The Entertainment Director of a property, especially here in the entertainment capital, receives hundreds of packages monthly from agents, managers, and artists who all believe that they are the golden goose for that venue. Unlike the Entertainment Manager, who just receives information and then presents it to the decision makers, the Entertainment Director must review each and every package and decide what would or could work for it's venue - not an easy task at times.

In retrospect, an Entertainment Director must possess the proper skills, knowledge, experience, and especially the compassion to handle the entertainers who can sometimes be greatly affected emotionally by the way an Entertainment Director handles them.

That is why most entertainers should retain a manager or agent to submit their act to the venue. However, in Las Vegas it is not uncommon for an act to submit themselves directly to the Entertainment Director of the property.

The Entertainment Director, Ron Garrett of the Sahara Hotel and Casino , born Ronald Giarratano, uses his radio and stage skills along with the compassion he acquired from Italian family up bringing to handle a very important and sensitive position for the property.

Before I got to know Ron Garrett personally, he was the General Manager of the Greek Isles wearing many hats, especially that of the Entertainment Director. I remember on one occasion, Ron had invited me for breakfast to discuss the possibility of doing some television work at the property. While having breakfast, one of the acts that was working there, crossed the line which should have resulted in immediate termination. But with his great understanding and compassion for entertainers and artists, who lack business skills, Ron was able to give a valuable lesson to this artist instead of terminating him.

“Entertainers who are competing for work here in the entertainment capitol must learn the tools of what it takes to capture the eye of an Entertainment Director's interest,” states Ron Garrett, the packaging and presentation are very vital.

Born in 1943, in Brooklyn , New York and raised on Long Island , Ron is the first generation Italian American with roots that go back to Italy . Ron says he had a wonderful childhood and that his parents set the precedence for his compassionate standards of living he now holds.

During his time in high school he spent most of his non-school hours working at the in-school radio station.

Upon graduation from high school, Ron joined the United States Air Force. His radio skills became evident while he was in the service and was transferred from being a Jet Engine Mechanic to an announcer on the Armed Forces Radio. Ron was stationed for the majority of his military career at an airbase just north of Detroit , Michigan . On the day Ron was discharged September 17, 1965 , he immediately went to work for a radio station in Saginaw , Michigan located in Northern Michigan near the Canadian border.

From there he then began an odyssey of various radio jobs all across the country from Detroit to Cleveland , Phoenix to San Diego , Los Angeles back to Phoenix where he worked for a radio station owned by Dick Van Dyke . Dick Van Dyke then asked Ron if he would be interested in joining the writing staff of his new CBS Television Show entitled “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” where Van Dyke played a talk show host on a local Phoenix Station.

Because of Ron's charismatic radio personality during his early days in radio, he was asked to host evenings at a local burlesque club . As host, he started to come up with one liners that would make people laugh which eventually developed into material that lead him to becoming a stand up comic. He opened for such greats as Patty Paige, Bobby Darrin and many more.

In 1970, Mel Larsen the legendary Las Vegas Casino Executive, took Ron under his wing and asked him if he would like to move to Las Vegas and work in the Marketing Department of the then, Mint Hotel. This would be a catalyst that would set a new and successful course for Ron in Las Vegas .

From 1971 to 1990 Ron became involved with developing radio and television stations, and also becoming the General Manger of several hotel casinos including opening up several advertisement agencies. In 1988, INC. Magazine chose Ron's company as one of the top 500 fastest growing privately held corporations in America

In 1990, Ron sold his company and was once again approached by good friend Mel Larsen for him to become the Director of Marketing for the Edgewater Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, a hotel owned by Circus Circus Corporation and the Bennett family.

This lead to the position he currently holds as Director of Marketing and Entertainment of the Sahara Hotel and Casino, a position that is probably his most rewarding ever.