A Writer Thing…
Watching People…
Since I sometimes don’t get out of the condo for entire days, I took the opportunity to go with Kris tonight to the Strip.
That’s right, the Strip on a Saturday night. Not a place I would normally ever think of going, but Kris had a concert in Caesar’s Palace and I offered to drive her and explore Caesar’s Palace, one of the only major casinos I had never been in, even back in my team card days.
So since it was a really nice evening, we parked at the Wyn and walked. Lots and lots of people around 7pm. Very crowded. (In fact the rumor of how Vegas is dying is just laughable.)
Kris headed into her concert and I spent about a mile of walking exploring the casino and the huge shopping area, then headed for the food court to grab a snack and just work on some stuff. Turns out I mostly just watched people.
The locals who were pros (or just there for some reason) stood out like a sore thumb and there were very few of us. And the tourists were so occupied with whatever they were doing, they never noticed. It’s like they were walking around in bubbles.
I loved the fact that the population there on a Saturday night at Caesar’s was completely multi-ethic. And slanted mostly young.
So many of the tourists would never make good characters. Just not believable. And let me give you a grandpa “get off my lawn” comment. If you are young and can wear the really skimpy skirts and tops, please do so, but if you are not so young or not so skinny, please cover up. Again, not sights that were character material.
But since I don’t sit in airports anymore, it has been a long time since I just sat and watched people, mostly younger people. And as a writer, the few hours tonight were fantastic fun. And unlike airports where it is possible to tell a person’s job or income level and so much more, In a major Las Vegas casino on a Saturday night, just not possible.
But still great fun for old writer me…
(Plus I got over 12,000 steps, six miles. And I got out of the condo and away from this computer.)
2 Comments
Joe Cleary
I miss living in New York and walking around or sitting in the park watching people. So many interesting things going on all the time. It was fun to bring friends from out of town and point stuff out to them that they were oblivious to – drug deals, shoplifters, undercover cops, pickpockets, etc.
Vincent Zandri
Im a people watching addict to the point where it gets dangerous since i tend to stare. “What are you lookin’ at?” says the big tattooed biker dude. I also eaves drop. The other night at my local where I allow myself one beer after my writing day, I was seated beside three people I’d never seen before. After a time it wasn’t difficult to tell they were coworkers. I finished my beer and got up. I said, ” You guys work together.” One of the attractive young ladies says, “You were listening to us.” I said, “Im a writer. Its a habit of mine. What do you do?” ” We’re sex workers,” The lady said. Huh? I stayed a while and asked all sorts of questions. Bingo! A new Steve Jobz PI novel is born.