Las Vegas Strip Club Sees Surge in Auditions

In an unexpected twist amid Las Vegas's tourism slowdown, one strip club is reporting a dramatic surge in auditions. Crazy Horse 3, located just blocks from the iconic Strip, has seen a 55% increase in nightly adult entertainer auditions compared to six months prior.

This boom comes as the city grapples with a significant decline in visitors, pushing laid-off hospitality workers to seek new income streams. The club's general acting manager, Louis Aceves, notes this situation is unlike anything he's witnessed in nearly 12 years in the industry.

The data paints a clear picture of the city's economic shift. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, visits to the city in 2025 were down 7.4% compared to 2024 as of November.

This decline has been attributed to several factors:

• A rocky national economy
• Rising travel costs
• A notable drop in international visitors, particularly from Canada

The impact on local employment has been severe. Between September and November 2025, the Las Vegas metro area lost 4,700 jobs, with the leisure and hospitality sectors experiencing the biggest losses. Major casinos, including Fontainebleau and Resorts World, conducted layoffs throughout the year.

Crazy Horse 3's audition room tells the story of this economic transition. The club holds open auditions seven days a week, and the pace has accelerated dramatically.

Louis Aceves explains the shift: "People are looking for other streams of income." Previously, on slower nights, the club might see two to four auditioners. Now, that number has jumped to six to eight per night. During major events like the Consumer Electronics Show, that figure can spike to 10 to 12 in just a couple of hours.

What's different is the profile of the newcomers. Aceves notes an increase in women coming from traditional hospitality roles—hotel VIP hosts, casino employees, and others—trying out dancing for the first time. Some have been laid off entirely, while others have had their hours cut and are seeking more lucrative, flexible work.

Behind the statistics are individual stories of adaptation. Gina, who asked to be identified only by her dancer name, represents this new wave. After seven years as a VIP host at a high-end Vegas hotel, she was laid off in the summer of 2025.

"I was definitely nervous, but it was like, 'Okay, well what am I going to do?'" Gina said. "You have to figure it out."

Despite never considering adult entertainment before, she found that her hospitality skills translated well. Her ability to connect with and care for high-profile clientele proved valuable. Financially, the change has been transformative.

"There have been several times that I've made more money in a week than I used to make in a month."

As independent contractors, dancers at Crazy Horse 3 have significant schedule control. Gina now has time to pursue other interests, including digital marketing and yoga instruction, while building financial stability.

For many, the transition represents more than just a paycheck. Gina describes her experience as ultimately empowering.

"This has taught me how to adapt even more and how to be resilient," she said. The flexibility of the work allows dancers to maintain control over their schedules while earning more than they did in traditional hospitality roles.

Despite the tourism downturn, Crazy Horse 3 has maintained steady demand, partly thanks to strong local business. The club's ability to attract both experienced performers and newcomers suggests a resilient local market even as international tourism wanes.

The surge in auditions at Crazy Horse 3 reflects a broader economic adaptation in Las Vegas. As the city navigates its tourism challenges, workers are finding creative ways to maintain financial stability.

The trend highlights the interconnectedness of Las Vegas's economy—when tourism slows, the entertainment sector finds new ways to thrive. For laid-off hospitality workers, adult entertainment has become an unexpected but viable path forward, offering flexibility, higher earnings, and a chance to build new skills.

As Louis Aceves observes, this situation represents a significant shift in the local job market, one that may continue to evolve as the city's economy recalibrates.