‘Keeper of the Keys’ movie premiere unlocks local talent

The premiere of “The Keeper of the Keys” brings national attention to local authors with a star-studded red carpet tomorrow in Downtown Las Vegas.

Most self-help gurus want audiences to take his or her work seriously, but Robin Jay, writer, producer and star of “The Keeper of the Keys,” truly hopes audiences get a laugh out of her debut film. The film’s premiere is expected to draw a crowd of local and national talent tomorrow night at 7 p.m., at the Plaza Las Vegas Hotel and Casino Downtown.

“Your typical self-improvement movies tend to hit you with an endless stream of talking heads,” Jay said. “I wanted to help people, to engage viewers so they could learn something. To do that, it had to be funny.”

A published author whose works include the best seller, “The Art of the Business Lunch,” and contributions to “Chicken Soup for the Wine Lovers’ Soul” and the Power of the Platform series, Jay opted to bring this message to the masses via film instead of the written word because, she said, “the publishing world is going digital and everybody and their brother is making a movie.”

Although she had never attempted a movie project before, she found advice and support in mentor Stephen Simon, whose credits include one of Jay’s all-time favorite movies, “Somewhere In Time” with the late Christopher Reeve.

It was in the midst of brainstorming with Simon that Jay came up with the storyline of the film, which plays as a self-help version of “A Christmas Carol.”

Essentially, Michael, played by director Scott Cervine, loses his house, job and fiancée in short order. After a drunken night, he is visited by Jack Canfield (of the award-winning “Chicken Soup…” series) and is told he will be visited by experts, led by Jay’s character, Elizabeth, who will explain the keys to unlock his potential.

Along with Canfield, the movie features powerhouse names in the personal development field, such as best-selling author John Gray, PhD (“Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”) and Marci Shimoff (“Love For No Reason”), along with 15 other experts from around the globe.

Regina Rose Murphy, a sound therapist in Las Vegas whose expertise fit with the vibration for the film, wanted to do the movie because “there was something about the title and its purpose that really struck a chord with me.”

Although she has never been in a movie before, she wasn’t intimidated by the idea of appearing on camera.

“The experts aren’t really acting so much as telling a story,” she said.

It is Jay’s belief that those very personal stories, along with the narrative, will set this film apart from others of its genre.

“(Viewers) won’t feel like (they’re) watching a documentary, because (the experts are) sharing deeply personal stories, not rhetoric like you’d hear from the podium,” she said.

Rose Murphy, who hasn’t yet seen the film, said she is excited for the world to see this movie.
“It feels like we’re giving birth to something very special,” she said. “It’s a powerful message in a time when we need it most.”

The red carpet begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Plaza Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas, followed by the screening inside the Plaza showroom and an after-party at the Triple Crown Ballroom. Tickets are $75, with VIP seating available for $200, and are available for purchase at EventBee.com.

Published on BestOfLasVegas.com

Net-savvy crafters are in demand this holiday season

Photo By Vikki Decker

Craft shows are so last decade. Shoppers looking for unique, handcrafted gifts are now gravitating to Etsy.com, the online marketplace where a growing population of crafters and artisans from Las Vegas and elsewhere are showcasing their wares.

In recent years, consumers inspired by initiatives such as Small Business Saturday have pledged to allocate more of their holiday shopping budgets for supporting local businesses. Because nearby artisans without brick-and-mortar locations aren’t easy to find, customers can turn to websites such as Etsy, which has listings for nearly 300 virtual shops from local professional crafters.

Kathy Wheeler, who has two Etsy shops (luxe candles at AAngels Heavenly Soy Sense and hand-knit toppers on Kat’s Hats) had a simple reason for selling her wares on the Web.

“I first started thinking about opening an online store because I don’t have a retirement [fund] anymore,” she said. “I was hoping this could be my new retirement [plan].”

“I have always enjoyed doing crafts, even when my children were growing up,” said Vikki Decker, proprietor of Vikster’s Crafts, which offers a variety of items from handmade paper goods to custom hair clips. “The thought that some of my creations [could reach a wider audience] was another reason I wanted to open a shop. And a little extra money never hurt anyone.”

Other Etsy store owners had established businesses, were working craft fairs or doing showcases at events such as First Friday, but chose to expand their brand awareness online.

Shae Wilhite, a stand-up comic turned virtual sweet shop owner, operates Glitter City Sweets. Wilhite found that “my Etsy store did help my business grow, not only due to added sales but also getting my brand out there.”

Groups such as Handmade in Vegas, which is open to anyone with an Etsy shop, also function as support systems for the micro business owners.

“[These groups] let [shop owners] share information, both the good and the bad, about being an independent artist,” Wilhite said. “They become a support group, a sounding board, an information hub and a group of friends.”

The shop owners had some tips for holiday shoppers who want to give a crafty gift this season.
“Buy early, because, as we all know, shipping is a killer this time of year!” Decker advised.

Wheeler, who started building her holiday inventory in July, encouraged shoppers to check each vendor’s policies prior to buying.

“On every Etsy page is posted shipping policies and what they’ll guarantee,” she said. “People should be familiar with those before ordering.”

Shoppers afraid of ordering food items too far in advance need not worry.

“Lots of my customers know to order early but tell me when they want things shipped,” Wilhite said. “That way they know their order is a priority and will get to the recipient in time.”

Though the Etsy shops aren’t necessarily the place to find a bargain, although many of the site’s shops have sales throughout the year, Wilhite had this reminder.

“Handmade products aren’t always the fastest or the cheapest, but they are made by real people who really care about what they do,” she said. “So they are really gifts from the heart, both yours and ours!”

Published on BestOfLasVegas.com

Spurs meet sequins as Miss Rodeo America pageant rides into Las Vegas

If the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo isn’t enough to lure cowboys and cowgirls to Las Vegas this December, the annual Miss Rodeo America Pageant could help rope them in from Saturday to Dec. 10.

The annual pageant started in 1955 and brings together the reigning w0inners from 28 states to compete for the national title.

Declared “A Whole New Pageant” on the MRA Facebook event page, there are two major differences for this year’s event. First, the festivities move to the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. More significant, however, is the timing of the competition. The pageant will be the same day the champion titles of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association are awarded.

“Previously, we’ve held the pageant the week before, so this is so much more exciting, to have all the winners [announced] on the same day,” Tracy Damrell, president of the Miss Rodeo America, said.

Like most pageants, the MRA contestants must have both beauty and brains, competing in categories like appearance, personality, speech craft and personal interviewing, but there are a few other aspects that make it unique.

“Yes, the girls have to do interviews and modeling, speeches, the typical pageant activities, but they also must have knowledge of horses and the rodeo,” Damrell said. “There is an actual horsemanship competition where the girls compete on horses they’ve never ridden before.”

Contestants’ skill is determined by their ability to handle these unfamiliar horses during this leg of the competition, held at 8:30 a.m. Monday at King Arthur’s Arena inside the Excalibur.

The women trade saddles for the runway on Dec. 8 to model in a fashion show featuring Wrangler, Justin Boots, Bailey Hats, Reata Ranch Gear and Rod’s Belts, plus a western elegance dress from each contestant’s personal collection.

The coronation ceremony is Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the MGM Grand Hollywood Theater, where the current Miss Rodeo America, McKenzie Haley, will crown her successor.

In addition to receiving prizes and scholarship money, Miss Rodeo America 2012 serves as the spokesperson for the PRCA during her reign, a job that will occupy the majority of
the year.

“[The winner] is designated as the first lady of professional rodeo and may spend as much as 300 to 320 days on the road,” Damrell said. “She is truly the goodwill ambassador of the rodeo to the public.”

Rodeo fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the contestants before the coronation can meet them at the contestant introduction at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show, starting at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 9.

Published on BestOfLasVeags.com

Cowboy Christmas, rope some deals

One of the most anticipated events surrounding the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo each year in Las Vegas has nothing to do with riding broncos or roping calves, but shoppers are sure to snag a great gift at the 2011 Cowboy Christmas Gift Show.

Now in its 26th year, the annual gift show, held Dec. 1-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, has grown from a few vendors displaying their handmade goods to over 400 exhibitors from across the United States and Canada.

The annual event is also one of the best places to find official Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and WNFR gear for sale.

Last year’s show drew more than 138,000 shoppers over 10 days, so plan to go early for the best selection. Aznarez said the show organizers planned for marathon shopping sessions, with bars and food booths readily available, as well as bag checks when purchases start to pile up. “We really try to accommodate the shopper who would spend multiple hours here or even multiple days,” she said.

If hours of shopping seem overwhelming, there are other events and activities to enjoy throughout the day. Three big-screen televisions, strategically placed throughout the hall, will broadcast the previous night’s Wrangler NFR performance, and autograph sessions will be held with various celebrities and rodeo contestants. Sunday only will feature a live feed of the performances, Aznarez revealed.

Fans who enjoy live entertainment will surely enjoy “Outside The Barrel with Flint Rasmussen,” a popular variety show hosted by the eight-time PRCA Clown of the Year (and eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Barrelman). Featuring guests from the rodeo, country music and beyond, the show blends interviews with down-home humor.

On Dec. 9, lucky attendees can also meet the contestants for the Miss Rodeo America pageant starting at 1:30 p.m., free of charge.

If patrons can tear themselves away from the great deals, there is also a ticket exchange service in the lobby where fans can get those last-minute seats to the NFR action, as well as a complimentary one-way shuttle directly to the Thomas & Mack.

The Cowboy Christmas Gift Show is open to the public and runs from Thursday to Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free. With the exception of Sunday, parking is charged.

Published on Best of Las Vegas