NOTORIETY: Discover the Undiscovered
BY SAM NOVAK
“The concept of NOTORIETY came from years of meeting and auditioning amazing talent for BESTAgency. I would be blown away by them but also knew that was half the battle… where could I book them?”
Thus begins my conversation with Ken Henderson, creator and driving force behind NOTORIETY LIVE, an unconventional entertainment venue in downtown Las Vegas.
NOTORIETY was born out of a desire to bring artists and audiences together…a place where performers of any caliber could feel at home, connect with fans, and create great music. At one point, a recording studio was even part of the design plans. It’s an idea that could still happen…because NOTORIETY is a place of endless possibilities.
Ken Henderson at NOTORIETY, photo by Talbot Snow
“Originally, my focus with the concept in 2006 was more music-driven. It was to be a music venue with a bar and recording studio. The idea was to produce the artist’s album under my own record label, then give them the platform to perform it and go from there.”
Back in its infancy, NOTORIETY was gearing up for a launch at the Venetian on the Strip. Everything was lining up just right, then POOF! The 2008 recession hit, and Henderson’s vision was put on the back burner. It took more than a decade of searching, waiting, and hoping before another possibility presented itself.
“In mid-2018, visionary Rohit Joshi (of downtown’s Neonopolis) and his wife Lorraine Kusuhara came to me and presented an opportunity. He had seen a show I produced with Clint Holmes called “Between the Lines” at the Palazzo.”
Faaabulous, The Show
The couple showed Henderson an area once occupied by a 14-screen movie theater. Several attempts to repurpose the space had failed, leaving behind an unusual framework that presented a myriad of scenarios. “After months of negotiating and endless support, we struck a deal, and NOTORIETY was finally born.”
When it opened in late 2019, NOTORIETY promised an alternative to huge Strip showrooms and traditional lounges. “NOTORIETY is not a bar with live entertainment; it is a live entertainment venue that happens to have a bar,” Henderson emphasized.
COCKTAIL CABARET of Caesars Palace was one of the first to move in. Comedy, magic, and other musical acts soon followed. Then mid-March saw the temporary shuttering of everything that Henderson and his colleagues had built.
Tenors Of Rock
“We continued with small shows to very small crowds that were socially distanced, masked and Plexi-glassed (if that’s even a word). We did everything we could to keep talent on stage and working while following all the guidelines to keep people safe.”
Months later, when easing restrictions still shuttered larger showrooms, groups like Tenors of Rock turned to NOTORIETY for scaled-down versions of their residencies. The Smith Center’s “Composers Showcase,” members of The Bronx Wanderers, Righteous Brothers, and Atomic Saloon Show, followed suit.
Eventually, drag musical “Faaabulous,” “Motown Extreme,” “Laugh After Dark,” David Goldrake’s “M Is For Magic,” and Vinny Grosso’s “Totally Mental” signed for ongoing gigs. Heavy-hitters like Clint Holmes, Jeremy Piven, and Jay Mohr are now drawing sold-out crowds to NOTORIETY’s Robin Leach-inspired main showroom for one-night galas.
M for Magic with David Goldrake
Just down the corridor, the Renkus-Heinz Theater takes its name from a sound-system manufacturer that provides high-end speakers and technology for both auditoriums. Others will join those spaces as demand grows.
“We have produced many great events over the year and have a strong lineup, including the kick-off of our very own charity, ‘Notoriety Gives.’” Henderson is especially excited by their newest offering, “Laugh After Dark,” hosted by Charlie Wilson. “The best comedy in Las Vegas has its own Fremont Funk Band,” he says.
Photo of Clint Holmes at Notoriety by Ed Foster
CHIC Compass got an exciting look at The Chandelier Room, a cavernous events venue. Rehearsal areas, dressing rooms, offices, and a gigantic kitchen are in progress or already completed. Best of all, several auditoriums of varying sizes remain from the cinema days, ready to be repurposed for live entertainment.
Earlier this year, Caesars made the shocking decision to shutter over a dozen Vegas productions throughout their Vegas resorts, including Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, and even the Chippendales. That puts NOTORIETY in a unique position…one that makes Ken Henderson very happy.
“NOTORIETY is a playground for amazing talent. We are very proud that we did our best to keep talent working through some very tough times. And the best part is, I am the bottom line as to who gets to play there. If I like it, it’s a green light.”
In our ever-changing post-COVID landscape, having a powerful vision and a decisive voice is more important than ever. And those two traits might be just enough for Ken Henderson to turn NOTORIETY into a full-fledged, long-running success.
