Sunday, September 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Join the fray by creating your own `Vegas Story' commercial

You've seen them, those weird ads used by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to lure tourists to Las Vegas.

The one with the woman who apparently -- and impulsively -- gets hitched at a wedding chapel, then kisses her youngish new hubby goodbye before returning home. The one with the departing tourist who enters her limo in full party-girl mode, then emerges at the airport wearing a still-hot but much more conservative business suit.

Then, at the end of the ads, you see the reassuring tagline: "What happens here, stays here."

The commercials have been controversial: Is it possible Las Vegas has gone too far in promoting its sexy, sassy image? Some businessmen think so. Others fall into the lighten up camp.

Whatever you think of the ads, you have to admit they get your attention.

In fact, there must be all sorts of variations that can be done on the "What happens here, stays here" theme and plenty of other scenarios that are just waiting to be depicted.

Then, the thought occurred to us: Who better to write humorous parodies of these "Vegas Stories" ads than our fellow Las Vegans?

So here's the deal: Send us a description of your own "What happens here ..." commercial. Tell us where it takes place, what's happening in it and whatever dialogue your characters will speak. Then close with the tagline: "Las Vegas: What happens here, stays here."

Send your scripts to: Vegas Ads, Features Department, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV, 89125-0070.

Or, you can fax your script to 383-4676. Just be sure to write "Vegas Ads" on the cover sheet.

Or, you can e-mail your script to jprzybys@review

journal.com. Be sure to write "Vegas Ads" in the subject line.

In any case, include your name, address and daytime phone number on your script, and be sure we have it by 5 p.m. Oct. 8.

We'll publish the funniest, most outrageous and most interesting ads in an upcoming Living section. And there's a $50 prize for the one we consider the best.

So feel free to let your imagination run wild. And don't worry: We will tell.