For some Las Vegans, a costume and a little drama just part of the job

For most adults, Halloween is the one day a year when we can break out of our everyday routine, put on an outlandish costume and be somebody or something else, be it celebrity, politician or vampire (if those last two aren't already redundant).

But putting on a costume is as much a part of some Southern Nevadans' workday routines as brushing their teeth and commuting to work. Performers in shows along the Strip. Costumed characters who make public appearances at libraries, malls and schools. Even at least some casino workers -- from cocktail waitresses to front desk clerks -- whose uniforms appear more showy than practical.

To celebrate the coolest dress-up day of the year, we asked a few lucky locals what it's like to celebrate Halloween pretty much every day. Here's what they told us.

Brian Thomas: Lucky the Leprechaun

For five years, Thomas has been donning an emerald ensemble to portray Lucky the Leprechaun, the mascot of O'Sheas casino on the Strip.

Thomas, 44 and about 4-feet, 1-inch tall, is a veteran performer whose credits include Criss Angel's "Mindfreak" and appearances on several TV shows. But Thomas says performing as Lucky easily ranks as one of his all-time favorite gigs.

Every time Thomas puts on the costume, "there's an immediate smile on my face," he says.

"I, of course, have my own private life, and I'm just a normal individual that lives and breathes just like everybody else does ... (but) when you turn into Lucky the Leprechaun, it's an eye-catching thing."

Thomas -- who can be found from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at O'Sheas -- estimates that he poses for "at least 500 photos a day."

"I'll tell you, once the suit goes on, the smiles come," he says. "And the interaction is what's great. That's what I enjoy."

Not surprisingly, Thomas calls himself "absolutely" a fan of Halloween and estimates he has about 300 costumes at home -- from Mini Me of the "Austin Powers" movies to Mini Elvis, Mini Smurf and even Mini Donald Trump -- in his Halloween apparel arsenal.

A particular favorite: Chuckie, the murderous doll from the "Child's Play" movies.

"I have terrified some people with that outfit on," Thomas says with a laugh. "I get totally into the character of Chuckie."

Kristee Loomis: Cleopatra

Loomis' workday attire is a Halloween party classic: She portrays Cleopatra.

Loomis, who dons the Egyptian queen's flowing robes on behalf of Caesars Palace, has been doing her royal gig for about five months. Before becoming Cleo, Loomis was a financial analyst.

But, she says, "I was tired of sitting at a desk all day. So I said, 'I quit.' "

Of course, the work attire at that job was, she notes, "just a little different" from the work attire she wears now. In addition, while she was working as a financial analyst, seldom would passers-by ask Loomis to pose for a photo with them.

Now, that's a given. "Some people get really excited and come running," Loomis says.

But even while her picture no doubt appears in countless family albums and online -- "a lot of people say, 'Oh, this is going to be on my Facebook page,' " she says -- Loomis suspects few would even recognize her in her street clothes.

"I have a wig on and I wear a lot of makeup, so if you saw me you probably wouldn't recognize me," she explains.

Nor might you recognize her when she dresses up for Halloween. This year, Loomis says, "I'm going to be a vampire."

Phil Barfield: McGruff the Crime Dog

For the past year, Barfield has been one of five volunteers who don the Columbo-esque canine's trench coat and hat to represent the Metropolitan Police Department at local events.

This month, for instance, Barfield says he'll spend four to 10 days in a McGruff suit for doings at schools, libraries and community events. And, he agrees, it's a demanding gig as costumed gigs go, mostly because of the headpiece.

"It's actually a plastic helmet," says Barfield, 44. "If you're claustrophobic, don't even look inside."

On the upside, "most of the time, the kids see you and their eyes light up," Barfield says. "They're, like, 'Ohh ...' They'll come over and hug you."

And it's not just kids, either. "A lot of adults my age and older remember McGruff as kids. You get a lot of pictures taken (by) older people. They want to stand next to you and want to get a picture."

Barfield is between jobs -- he used to work in retail and now is looking to get back into the construction industry -- but says that, in the meantime, he's enjoying the unpaid gig.

By the way, and McGruff aside, Barfield bears serious Halloween cred: During high school, he worked in a friend's family's haunted house.

Among the more memorable characters he played: Frankenstein's monster, a headless monkey and, Barfield says, "a psycho dentist."

Jennifer Harvey: Siren

Harvey, 29, has been performing in Treasure Island's "Sirens of TI" show for about two years.

But it's not the first time Harvey's work uniform (sexy pirate costume) could double as an adult Halloween party classic. For instance, Harvey also has performed in "Bite" (sexy vampire costume) at the Stratosphere.

And, Harvey has performed as a showgirl (um, showgirl costume), which entailed wearing a work uniform unique in that, as Harvey puts it, "you wear fruit on your head."

That, she adds, was "almost the most normal costume I had to wear."

Harvey loves the Halloween dress-up aspect of her profession, and particularly so for "Sirens" because "we switch roles and, for every role, you kind of play a different character."

Not surprisingly, "I love Halloween," Harvey says. "I've always loved Halloween."

And, she's looking forward to the cast's party where, Harvey says, the pirates' and sirens' costuming creativity can be seen. "Like, one girl last year came as Lady Gaga," Harvey says.

Harvey isn't sure what she'll be going as this year, but is leaning toward one of the blue-skinned Na'vi from "Avatar."

"I'm telling you," Harvey says, "we go all out."

Jamey Gustafson: Pirate

Gustafson, who plays a pirate in "The Sirens of TI," used to wear another, not nearly as fun, sort of work outfit.

Before joining the show in 2003, Gustafson, 40, worked in the hotel's slot marketing department where, he says, "I had grand ideas of using my degree in public relations."

Then, while leaving work one day, he saw a job posting for the pirate show. Gustafson had experience as a lifeguard, he swam and dove, and he coached swimming. So, he figured, "let's have some fun."

Gustafson performed in the original version of the outdoor show for four years, then joined the revamped "Sirens" show when it premiered.

Gustafson calls going to work each day to become a pirate "pretty much a dream come true."

Being able to wear such a flashy work uniform is "pretty cool, especially in this town," he adds. "It's just a singular and unique job. I can go someplace, and they basically say, 'What do you do?' 'I'm a pirate.' And they know exactly what I'm talking about."

When he puts on the costume each day, "definitely a transformation comes," Gustafson says.

Surprisingly, though, Gustafson doesn't usually dress as a pirate on Halloween. In fact, he says "this will be my first Halloween as a pirate. One of my good friends is getting married and he's having a pirate-themed wedding."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.