My quick opinion with no artistic style in my blood.

I like the idea of course, I love seeing different poker rooms.

Instead of having the guitar during the shots of the poker room with what seems to be some kind of tinted color filter, could you just have clean shots of the poker room and overlay your review while doing shots of the room. This would cut the videos down to maybe 2-3 minutes in length and then we could listen to the review while seeing shots of the poker room and the surrounding area.

Nice idea. Keep at it. Like the troop, your vids will get better with time. My 2 cents.

If you're reviewing poker rooms, establish a set criteria for all the rooms you plan to review, then stick to these criteria. Sounds like you're off to a good start, but I'd add a few more categories. Ones that come to mind, are play, player caliber, cleanliness, atmosphere, etc...

Secondly, I concur on ditching the guitar riffs at the start and finish (unless it's super brief, like Wayne's World).

Lastly, I think I'd spend very little time in front of the camera (maybe just at the beginning intro, like "Hey, I'm Carl, and today I'm reviewing the Flamingo poker room". Then I'd use footage of the actual casino, and poker rooms. Show the tables, the chairs, nearby restaurants and parking structures, and anything else pertinent to the review. Then you can simply voice over, while you show the footage.

I think you appear to be reading notes off camera, and are displaying a bit of nervousness. This comes across as a little dry/monotone. If you're narrating off camera (even if using a script), I think you're voice will sound more engaging. And having the footage going while you're discussing each aspect being shown, will be more interesting/appealing. It will sound more "conversational"...

Looking forward to reviews of the rooms mid-strip, which is where I typically play (Flamingo, Ballys, PH, etc...).

Love the idea man! I think sharing some more tidbits that one can only gather from playing high volume in these rooms on a regular basis like you have over your time here is key to the value of these reviews. I'm not sure if you are soliciting feedback from others to add to the reviews, but I'll go ahead and offer up my 2cents on your Mandalay Bay review for now, and you can tell me to STFU later if you want -

From my few times playing here this past year, I could not even connect to the Wi-Fi. (Most recent session was in November fwiw). One of the dealers said it wasn't even that good anyway, but maybe/hopefully that's been fixed since?

I will also note that this is the only poker room on the entire strip that dealers will enforce a "no texting or being on the phone" once you have cards in front of you in a cash game. Not even "just don't slow the game down" but straight out told no phone in the hand. LOLOK

On a positive note, what I love about this room is that it is right next to House of Blues! It's a great room to go get your drink on before going to a concert (to avoid paying $14 for a Corona inside)! HOB has one of the better musical venues on the strip IMO and they constantly have great cover bands and big name acts in town!

Good stuff bud and thanks for doing this!

Carl, I'm assuming that's you playing the guitar. If I'm right, here's an idea for a prank.

Step 1: Walk into a poker room you never play in with a sidekick (preferably fat guy or midget), guitar and amp.

Step 2: Take off shirt.

Step 3: Have the sidekick plug in and hand you the guitar.

Step 4: Shred.

Step 5: When confronted, take your time stopping, then say something like "my work here is done."

Step 6: Unplug and haul ass out of there before you're trespassed.

Step 7: Have someone film it and post to youtube.

Enjoy.

Edit: Here is your inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoLU6zKaws

Don't do your speaking to camera work outside. It's hard to hear you over the gusting wind.
You seem to be starting off with some crazy high scores. You appear to have giver MB 21/25.

If you were actually walking to the poker room playing guitar, you could really make a name for yourself, especially if you are dragging a dry ice machine behind you as it appears from the video quality.

Cool project, Carl. I like the idea.

Almost every room has something unique about it, I would focus on what separates each room from the average strip room (good or bad). Some examples: the presence of a jackpot drop, unusual house rules, or even things like the watermelon juice at Aria or the availability of Fiji water. Maybe try to get a dealer or floor person from the room to discuss some reasons to come try out their room. Keep it up!

Cheers, I love spreading a little taste of Vegas to people around the country and around the world.

Thanks, yes the first vid was pretty rough and I made a few tweaks in the second to start sanding the edges and refining.

This is all shot on my HTC phone which isn't great in low light unfortunately. I'll try to invest in a camera in the future.

TY!

Yes I've thought of doing some kind of promo vid for the Poker Player Volunteer Organization explaining what our mission is and what we are all about.

I think a 0-10 could be more precise than 0-5 scale but I can always through in some .5s if I feel whole numbers are not accurate enough in a particular case.

These are simply my take, everyone is welcome to add their input as far as what they think of each room and where we may differ in opinion.

Haha, I'm more of a Metalocalypse guy.

Yes, discussion is welcome. My reviews in most cases will be based on a single or handful of visits to a particular room. Multiple experiences from a variety of players will provide more data points and different perspectives.

I am planning to upload every 5 days and I am working my way from south to north. I will be playing a lot of weekdays as well, if people are curious about peak table count on Fri/Sat they can always use the bravo poker live app.

I can try to throw in best places to eat and location of the nearest restrooms. Hadn't thought of the parking one.

Thanks for the ideas.

I hadn't noticed this, smoke doesn't tend to irritate me personally unless someone is smoking a huge cigar.

Thanks for the input.

Thanks for the opinion, I'm always grateful for feedback. I will try to incorporate more pics while I give ratings.

I don't think I can please everyone and take every single tip but I am listening and I'll take all advice into consideration.

Thanks for the input, much appreciated. I'll try to use some of these things pointers.

I may add a few categories as I go along but want to make it fairly consistent. I won't comment on player caliber or how good a specific game is, that is completely subjective and depends on your preference and style of play. Good games can pop up anywhere in any poker room, if the game is not good find a better one. My theory is that a good location with lots of walk by traffic has the highest potential to foster good games.

I have a little pocket sized notebook where I write down all the ratings before recording. I'm not the most naturally charismatic speaker and I will try to work on this, I've joined a Toastmasters club to improve.

I have already recorded a few in my own manner so it may take some time to implement various changes.

Thank you.

Yes it was a bit odd that MB has a stricter rule regarding phones that deviates from the vast majority of the other poker rooms on the strip where phone use is always allowed provide you are not holding up the action.

I have noticed that a lot of the MGM owned properties have upgraded their free internet speeds fairly recently.

House of Blues is a cool little music venue inside MB, been to a few shows there. Got to see Motorhead there recently, RIP Lemmy.

Yep here is a project I started last year where I uploaded 18 original songs and 18 covers of some bands that have influenced me.

Thrash Nonstop

Lmao, I love youtube pranks. Roman Atwood is a genius.

You are free to give your opinion of how you rate a poker room if you'd like.

Yeah, I apologize again for the wind and low vid quality. Will work on it.

Thanks. I will try to highlight anything that sets a particular room apart from the others. I had considered interviewing each poker room manager and asking them why people should choose their room over others... we'll see.

I think we're gonna have to get you a better camera, the image just isn't very good. Any way it can be improved?

I still support this idea and applaud your efforts.

I STILL love the idea also... but those videos are somewhat unwatchable. Some things need to be flushed out prior to shooting in as far as scripting goes, and some finesse needs to be tempered in the fit and finish of the editing and video production

All I can say is I mentioned in the OP that this is my first time monkeying around with free video editing software, please rein in your expectations. This isn't gunna be a multi-million dollar budget Hollywood production. I thought it would be a fun little project in a different medium than a website like allvegaspoker/ pokeratlas. I promise incremental improvement, practice makes perfect

By the way, I don't want a monopolize the idea. Anyone is free to post up their own video reviews ITT. It would be cool to get some different styles and perspectives.

round 3, Excalibur

You couldn't have cued up the random "paaaaaaaaaaarty!" Any better at the ending of this one! Haha... Short, simple, and to the point makes your reviews solid for a target audience of anyone looking to experience poker in Vegas for the first time, or the first time in a long time.

I'll add in my 2cents worth to further help out the audience. TVs in this poker room might as well be nonexistent. A total of 2 and neither probably bigger than a standard computer monitor on either side of the room! For most poker enthusiasts, sports on in the background is a must, so this room falls well short of that expectation. Might be the worst in all of Las Vegas, in fact, so felt it important to point out.

If you are a coffee lover, and hate paying $1 for **** bar coffee in an 8oz glass, use your $1/hr comps (that are literally only good in like 3 on site restaurants) at the Starbucks just 100 feet from the room. Might be the only Starbucks in Vegas that takes poker comps?! (Don't know if that is a fact but quite possible. Perhaps Trooper can confirm or deny this if he stops in here...)

People in the room get super excited about the wheel spin promotion that runs 24/7. The wheel includes Aces cracked and all high hands getting to spin for some house money. There are table splash and room splash prizes on the wheel which can add to the drinking fun! In my experience, this room has the lowest cumulative poker IQ at any given table on any given night, so take the bad with the good and enjoy some low variance luls when you want that free Starbucks and don't care about watching any sports!

Excab review is better... more concise and filled with great information.

4 games of 1/2?... better than I would have though for a bum hunting zone.

Gonna do off strip properties like orleans, rio, red rock or green valley?

Carl, (along with the many others already suggesting this), I'd also ditch (or dramatically reduce) the 30 seconds of guitar riff and purple haze screen at the beginning. Make this like 10 seconds brah! The guitar riffs are cool, but a very personalized music taste. If you're making a vid to appeal to the most people, you have to tone down the hard guitar IMHO.

Now, here's a group that included a guitar riff intro, yet appealed to a HUGE audience

WAYNES WORLD INTRO

Loved the info on the room, but it'd still get better if we were looking a non-purple hazed pics of the table (as you're talking about it). Or pictures of the chairs, etc... Narrating (as opposed to talking into the camera for 3 minutes) will allow you to make a few mistakes, and just editing in the good narration sequences, editing out the bad, etc...

Keep it up, I know it's not a Hollywood blockbuster production, but just keep following the good advice of people here, and you'll improve each time.

I agree with others get rid of the purple tinted intros with guitar riffs. I'd focus more on content showing the rooms themselves.

All that being said your gutitar riffs and purple screen kick a@&. I've been watching your videos for the guitar riffs. Maybe seperate videos with more guitar riffs is the way to go.

Can't get awesome guitar riffs out of head, need more now!

To many notes...

Round 4 Monte Carlo

Thanks for the input. Yes starbucks is a stones throw from the poker room.

Thanks, I am going to try to keep the intros tight.

I am considering covering all the rooms I play at in the future which could include off strip casinos and poker rooms in other states and countries.

I apologize again for the dark footage, it doesn't come out that well recorded on my phone. I'll try to get some daylight clips.

I understand my music won't align with everyone's tastes but please try to keep an open mind. If not you can always switch down the volume for a sec or skip to the actual review portion. I already have all these songs on my laptop so I might as well make use of them and not have to worry about copyright infringement or whatnot.

I'll try to overlay more pics of chairs, restrooms, parking garage in future vids.

Waynes World is classic, brings back childhood memories.

I appreciate the tips.

Sorry again about the subpar footage in the dark. Thanks for the complement.

I want to keep the guitar intros/outros for now as it's part of my creative vision.

I'm sure you understand I really can't accommodate every single request but I have taken note and your opinion is appreciated!

I like the fact that you're going "In Order" up the strip. Good stuff, I do agree with a lot of your points made about these rooms.

So Monte Carlo's rake is $4+$1 for promotion? $5 max seems high for LV and should deter most from playing their $1/2nl, I would think.

Nope, not high at all for Vegas.

To expand on da Popes correct post...

There are only a few rooms left doing $4 max rake no promo drop. Venetian just went up to $5 max rake with no promos!
Last on the list that I know are just the big 3: Wynn, Belagio, Aria doing $4 max rake no promo drops. Everywhere else is $4+1 and higher!

$4+$1 is still pretty good IMO. Venetian is the worst because there is more rake that never goes back to the players and there are no promotions to keep the fish happy.

Most places in Vegas are $4, $4+1 or $5+1 rake 10% max. It's much better than the $5+1 or $6+1 drop in CA. A lot of rooms in FL are $5+2. Cheapest rake for NL in Vegas that I currently know of is Orleans at $3+2.

One thing to keep in mind is the rake remains the same for 2/5 so, in 1/2 the blinds don't exceed the amount the house takes but in 2/5 the blinds do which make it a much better deal if you are bankrolled.

I keep hearing people say the games are nittier/worse in Vegas though so the lower rake may not be as good of a deal as it seems.