Ivan Kane, the metteur en scène behind Ivan Kane’s Café Wa s French Bistro and Piano Lounge in Hollywood and Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce Nightclub and Burlesque at Mandalay Bay in Vegas, opens up on his idols, theater requirements, and the death of the velvet rope.

What do you do? I create. It’s what feeds my soul. I wear the hat of a businessman by default.

When you’re not running the show, where can you be found? Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle in New York City. Old school vibe. Dark leather. Comfortable booths. Whimsical murals. Dan Tana’s Italian restaurant in Los Angeles. East Coast vibe. Red checkered table cloths. Great veal Parmagiano. Joe Allen’s in New York. After-theater crowd. Great salad. Posters of Broadway shows that have failed line the walls.

Catch that cute server when they’re not on the clock.

1. Jet (Strip: Central) - On Mondays, this massive, three-room club invites Vegas’ huge population of waitresses and bartenders to drink, dance to hip-hop and talk about you.
2. Studio 54 (Strip: Central) - “Influence Tuesdays” is one of the city’s older industry parties, drawing all kinds of club backers and bottle flippers together under the giant disco ball.
3. Privé (Strip: Central) - “Money for Nothing” Mondays offer free admission for locals and industry folks with $5000 literally dropping from the ceiling. To try and make up for all those Europeans who don’t tip.

You’ll sleep when you’re dead.

1. Drai’s (Strip: Central) - Locals and tourists, gays and straights, executives and wage slaves, all party together until 9 a.m. in this small, sophisticated, plush club.
2. Jet (Strip: Central) - Huge nightspot features three different rooms, each with a different soundtrack and atmosphere. The later it gets, the more room there is to dance.
3. Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Strip: South) - The transplant of Los Angeles’ famed burlesque revival club does something they’d never do in LA: stays open until 8 a.m.