Nightclub & Bar Show offered creative booze and party-worthy paraphernalia
Vikings, topical urinal screens, vaporized alcohol shots and Star Trek beer, oh my.
The 2014 Nightclub &Bar Show featured a slew of new products this week that drew crowds and made some innovative entrepreneurs very busy.
During its three-day run, the industry-only trade show took over about 110,000 net square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is estimating that the 2014 event brought a non-gaming economic impact of $39 million to the city. The show’s founder, Jon Taffer, said he was expecting 41,000 attendees, up from last year’s 37,000.
At Nightclub &Bar land, even your bathrooms can be fun.
Sweeet Seats showed off its toilet seat covers in designs such as leopard print and polka dot that allow you to go in style.
Across the hall, MVPee’s kitschy urinal screens were drawing a crowd. Owner Robert Weinberg was at Nightclub &Bar selling $10 monthly subscriptions for two of his topical urinal screens. During the Olympics, he sold screens that featured a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the words “show Putin some gold” and for St. Patrick’s Day, he had one that said “support leprechaun rights.”
“The show has been phenomenal. People keep coming up to me and saying this is the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Weinberg said.
And for all you Vikings out there, David Segall co-created the Das Horn drinking vessel, made to look like a traditional Viking drinking horn, complete with a 24-ounce capacity. The dishwasher-safe horn retails for $25 online and at stores such as Nordstrom. It comes with a display stand and neck strap for easy transport when you’re conquering or pillaging.
“The show’s been going great for us,” Segall said. “I’m just upset that we don’t have enough to do cash-and-carry here.”
Booze Brothers Beverage, a local distribution company that sells the Las Vegas Distillery line, was exhibiting its three new mezcals and a premixed mimosa called My Mosa.
“The show’s been great,” employee Lisa Murray said. “We can’t believe the support we’re getting.”
With maybe one of the biggest crowds on the floor, Vapshot’s vaporized spirits system was also unique.
The new way to catch a buzz works like this: Grab a straw and wait while a bartender selects your shot, turns the vaporizer on, and fills an empty bottle with the misty substance. It’s promptly capped and presented to you. Quickly after you uncap the bottle, stick in your straw and slowly suck in the alcohol vapors.
And Star Trek fans, there’s even something new for you to enjoy. Federation of Beer has come out with a line of Trek-themed libations, including Vulcan Ale and Klingon Warnog.
Local nightclubs had a presence on the floor, but XS and Tryst stole the show with an appearance by rapper Lil Jon, who drew a line of attendees waiting to have their picture taken with him.
Another busy booth was Shuttle Shots, frozen, glow-in-the-dark shots that made their debut Tuesday.
Meant to be frozen, the product comes in a soft tube with a glow stick attached to a side chamber. The glow stick doubles as a warm handle while you’re drinking your frozen concoction. When it’s gone, the stick can be turned into a souvenir bracelet.
Eddie Scott, CEO of Planet Party Cocktail Co., said the reception to his day-old product has been unbelievable.
“We’ve sold out of almost everything we bought. We’ve been inundated almost the entire time and we’re writing orders for 100-plus cases and feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point,” Scott said.
Shuttle Shots, made with an orange wine, can be sold at almost any venue.
Contact reporter Laura Carroll at lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Follow @lscvegas on Twitter.
