Make Me a Star (Closed for bjhass)

[CarnivalBarker]

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Lindsay had talent, but she was no longer sure it would take her anywhere. At a very young age, there had been talk that she could be famous. She had landed a gig on a local variety show - singing, dancing, performing in humorous skits. But the old Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera model was just that - old - and in the mid-sized Texas city where she grew up, there simply weren't enough eyes for her to be seen and noticed. When she turned 18, she had gone to college in Dallas, Texas, hoping to get her shot - perhaps in country music, or possibly in local television as a journalist who then got discovered and taken to work at MTV or some similar cable channel. But midway through her freshman year, she decided that such a path no longer inspired anything in her soul. Without telling her parents, she dropped out of school, working instead as a waitress long enough to save some money to travel west. As soon as she could do so without being talked out of it, she told her parents to their great dismay. Her father was not supportive and simply did not believe in her. Her mother would always be her mother, but without her father's support, and money, she was truly on her own for the first time. Two days after letting them know, and departing with all of her things in two luggage bags inside her car, she found herself in a Starbucks in front of the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, an unplanned breakfast stop on her way to Los Angeles. The early morning air was cool and dry, and the lights of the strip were unlike anything she had seen. Signs for attractions and shows were everywhere. Cirque du Soliel seemed perfect for dancers and athletes - she had run track with modest success in high school. She certainly had the look to work on any casino floor during the day while perhaps finding a job in any number of supporting roles for any number of shows here. She knew that famous people came to Vegas all the time, and she wondered if there was opportunity here as a stepping stone to whatever she might find in Los Angeles. She stood up and walked to a nearby magazine bin and found the Las Vegas Review publication before returning to her table. She thumbed through the magazine until she found several ads, one of which caught her eye:

Talent agency seeking female talent for high end casino staff and possible work in fastest growing attraction in Las Vegas. Agency will pay fees for all auditions and support marketing, while providing day time employment as desired. Our clients have been placed in nearly every show in the city including Penn and Teller, Beatles Love, 4 Cirque du Soliel shows, numerous permanent review attractions, and casino floor shows throughout the city and strip. Earning potential as high as your desire to work. Contact us with Inquiries at Las Vegas Premiere Talent Consulting - 555-2324.

The nice thing about traveling West with no specific plan was that she could afford an extra day or two to explore an option if it arose. Lindsay thought for a moment and looked at the clock. It was just after 8:00 am. She could continue to Los Angeles, take a waitress job, and never be discovered, or even work in the entertainment industry. Here, perhaps she could jump start a career and then continue to L.A. She picked up her phone and dialed the agency in the ad.

"Hi," she said, to the voice on the other line. "I saw the ad in the Las Vegas Review and wanted to find out more about the job."

 

[bjhass]

Bradley Miles, owner of Las Vegas Premiere Talent Consulting, woke slowly. His brain struggled to break through the residual fog of chemicals still pumping through his system. Why the fuck is my alarm going off so early? He wondered.

Then he realized it wasn't his alarm, it was his phone. Who the fuck is calling me so early? No one had called the business line in a while and Las Vegas Premiere Talent Consulting was on its last legs. He and his business had had a good run together, discovering all kinds of talent. Forget that every one of them had disappeared into the seedy underbelly of the Vegas entertainment industry. But now it seemed like his run was over. He hadn't found a single artist this year and the debts were beginning to pile up.

Stumbling down the hall and into his office he then slumped into a chair. Probably Marconi calling about that money I owe him. He couldn't even remember why he had taken that loan.

"Yes, hello." He spoke gruffly into the receiver.

Las Vegas Review? Where they still running his add? He hadn't placed any adds with them in a while. Not since he had begun the paperwork to file for bankruptcy. Maybe they had made a mistake and reprinted one of his old ones.

"I hate to disappoint you, but that position is no longer available." He began. Then an idea hit him. "But why don't you come by my office." He rushed on. "I'll take a look at what you've got to offer and we can go from there." He passed his address then set about cleaning up the place.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

The voice on the other end of the line sounded gravely and not thrilled to hear from her. Her shoulders sagged a bit to hear there was actually no position open, and then she found it curious that the person she was speaking to offered to meet with her anyway. She wondered if the talent agency was legitimate. All throughout the city there were people handing out offers for girls, girls, GIRLS! All kinds - in your room, for your parties, for your entertainment, for your company, their time and talents for conversation the only promise, with a wink, wink and a nod, nod. She had zero intention of such a job. The ad caught her attention because it mentioned work for legitimate shows - places where, if she worked and did well, and demonstrated some talent, she could perhaps be cast as a lead, and then perhaps headline, and then perhaps be discovered. She decided it wouldn't hurt to take a meeting. She took an address and then walked inside the Mirage, stepping along the main check in desk, where she asked for an application. She took time to fill it out and hand it in to the manager on duty, who informed her that the casino was looking to fill several positions serving drinks on the casino floor, dancing on table games above the gamblers, and various other positions that amounted to looking cute and keeping customers drinking and spending their money. She had no doubt she could do that. Agreeing to wait to hear from the staff training manager later in the day, she thanked the on duty manager and went back outside to the cab stand. The concierge gave her a broad smile, no doubt always favoring pretty girls to loutish, fat, slothy poker players any day. It was still mid morning when she got in the cab.

"Vere are zhou ghoeeng?" The driver asked.

"1717 Vegas Drive," she replied. The driver nodded and put the car into drive.

"Zevendeen Zevendeen Laz Veghash Boolivahd," he said, pulling out of the hotel causeway.

"Um, I'm sorry," Lindsay said. "Vegas Drive."

"Note Vegash Boolivahd?" The driver asked. "Yoo shore?" His eyes met hers in the rear view mirror. "Vegash Drieeve ees West Downtown," he continued. "Noshing een West Downtown!" Lindsay looked at the map she had punched into her phone showing directions.

"That's right. That's where I'm going. Las Vegas Premiere Talent," she told him.

"Ooookayy!" The driver said, saying nothing more. Ten minutes later, the cab pulled up to a modern, though haggard looking one-story building. The sign was a bit faded, but the name was there. This was the place. She paid the cabbie, who sped away with no further words, and she headed to the entrance. As she did, she noticed a couple of men, darker of complexion and with rather hostile, skeptical looks on their face, across the street, watching her. She brushed her hair behind her ear, nervously, and entered the building. There, she saw a nice reception area, but no receptionist. She waited a moment and no more.

"Hello?" She called, down the hallway to her right.

 

[bjhass]

Since filing for bankruptcy Bradley had given up his high rise condo for a hide-a-bed in his office's break room. His employees would have protested, if they hadn't quit long ago. He made sure to close and lock the door to the break room / bedroom then set about preparing his office for what he hoped would be his company's second wind. She wouldn't be greeted by a receptionist like all his former stars had been, but there was nothing to do about that. But at least he could make his office presentable.

It was a roomy office and was made even more spacious by the sparse decor. A sturdy white couch that smelled of scotch guard stood next to the door, across from which was a wide desk holding a laptop and a clipboard. But the most expensive looking item in the room was a camera which sat on a tripod next to his desk.

When he heard her voice from the entry way he walked out to greet her, clipboard in hand.

"Good morning, I'm Bradley." He said warmly, "But you can call me Brad." He continued, shaking her hand. "Well, let's see what we have to work with." He said, allowing his eyes to roam freely over her body for a prolonged moment. Yes, he thought, Marconi is going to like her.

When he he had completed his tour of her figure he handed her the clipboard. "Go ahead and fill out these generic applications and then join me in my office. Make sure to be very specific when talking about your talents so that you get the right jobs."

Bradley returned to his office, leaving Lindsay alone at the receptionist desk. Picking up his phone he dialed a number quickly. "Hello, I'd like to speak with Marconi."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

Lindsay hoped the man who appeared from the short hallway didn't notice her raised eyebrow as she observed him at first. He appeared to be a bit bedraggled and she had a weird vibe about the entire enterprise. The building was good sized, but there was no receptionist, and there seemed to be little activity either. The furnishings were sparse, as if they could all be moved without any notice, and she wondered if the place was legit. But she shook the man's hand and introduced herself.

"I'm Lindsay Gravitt," she crossed her arms anxiously as Bradley then clearly and unapologetically looked at her from her head to her feet, then back up once more. Her body broke out in a chill and she fought off a shiver. She wondered why he had done that, but also knew intuitively that attractive girls got jobs in the entertainment industry. Looks might not be a barrier to entry, but they could be a barrier to success. In short order her thoughts were interrupted as she was handed a clipboard. She nodded at Bradley's instructions and sat down, crossing her legs, withdrawing a pen to fill out the form.

The questions seemed standard, she left a few blank as she was unsure what to put. But, it took nearly twenty minutes to complete the application, and when she was satisfied with her responses, she stood up and walked down the hall. She noticed a couple of sparse rooms, which again made her wonder, but she nevertheless found Bradley's office, and it seemed like some work of some kind was happening there at least. She told herself to trust the process.

"I'm finished," she said, stepping inside and approaching to hand him the application. She sat in a chair across from his desk and looked around briefly. Nothing seemed unusual for a talent agent. She sat her purse at her feet and awaited Bradley to review her application.

 

[bjhass]

"No Marconi, I'm not making the same mistake twice. I've been changing the way things are run around here. I don't find them and pass them off to someone else any more. I'm holding onto this one." Bradley spoke into the phone as Lindsay entered his office. He pointed to a chair after taking the clipboard while listening to Marconi's response.

"What business is it off yours? It's my license, don't worry about it! Do we have a deal or not?" Bradley glanced at the photos on the wall while listening. They seemed to consist mostly of blown up versions of the cards distributed on street corners to entice tourists to visit strip clubs or other establishments. But most of these were signed and had a variation of 'Thank you Brad' in the corner.

"All right. 9 sharp. Trust me, you're going to like this one."

Bradley set down huss phone and grabbed another stack of papers. "Okay, next I need you to sign these waivers." He handed the small pile of documents to Lindsay. They were filled with tiney print.

"The first one just verifies that you are of age and are applying for these jobs of your own free will. The second says you accept responsibility for any rusk or injury and that you won't sue my agency should an accident occur. The third says you are willing to perform full or partially nude depending on the act, abs the last gives permission to be filmed or otherwise recorded at your performances and also let's me take your pictures so they can be sent out to potential employers."

He sat behind his desk and began typing on the computer.

"Go ahead and sign all of them and then I'll tell you about this gig I just set up for you."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

Lindsay paid scant attention to the owner's conversation as he looked over her information sheet and had no designs that he was already talking to someone about her. She looked around the room once more and noticed some of the decor seemed to be notes from girls, and men, who he had placed. Some of them seemed overly risque, and a few seemed legitimate. She was enamored of one photograph of a beautiful woman who appeared in a photograph with the man in front of her, attached to a playbill for a rather renown Cirque show that had taken the city by storm a few years back. It calmed her a bit, securing her trust, and she settled into the chair as the man finished his conversation, put the clipboard down, and pulled some documents to place in front of her. She scooted the chair forward, to read the papers as he explained them.

"Okay, next I need you to sign these waivers," the man said. She glanced at the first one, but didn't have time to read it before he showed her another, then another. "The first one just verifies that you are of age and are applying for these jobs of your own free will," he continued. Lindsay nodded and signed. "The second says you accept responsibility for any risk or injury and that you won't sue my agency should an accident occur." She shrugged a bit, paused a second, and then signed it as well. "The third says you are willing to perform full or partially nude depending on the act, and the last gives permission to be filmed or otherwise recorded at your performances and also let's me take your pictures so they can be sent out to potential employers." The man's words ran together quickly for the last two and as Lindsay processed them, she sat a bit upright. "Go ahead and sign all of them and then I'll tell you about this gig I just set up for you," the man finished. Lindsay's eyes grew a bit wide.

Already? She thought. Really? But there was a hitch that made her need clarification.

"Wait......go back a second," she adjusted awkwardly in her chair. "Nude?" She asked. "What kind of work do you think I am applying to do? I'm, ah.....I'm not sure I want to do nude." As she said the words, she felt stupid. She was a big girl, and she was seeking entertainment work in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. There was nary an actress who had not shown her breasts on film, and there were plenty of jobs in Vegas where girls wore little to nothing just serving drinks. She almost felt ashamed for both her insecurity and for her question, but she awaited an answer anyway before she would sign the other documents. At the same time, she was curious about what job the man thought he could get her. And why. She thought she would ask. "Also.....what makes me qualified for this job you have in mind?" She was confused and also excited that her quest might now soon fully begin and her path to the life she wanted might now be before her.

 

[bjhass]

"Look Lindsay," he paused, "it is Lindsay right?"

"Whoever you are, I suggest you let me do my job so you can do yours. I see you've got some experience singing, dancing and even a little acting. It's good that you offer the whole package but unless you're serious about making it in the big time," He paused for emphasis, "And willing to do what it takes ..." His voice trailed off. "Well I guess you could always go back to whatever hole you crawled out of. I'm sure they have parts in the high school play."

He reached for the paperwork. "I'll just need those back before you leave."

 

[CarnivalBarker]

Lindsay was taken aback. The man seemed pretty rude and for no reason. At the same time, she wanted to know more about the job that he possibly had for her. She scribbled her signature on the remaining two waivers without carefully reading them, and passed them back across the desk to where he sat.

"Here you go," she said, a bit defiant. She had done all the things that he mentioned. Her voice was good, but not strong, and she didn't expect singing to be where she would excel. She could certainly dance. She had trained in various forms of dance since she was a little girl. And if there was a club with a dance floor wherever she was, you could be sure she would be on it. But acting was what she really hoped to do. And the high school play, and a few other troupe style performances, along with one off-off-off-off-off Broadway style musical, were where she had excelled. But she didn't think of these as a hole from which she crawled. She placed her hands back in her lap, and waited a moment, long enough for the man to do whatever he was doing with her forms.

"What's next?" She asked.