The Big Smoke Experience

I have been fortunate to make it to the last two Big Smoke events in Las Vegas. As we are approaching the event in November, I thought it might be fun to share my experiences with those who have never been or will be going for the first time this year.

My Cigar Aficionado Cover from the Big Smoke 2007

The Venetian has hosted this event for several years now. I would first like to say that their staff is top-notch and the success of the event has a lot to do with their performance. The event is located in a large hall several floors up, and they have put up special signage and posted employees at every floor to help direct the participants to the correct area. Without their assistance, I would have lost my way the first year. The servers are also very good at being attentive and courteous as well as being as unobtrusive as possible. I really got the sense that we were truly welcome at the event and the hotel took pride in being the host.

When you first walk in the door, you are greeted with a cloth bag filled with the latest Cigar Aficionado magazine. Someone should also hand you a coupon book. Let me make this point first- no coupon book means no cigar samples from the manufacturers. Make sure you get that book before you leave the sight of the attendant. They do not replace lost coupons, and once they run out for the night, that’s it.

The coupons are turned in at each booth in exchange for whatever sample(s) is being given out. This helps the vendors make sure they don’t give out too many and that only people that paid for a ticket are getting the cigars.

Both years I’ve seen people lose their coupon book or had it swiped when they weren’t paying attention. So here is my advice- your coupons should be in your own hand as much as possible. When they cannot be, they should be in your bag deep enough where someone couldn’t get to them easily, and your bag handle should be in your hand at all times. Most of the coupon books that were stolen were done so in the first twenty minutes of the event while people are paying more attention to the atmosphere, drinks, and food than the business of collecting samples. I would also recommend that guys keep their wallet on the inside of their coat or their front pant pocket. Or get in the habit of checking your back pocket anytime someone bumps into you. I haven’t heard of a wallet being stolen at the event but the crowd and sights make it a prime location for a would-be pickpocket. You have been warned.

Now for the early evening logistics. If you are hungry, keep in mind that the food line grows fast. The food usually does not come out exactly as the event starts but soon after. Hang out on that side of the hall and watch. There will be plenty of beverages available at several locations as you work your way around the floor too.

If cigars are your top priority and you like C.A.O. cigars, head there first. The last two years, they have offered an extra cigar if you bring the band back to them before the end of the night. Smart marketing- they want everyone walking around smoking their cigars. So I suggest smoking their cigar first, so you have plenty of time to take it back. If the C.A.O. Flavours girls are there, you can get your photo taken with them, and that line gets long fast too.

The other big lines are with the Fuentes and Rocky Patel. Both groups will make sure that everyone gets their samples, photos, and autographs even if the event is closing down. I suggest you take care of all of the other booths first, and save these two for last. It will shorten the amount of time you stand in line drastically.

In addition to cigars, there are manufacturers of liquor, cigar accessories, and jewelry. There are also cool cars on display. Sometimes these booths have cigars as well. Alec Bradley made a Dodge Challenger banded tubo one year that was given out at the event. Collectors especially might want to get some of these super limited edition cigars.

The Dodge Challenger cigar produced by Alec Bradley

Unlike at the IPCPR, this event is for cigar fans, not retailers, so the famous names are much easier to approach and have more time to talk about cigars and the business. I had great conversations with several manufacturers both years. You can really tell who is passionate about the cigars they make.

Make sure to visit the Humidipak booth if they are there. They gave out a free jumbo Humidipak bag, and it was large enough that all of my samples fit inside. And the bag kept them in perfect shape all the way home. If you are planning to ship your cigars home, box them yourself before taking them to the hotel business center and then lie like a dog about what is in there. Say it was some clothes you bought or something. Our hotel would not ship the box once I told them it contained cigars for some reason, even though it was addressed was to myself. The US Postal service lets me ship cigars all the time (although I love it when they ask me if the contents are flammable, and I say that they wouldn’t be very good cigars if they weren’t).

You can expect to get about 75-100 cigars for each coupon book you have, so plan ahead and make sure you have enough humidor space at home for these when you return. Don’t let them go to waste!

I think that is pretty much all of the pointers I can think of for now. Please comment or shoot me an email if you want to know more about the event, and I will try to answer it. If any readers make it out this year to the event, I would love to hear about your Big Smoke experience. I will not be going this year and I’m sad. But at least I still have samples from my first Big Smoke in my humidor to console me a bit.