The pillars of the Las Vegas nightlife community were shaken Tuesday afternoon when a press release was sent out announcing that Mike Milner, the resort's executive director of nightlife, and Candace Carrell, director of nightlife, were no longer part of the MGM-Grand.
Together, Milner and Carrell oversaw the property's three nightspots: Studio 54, Tabú ultralounge and Teatro Eurobar. Milner had just finished extensive redesigns at the 8-year-old Studio 54, including a new VIP section and entrance, while Carrell was recently Tabú's general manager. Under Carrell, Tabú, which started the ultralounge craze, won the 2004 and 2005 Club World awards for best lounge and 2004 award for best video system.
Not mentioned in the release was that Travis Hunsaker, who had just recently been promoted to general manager of Studio 54, and Natalia Badzjo, the dance club's operations manager, were also in the same boat. MGM-Grand publicists refused to say whether the four had been fired or resigned, only that, according the press release, they "are no longer with the company."
Barry Morgan, MGM-Grand's entertainment director, will be replacing Milner as acting director of nightlife, a title that certainly suggests the move won't be permanent. No replacement for the other three had been named as of Tuesday.
Contradicting the MGM-Grand's claims, Badzjo says her decision to leave is not associated with Milner, Carrell or Hunsaker. While Milner and Carrell declined to comment Tuesday, they did say that they would have a press release ready January 26. Hunsaker could not be reached for comment but Badzjo had this to say: "I resigned from my Studio 54 operations manager position yesterday. I would like to thank MGM Grand for a great opportunity; it was a pleasure working there for the last three years and I got lots of experience. For me, it was time to move on to the next opportunity and take on another challenge. Good luck and best wishes to the next person who will take on my responsibilities."
"We felt that with the changes that we've made at Studio 54 recently, as well as how competitive we all know the Las Vegas nightlife landscape has become, that now was a good time to move in a different direction with our management team," said Jenn Michaels, a publicist with MGM-Grand. She added that the property is not looking to partner with any outside company, such as the Pure Entertainment Group or the Light Group, to take over its nightclub operations.
That timing seems odd in light of Studio 54's celebratory party for its new VIP section January 26, and with the upcoming Winter Music Conference in Miami set for March, an international gathering of the nightlife industry, and an event in which Milner was playing a key role in helping to organize Vegas' clubs. At last year's WMC, 14 nightclubs formed a united front; this year, local industry folks hoped to up the number to over 20.
"They'll be sorely missed," said Lia Rispoli, one of the Vegas group organizers planning this year's WMC presence, in reference to Milner and Carrell.
"Mike and Candace were willing to roll up their sleeves and jump in there," said Ray Davila Jr., another one of the local planners and lead VIP host at Empire Ballroom. But he didn't feel their absence would derail any plans as he himself used to work for MGM-Grand as its manager of special events, nightclubs and promotions, and therefore has strong ties with the property.
Milner seemed to be taking the sudden changes in stride. "There's not a building [Candace and I] walk into that we don't wonder how we could turn it into a nightclub. It's our life. It's what we do."