As a Vegas resident and ten year industry veteran, one of the most frequently asked questions I hear is "how do I get into the nightclubs in Las Vegas?" Well, many of you think that you know (which some of you do) but a vast majority of Las Vegas travelers don't really have a clue on to how to get this accomplished properly. Regardless, once you get to Las Vegas chances are that you'll want to go to a nightclub (why else would you be reading this?). Getting here is the easy part; it's the preparation and what you do once you arrive at the club that will shape your group's entire evening. Remember, the velvet rope isn't going to be as accessible as it was during your daydreaming travels to get here.

In order to maximize your Vegas nightlife experience, here are a few tips to help ensure that you vacation goes just as well in reality as it did when you were conceptualizing it. This may seem like a virtual "duh" list to some of you, but there may be one or two things that you read here that you didn't quite think of. Who knows, maybe this could even be the factor which helps grant you access to the hottest Las Vegas nightclubs.

These are not a set of rules; these are just a collection of suggestions to help you enjoy Vegas nightclubs the way they were supposed to be experienced - from the inside of the club. To assist you with your nightclub dreams, he's a list of things you can do to help maximize your chances of rubbing elbows with the hottest party people in Sin City. These tips are in no order, just a randomly complied list… well, except for maybe the first one.

• Girls are Gold: - Just as valuable as money in this city. If you are a group of guys looking to get in, well anywhere, this is going to be your make or break point.

• Dress Code: As important as number one is, it's also imperative that you DRESS UP when you head to the clubs. Just because you're a group of girls, doesn't mean that you don't have to adhere to a club's dress code. Also, do NOT be that group of guys who dress like some massive cloning experiment gone wrong. Everyone in your group should look good and have their own fashion identity. Oh and one more EXTREMELY important thing to remember - shoes. It doesn't matter if you just bought a $300 limited edition pair of custom-made of Nike's - tennis shoes are never allowed in 99% of Las Vegas nightclubs.

• Table reservations: The best way to guarantee that you get in to a club with the shortest wait possible is to book a table reservation BEFORE you head out that night. This isn't necessarily going to be the cheapest way for your group to hang out, since many clubs have bottle minimums on certain nights, but none-the-less if you're part of a group that doesn't mind - this is in my opinion the best option to experience any Las Vegas nightclub. On a side note, prior to going into the club one person in your group should be designated as the "money-holder," and take the lead as far as the group's finances for the evening. When designating this crucial individual make sure you don't select Johnny Party-machine, or you could wind up having your evening's cash miraculously vanish.

• Get there early: For those of you who are looking for the "thriftier" way to enjoy nightclubs in Las Vegas, this is essential. If the club opens at 10:30 you need to be in line waiting maybe an hour prior to this. Despite the fact that this may seem to be an inconvenience initially, your hour wait will be well worth it once the multitude of club-goers descend upon the velvet rope.

• Bachelorette party: I emphasize bachelorette, not bachelor, sorry guys... see #1. Groups of women always are a plus to a nightclub. Yet again I still urge you to call ahead to the nightclub that you want to go to and see if they have anything they can do for your group. Even if they say no, you at least made the effort.

• Day Time Pool Parties: This is a great option to help you get contacts which could potentially get you into to the clubs later that night. Many Las Vegas locals attend these daytime poolside fiascos to unwind from the night before and get some sun (and a buzz) before heading to work later that evening. Just as commonly though, fellow Vegas travelers head to the pools to ensure that (1) the excitement doesn't stop, and (2) they return home with a nice golden glow to accompany their prominent smell of booze and shame. Bottom line is that this is a great place to meet people. Whether they work in the industry or not, chances are that majority of the people at this daytime party are looking to keep the party going into the wee hours of the morning. Guys you can use this as an opportunity to "go fishing" and make some new female friends which you can hopefully have accompany you and your entourage to the club later that evening. Remember - girls are gold. Even if they ditch you once you get inside the club, the bottom line is that you're inside - which is exactly where you want to be. Trust me, you'll find new companions.

• Have a plan: Above all, this is the most important thing to remember. Combining all the elements that I have previously mentioned, this is the key to ensuring smooth entrance into any Las Vegas nightclub. Guys when you meet girls if you have a plan together it's going to be a lot easier to persuade them to join your evening's entourage, because it sounds like you know what you are doing. Regardless of gender though, having a plan eliminates the headache of trying to figure out what you're group is going to do for the evening. Why do you want to waste valuable time trying to get things coordinated an hour before you go out? Relax, plan ahead and you'll maximize the amount of time you have to experience a Las Vegas night that you'll never remember.

• Lie: Finally, if all else fails find someone with a clip board and lie your ass off. Say you were on a reality TV show. Seriously there is so much crap on TV right now that most people won't know if you were or not and maybe it could help out. Be warned though, if it doesn't work, then you could potentially be black-balled from the club for the whole night. Either way, it'll make for a great story.

So those are my picks for the list, and the conclusion to this week's section. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Additions? Want to share your own Vegas story? E-mail me at blog@lightlv.com.

Till next time!