll keep everyone in the loop. Thanks!

Mammothgambler

[LilyJDragonfly]

SWEET MOTHER OF DEALS - I'VE FOUND YOUR SOLUTION!!!!

So check this out - we stayed at the infamous Cal-Neva again this weekend - trip report coming soon! - and during one of my strolls back to our room, I noted a new sign in one of those glass holders on the front of the hotel.

What caught my eye -

Price includes
AC Bed

What the hell? They're advertising that if you get a hotel room, it also includes a bed?

Sort of. They're offering "studios" from $130/week at the Cal-Neva. I'm CERTAIN they could work out a deal for you and yer dog.... I'll post a pic of the sign later in the trip report.

[LilyJDragonfly]

One more thing to entice you over to the CN - now offering free WiFi!!

[JD]

Lily:

Last trip to the CN skyway bar (you remember...I was trying to fit in by even LOOKING like the locals).....

One of those down and outters at the skyway bar has been LIVING at the Cal Neva on a comp for THREE MONTHS !!!

And Inever saw him play ! But he did order a LOT of cans of beer...lol.

[LilyJDragonfly]

Gotta love those tallboys from CN! Buck a beer, if you don't put a dollar in the machine - hell, I don't even think you can get those prices at a grocery store...

[BC Dave]

Best of luck Mammoth, especially with the job and the place to stay - And lastly with those ole Blazing Sevens!