Live From Las Vegas Pt. 2

My wife and I both prefer downtown Vegas to the strip and have spent most of our time there.

Yesterday was the day we took to go see the parts of Vegas you don't normally see and check out interesting things that have nothing to do with the gambling and lights and people.

We started at the Mob Museum, a short walk from the hotel and one of those things you could go to 10 times and still see stuff you missed.

From there we jumped in the car and headed to find Counts Kustom's and things like that. If you go to Vegas and like cars you gotta see this place.

While in reality TV land we also went to seek out PussyKat Tattoo which used to be the base for the show about fixing less than attractive tattoo's.

When we finally found it (nowhere near where the average Las Vegas visitor would get to by the way), we went to take each others picture in front of the store window. There was a young lady standing outside talking to another young lady and she asked if we wanted to have her take a picture. We were good.

We headed inside and she came in right behind us and asked if there was anything she could help with. I replied "Nope, we were fans of the show and just wanted to stop by and check it out. By the way; why the hell did the show end? It was a lot of fun to watch!"

From behind me I heard a voice say "Do you want the official version of what happened with the show, or the truth?"

I turned and sitting at his desk in his office was the man himself. I looked again to make sure I was seeing who I thought I was seeing.

The truth is, these reality shows in Vegas? If you go to the places, like Gold & Silver Pawn from Pawn Stars and Counts Kustoms, the stars of the show aren't generally there, so it was kind of a surprise that Dirk was at his shop.

After a few minutes of talking it was easy to see that, of course he was there, it's his business and what he does.

So I told him I always prefer the truth and we got what I believe to be the truth and spent a good 20 minutes hanging out and talking about everything from tattoo's to music, to personal integrity.

I'm not going to tell you what the truth of it was, it's his story and he's writing it, so if you want to know, buy the book when it comes out!

It was very interesting to find out how it all works and what we at home never see. It was also enlightening to learn how television networks perceive their viewers.

The best part was just seeing how absolutely real the guy is.

They say "never meet your hero's" and I have had a couple experiences with that and it can certainly be a let down when a person is an ass instead of the nice person you thought they were.

I wouldn't call Dirk a hero of mine, more a guy I liked watching and respected his work, but still. He could have been any one of my friends, just sitting around talking.

I've had a few times that I've met people like that and it's always been quick, maybe take a picture and move on, so it was very different to meet someone "famous" and just sit and bullshit with him.

I was not going to ask for a picture, autograph, nothing. The guy was being cool enough to talk with us, I didn't want to be a pain in the ass. Finally I decide we might be BEING a pain in the ass taking up his time and started us towards leaving when Dirk said "Ya want to get a picture?"

There's something about being in the presence of a guy like that that makes you a little nervous, even though you know, and he's demonstrated he's just another guy. I actually felt myself start to sweat a little bit and said "I was not about to ask, but if you're volunteering, that'd be awesome!"

"Well, let's do it then!" he said while also grabbing a promo picture of himself and signing it quick.

We stepped outside his office and he graciously took a picture with both Kris and I.

Then we sat and talked for a bit more and I decided to get a T-Shirt from the shop. "Beer money" he said and laughed. That's "just another guy" in my world.

If you end up in the right place at the right time you can sometimes meet your hero, for lack of a better word. Most times you will be disappointed and let down. Most of the celebrities I've met, I think they've either let it get to them, let it go to their heads, or they've been jaded by the whole experience.

Dirk, the "star" of the TV show I think is rightfully jaded by the experience but, it's quite clear that Dirk the tattoo artist and shop owner is just another guy, like he's been his whole life.

Which is the truth about what happened with the TV show.

In case you were wondering.