Joanna Carson has had a front-row seat to performances by some of country music’s biggest names—Jake Owens, Cole Swindell, Parmalee, and her favorite, Luke Combs. And she didn’t even have to purchase a ticket! Nope, she was at work.
Carson is a bartender for Gilley’s at Treasure Island—the honky-tonk restaurant, dance hall and saloon. “We have a saying among us, ‘Welcome to Gilley’s. Welcome home,’” Carson says. “It’s very casual. It’s very comfortable. Even if you’re not a fan of country music you’d find it cool. It’s so fun.”
Carson bartended in San Francisco before moving to Las Vegas in 2004. After working in local bars, she decided to head to the Strip and joined Treasure Island, where she bartended at outlets across the property. Then in 2013, “There was an opportunity to transfer into Gilley’s and I jumped on it because the music was a big thing—I love country music,” she said.
Before bartending, the San Diego native went to college to get her degree in teaching. “And I started bartending to put myself through school,” Carson explains. “Then I just never stopped—it became a career that I loved.”
Two decades later she still loves her job, and she loves where she works. “It’s never boring,” Carson says. “You meet people from all over the world. I’ve really built and maintained relationships with my guests over the years.”
And Carson is a great source on the city for her Gilley’s guests. “The bar life is really a big part of my life,” she says. “This is a great town for me because I really love food and beverage. So I love to recommend stuff to my guests—where to dine, where to hang out.”
We suggest making your first stop at Gilley’s to meet Carson and have her make you a drink, do some line dancing, ride the bull, watch the Gilley’s Girls perform and enjoy that down-home country vibe.
Libation: Gilley’s Girl Punch
While Gilley’s has a huge selection of specialty cocktails, Carson suggests ordering her favorite, the Gilley’s Girl Punch. A riff off the classic mule cocktail, it’s mixed with Empress gin, lime, cherry, mint leaves and ginger beer. Throw one back before hitting the dancefloor, where you can join the famous Gilley’s Girls in some line dancing—live bands play almost every night. And you just never know what country music star might show up to take the stage for an impromptu jam session!
Benefit: Enjoy free line-dancing lessons every Monday through Thursday from 7-8 p.m.
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