Las Vegas is renowned for its entertainment – residency shows, magic acts, comedy clubs, touring concerts – that attract A-list headliners to the strip. These spectacular productions coupled with Vegas’ energy and crowds create memories that last a lifetime. But the experiences can be elevated even further through VIP treatment, affording perks and access beyond standard tickets. Here’s an insider guide on securing VIP treatment for sought-after Vegas shows and concerts.
Obtaining VIP Tickets to Shows
To gain a more exclusive vantage point and experience for Vegas shows, aim to get VIP tickets that provide:
- Premier seating – Often front and center orchestra seats with unobstructed views of all the action. Floor seats closest to the stage are most coveted.
- Access to VIP lounge – Enter venues early and relax in luxury lounges with full bars, appetizers, and plush furnishings.
- Food and beverage service – Servers provide champagne, premium cocktails, wine and snacks directly to your seats. No waiting in crowded lines.
- Celebrity meet & greets – Some packages include meeting performers briefly after shows for photos ops and autographs.
- Merchandise gifts – Take home souvenir show shirts, programs, or other swag items as part of VIP.
- Escorted entry/exit – Hosts greet you, walk you in, and escort you out safely avoiding crowds.
- Event concierge – On-site concierge handles reservations and any requests to deliver a flawless experience.
VIP tickets are available directly through show box office sites. However, contacting a hotel concierge often provides the best access to hot show seats – they have insider knowledge and contacts. The concierge can advise dates with availability and pre-purchase the best tickets on your behalf.
Another option is booking through secondary market ticketing providers like VIP Tickets. This will come at a premium, but they source inventory for sold-out and exclusive events. Just beware of scams and make sure companies are reputable. Travel package sites also offer show tickets bundled with hotel stays.
Top VIP Experiences at Las Vegas Residency Shows
The ability to see chart-topping headliners in ongoing residency shows is unique to Vegas. Here are top residencies offering exceptional VIP treatment and amenities:
Celine Dion – Front row VIP includes access to a premium pre-show lounge serving champagne and cuisine designed by renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
Aerosmith – The “Backstage Baby” VIP package gives you early access to watch the band’s sound check rehearsal and tour the stage setup.
Usher – His VIP package includes a backstage tour, preshow cocktail reception, and premium seating feet from the action.
Sting – Sting’s “Golden Circle” seats are the closest floor seats, steps from the stage. VIP also includes the Rock Lounge with drinks and appetizers.
Shania Twain – Shania’s “Let’s Go” VIP offers a preshow cocktail party and photo op with the star herself.
John Legend – His “Love” VIP seats you near the piano to marvel at Legend’s skills up close during this romantic show.
Gwen Stefani – Top ticket allotments like “I’m Just A Girl” VIP provide amazing up-close seating, preshow drinks and Q&A sessions.
Residency shows let you see icons in uniquely intimate theater venues. VIP access takes the experience over the top, with proximity to the stars and luxury amenities surrounding the shows.
Tips for Booking Concert VIP Packages
Big-name concert tours consistently roll through Las Vegas at venues like Allegiant Stadium, T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena, and The Theater at Virgin Hotels. Here are tips for scoring VIP tickets:
- Purchase during presales – Artists and venues release allotments of VIP tickets during presales before the general public sale. Sign up on websites ahead to gain presale passcodes and access.
- Utilize artist fan clubs – Being a member of an artist’s official fan club often gives you earliest access to purchase VIP packages and premium tickets.
- Check venue partners – Some venues sell VIP packages that include amenities like pre- and post-show parties, food and drinks, preferred parking, merchandise and more.
- Contact the box office – Call the box office and ask about availability and pricing of premium VIP options for specific shows to get details.
- Buy via artist website – Many musicians sell special VIP tickets directly through their websites, allowing you to circumvent ticket sellers.
- Use a card with perks – Check whether premium credit cards provide pre-sales or discounts on show tickets.
With concerts in huge demand, planning ahead and utilizing presales and special sources is key to scoring those pit and front row tickets money can’t normally buy.
Top Las Vegas Venues for Live Music
Beyond residencies and touring arena concerts, Las Vegas offers many intimate music venues to catch talented acts in smaller settings like:
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel – Recently renovated, The Joint draws huge rock/alternative acts for a raucous party vibe in its 4000-person theater. Past performers include the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Arctic Monkeys.
Brooklyn Bowl – This lively hybrid bowling alley/music club books top bands and DJs ranging from Bruno Mars to Elvis Costello. The action happens right by the lanes.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay – Intricate Gospel Brunch shows couple with concerts from diverse acts like country star Jon Pardi in the music hall holding 1800 people.
The Pearl at Palms Casino – Location of the infamous Britney Spears residency, this three-level theater hosts major pop, rock and comedy acts in an ultra modern space.
The Smith Center – The city’s classic concert hall venue seating 2,050 that attracts huge legends like Brian Wilson and Bonnie Raitt as well as the Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Theater at Virgin Hotels – This Hard Rock Hotel transformed space is one of Vegas’ newest and most intimate venues at just 1300 capacity. Top artists perform shows here.
Enjoy the full gamut of musical performances, from legendary headliners at the top venues to local indie bands at cozy lounges, on your Vegas trip.
Insider Tips for Booking The Hottest Vegas Shows
Scoring seats at the hottest shows and concerts in Vegas requires strategy. Use these insider tips when booking:
- Plan early – The sooner the better, as popular shows sell out fast. Aim to book 4-6 months out.
- Prioritize weekends – The most in-demand headliners perform weekends. Search midweek shows for more availability.
- Join fan clubs – Artists often grant members exclusive presale access before public ticket sales open.
- Check group rates – Booking for a large group often unlocks seat blocks at group sales rates unavailable otherwise.
- Call the box office – Speaking with a ticket agent provides insight on high-demand shows and upcoming announcements.
- Follow social media – Turn on notifications from venues’ social accounts to get presale passwords and on-sales alerts.
- Register on websites – Opt-in for presale alerts and early booking access once live dates are announced.
- Utilize concierge – Hotel/casino concierges get allotments of seats to hot performances not available publicly.
With so many vying for thousands of seats, you’ll need focus and ingenuity to gain access to the most coveted Vegas concerts and shows.
Best Celebrity Chef Shows in Las Vegas
Beyond music acts, Las Vegas also lures celebrity chefs to headline phenomenal live cooking shows coupled with fine dining experiences. Top chef shows include:
Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen – The multi-Michelin star British chef hosts an explosive live cooking competition based on his reality show at Caesars Palace.
The Works by Guy Fieri – Funky spikey-haired Food Network personality Guy Fieri cooks up fun demonstrations with a rock-and-roll vibe at The LINQ.
Penn & Teller’s Fool Us – Catch the legendary magic/comedy duo at the Rio with a star-studded magician guest on each live show.
Demonstrate by Eric Hjorleifson – Watch this MasterChef finalist prepare creative takes on cuisines from around the world at The Mirage’s intimate 240-seat venue.
Chef Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill – The world-famous chef shows off his chops preparing signature dishes tableside at his MGM Grand restaurant.
Mr. Chow Encore – Mr. Chow chefs dazzle preparing stylized Chinese dishes with flare at the restaurant bearing his name inside Wynn.
Carrot Top – Prop comic Carrot Top’s rapid-fire act satirizes pop culture with zany inventions and DIY contraptions at the Luxor.
These one-of-a-kind chef productions blend entertainment, comedy, and culinary arts into spectacular live shows offering insight into their craft.
Best Magic & Illusion Shows in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has become a magical playground, with the world’s greatest prestidigitators and illusionists headlining spellbinding shows along the Strip. Top magic acts not to miss include:
David Copperfield – The legendary magician who’s made famous landmarks disappear and walked through the Great Wall still stuns audiences with big stunts and clever tricks.
Penn & Teller – This eccentric duo combines impressive slight-of-hand with side-splitting comedy for a uniquely entertaining magic show at the Rio.
Criss Angel – His high-concept “Mindfreak” production at Planet Hollywood integrates magic with dance, music and Cirque style aerials and theatrics.
Mat Franco – “America’s Got Talent” winner Mat Franco dazzles with modern magic and inventive trickery at the Linq in a fun, lively show.
Shin Lim – Master manipulator Shin Lim leaves jaws on the floor with his mind-bending card trickery honed through years of practice.
Mike Hammer – Charming fourth generation magic man Mike Hammer hosts a traditional magic and illusion show at the Four Queens downtown.
Mac King – Quirky prop comic and magician Mac King delivers an afternoon of highly amusing tricks and sight gags appealing to all ages.
Masters of Illusion – This rotating cast showcases big scale illusions from magicians specializing in grand stunts at the Tropicana’s intimate Cabaret Theater.
For an experience stimulating wonder and disbelief, Las Vegas’ magic shows will leave you astounded at skills honed to perfection only through sheer discipline and dedication.
Best Comedy Clubs & Shows in Las Vegas
Las Vegas consistently lands the biggest names in comedy at its acclaimed comedy clubs and theaters along the Strip and Downtown area:
Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club – Intimate venue at Linq attracting top national headliners to its 220-seat space designed to replicate Kimmel’s LA club.
Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club – Located at MGM Grand, Emmy winner Brad Garrett’s club books huge acts including Garrett himself across 8 shows weekly in a risk-taking room.
The Comedy Cellar – Imports NYC’s legendary Comedy Cellar vibe and comedians to the Rio for two nightly R-rated standup shows inside a mock Greenwich Village lounge.
Aces of Comedy Series – Superstar comics like Gabriel Iglesias, Ray Romano, and Jim Gaffigan perform at weekends inside the Terry Fator Theatre at Mirage.
The Laugh Factory – Another NYC import, the iconic Laugh Factory at the Tropicana showcases diverse talent in a sleek room designed for comedy with no drink minimums.
Tape Face – Quirky prop comic Tape Face garners huge laughs without ever speaking using just wacky facial expressions and pantomime routines at Harrah’s Showroom.
Carrot Top – Resident comic Carrot Top still cracks up audiences with his trunk of zany inventions and rapid-fire satirical punchlines at Luxor’s Atrium Showroom.
Las Vegas not only attracts huge arena concerts but intimate comedy shows letting you connect with comics up close and personal. The laughs never stop at Vegas’ acclaimed funny venues.
Most Unique & Memorable Vegas Shows
Beyond concerts, magic, and comedy, Las Vegas offers spectacular innovative performances that create unforgettable memories:
Le Reve – Cirque du Soleil’s “Le Reve” immerses audiences in a fantastical dream world of acrobatics, aerials, and aquatics inside its specialized theater-in-the-round aquatic stage at Wynn.
Absinthe – This critically acclaimed Spiegeltent show blends outrageous comedy and cirque-style acrobatics into a sexy and uninhibited production dubbed “the #1 greatest show in Las Vegas history” by Las Vegas Weekly.
Atomic Saloon Show – Inside a Wild West saloon at The Venetian, this raucous adult comedy musical merges acrobatics, dance, and audience participation into an immersive experience evoking vintage Vegas.
Opium – “Opium” is an adults-only sci-fi Cirque spoof following an outlandish storyline packed with absurd comedy acts, acrobatics, music and audience involvement at The Cosmopolitan.
Blue Man Group – Three bald and blue mimes blend music, science, comedy and multimedia effects into a family-friendly technicolor experience at Luxor.
Jabbawockeez – Hip hop dance crew Jabbawockeez tells stories through intricate choreography and stunning synchronization honed from years battling together. Enjoy at MGM Grand.
Michael Jackson ONE – Cirque du Soleil’s dance-driven acrobatic rock concert celebrates Michael Jackson’s biggest hits and most iconic dance moves at Mandalay Bay.
Only in the entertainment mecca of Las Vegas can you experience such unique multidisciplinary spectacles, blending comedy, dance, song, acrobatics, and special effects into extravagant performances.
Best Cirque du Soleil Shows in Las Vegas
As pioneers of the contemporary circus format fusing acrobatics, music, storytelling, and special effects, Cirque du Soleil dominates Vegas with eight incredible resident shows:
“O” at Bellagio – Aquatic masterpiece with acrobatics and ballet above, in, and below 1.5 million gallons of water – complete with high dives, synchronized swimming, and trapeze.
Mystère at Treasure Island – Mystère thrills with outrageous characters, slapstick comedy, daring high wire and teeterboard acts, silk aerialists, and more warped Cirque creativity.
Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay – Cirque’s high-energy musical celebrating Michael Jackson’s iconic music and dance moves, featuring his actual iconic shoes and glove.
The Beatles LOVE at Mirage – Dreamlike acrobatic spectacle crafted using the Beatles’ original master tapes and projected imagery. The result is a lyrical visual journey through their entire discography.
KÀ at MGM Grand – Epic production portraying imperial twins separated by war on a cinematic 360-degree rotating stage with intricate martial arts choreography and gravity-defying aerial feats.
Zumanity at New York New York – Sensual, risqué adult-themed production exploring sexuality and desire through Cirque’s signature aerialists, acrobats, comics and dancers.
Blue Man Group at Luxor – Part stage show, part party rave, as the silent bald and blue trio celebrate science, technology, and imagination through music, comedy, and multimedia effects.
Cirque’s poetic acrobatic theatrics have dazzled nearly 100 million spectators by combining athletic artistry, comedy, technology, music and visual poetry. Their Vegas residencies remain top entertainment bucket list picks.
Best Live Entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip’s mix of lavish resorts and entertainment venues delivers endless options to experience live performances:
- Fountains at Bellagio – This mesmerizing coordinated water ballet set to music and lights is free to enjoy in front of Bellagio, with shows starting every 30 minutes. Don’t miss it!
- Volcano at Mirage – The iconic Mirage volcano explodes to life nightly, spewing fire 100 feet skyward while Tribal drumbeats build suspense leading to the big eruption. Also free!
- Sirens of TI at Treasure Island – Mythical sirens battle with pirate ships nightly at Treasure Island in an entertaining outdoor show of music, lights, lasers, fire effects and special waterscapes.
- Lake of Dreams at Wynn – Magical performance lake between Wynn and Encore features holographic video, waterfall effects, puppetry vignettes, and stunning CGI projections in spectacular quality.
- Streetmosphere at Caesar’s Palace – Strolling entertainment like mimes, models, actors, and street performers entertain, engage, and pose for photos on the Strip sidewalk outside Caesars and the Forum Shops daily.
- Masquerade Show in the Sky at Rio – Nightly show on a float suspended 180 feet in the Rio sky combines sexy costumes, lavish sets and entertaining song and dance numbers.
- Auto Collections Show at The LINQ – Marvel at $10 million of exotic supercars and classics like Mustangs and Jaguars parading daily outside this free car show.
Enjoy an endless array of free and lower-cost live shows to take in along the Strip in-between gaming, clubbing, fine dining and Cirque spectaculars!
Best Adult Shows in Las Vegas
In Sin City, dazzling sensual adult shows celebrate sexiness, pushing boundaries few other entertainment scenes can:
- Chippendales – Hard bodies, velvet bowties and shirt cuffs – and not much else – make up the long-running ladies’ night revue for audiences 18+. Evening, late night and special guest star shows.
- Thunder from Down Under – Another sizzling male revue playing 9 shows weekly solely for women and the LGBTQ community, with hunks from Australia heating up the Excalibur.
- Magic Mike Live – Experience the steamy world of Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike films live onstage in this energetic, uninhibited high-tech production created for women. Nightly at The Sahara.
- Hans Klok’s Magic Rocks – Dutch illusionist Hans Klok brings his signature blend of magic, humor, and seduction with sexy sidekick dancers at his intimate show at Excalibur.
Crazy Girls
Longest-running Vegas show, this sensual adult production at Planet Hollywood mixes sexy burlesque and cabaret with humor, magic tricks, and audience interaction for over 30 years.
X Rocks – If you enjoy aerialists, acrobats, dance and rock music fused with adult themes, this provocative topless production at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino delivers.
Zombie Burlesque – Undead comedy, magic, acrobatics, and gratuitous skin blend together for laughs and gasps in this adults-only production at Planet Hollywood’s V Theater.
Purple Reign – Prince tribute show faithfully recreating the music and moves of The Artist in a sexy, steamy production that maintains Prince’s provocative edge.
With no-holds-barred sensual entertainment made for adult audiences, Vegas topless revues and burlesque productions celebrate sexiness and human beauty while pushing boundaries few other cities can. But abundant laughs and talents ensure the shows offer far more than just eye candy.
Tips for the Best Las Vegas Show & Concert Experiences
Getting the most out of Las Vegas’ incredible shows and concerts relies on some insider savvy. Useful tips include:
- Arrive early – Give yourself time to park, get through security/ticket lines and settle in. Missing the start dampens the experience.
- Review policies – Check venue rules on cameras, attire, food and beverage, seating time limits, etc. to avoid issues.
- Mind the schedule – Allow time between shows and meals. Plan travel time between hotels/venues plus inevitable Las Vegas traffic delays.
- Eat early or late – Have an early dinner or eat afterwards to avoid long waits during prime pre-show times. Or do takeout.
- Stay hydrated – In hot or dry conditions, drink plenty of water before, during, and after shows and concerts.
- Wear comfy shoes – For concerts and shows with audiences standing, comfortable, supportive footwear prevents aching.
- Book a car service – Utilize a car service like Lyft or hotel limos to ensure convenient transportation to and from key evening events.
- Travel light – Bring essentials only into venues including IDs, payment, tickets on phones. Limit bags and coats needing security checks.
- Have backup plans – Research other entertainment options in case you can’t get into prime shows. Spur-of-the-moment choices may become highlights!
With preparation and care, Las Vegas’ nonstop entertainment options become even more smooth, convenient, and memorable. Avoid hassles and maximize fun using these venue tips.
With endless possibilities for entertainment, concerts, magic, comedy, Cirque spectacles and more, Las Vegas delivers excitement unmatched by any destination globally. By booking ahead for hottest tickets, opting for VIP treatment when available, and properly planning your ideal itinerary using these tips, your Las Vegas concert and show experiences will create memories to cherish forever. The Strip comes alive at night with boundless options for everyone’s taste – take advantage of them all and immerse yourself in the entertainment mecca Las Vegas offers.
