Finally someone opened a thread I can speak intelligently about instead of this football mystery!
I have lived/worked in Vegas on-and-off over the last two and a half years, and still go up on weekends quite frequently as I am only a few hours away.
You say you've already booked time at the Quad, fair play. As everyone will tell you, the hotel is for sleeping unless you are really doing it up $$$$. As general advice though, especially on trips that last as long as ten days, I will say that you can get crazy deals on the strip midweek (around $30-40 for a room at the mid-tier casinos like Excalibur, Stratosphere, Luxor New York New York). So if you wanted to move on to the strip for the weekdays you could migrate with the deals.
With regards to joining the casino rewards programs- always a good idea if you are going to be spending more than a few hours gambling at a place, or want to eat/shop/see a show there. For instance, there are buffets at many casinos, and nearly all are about 40% less if you are a member there. Most membership cards can be attained with very minimal hassle (a visit to the cage/front desk, or sometimes they have a line specifically just for the membership program). And they sometimes have some random shit thrown in as partnerships that you wouldn't expect- casino chains own theaters, restaurants, aquariums, et al, and there is often a discount. Also, being a bloke, you'll be expected to pay at the worthwhile (read: quality talent on display) pools, many of which are cheaper for members.
And, if you don't want to risk getting on an email list or whatever, since you can just stop and get the card right before whatever you need it for, and since you won't interested in becoming local and accruing points on whatever long term programs they have, you can put whatever fake contact info you want, so long as you get a little plastic card.
More importantly, re: strip clubs.
Little Darlings is fully nude, but if I had a guess, most of the girls there applied to the topless ones first, if you catch my meaning. This isn't an indictment though, because Vegas has a lot more supply than demand for strippers, so the standards are still pretty high.
If you are ever on the strip in a group of men over 4 large, you will almost certainly be approached by men who tell you they are a shuttle service to a strip club. They will say that you get a free ride there (they will have a stretch Escalade, Hummer, or the like) and back whenever you are done. PLUS two free drinks, or maybe a lapdance. They are most likely only lying about the details, and at least won't drive you out to the desert and murder you. So it is probably safe to follow them. You will get a free ride to the strip club (they may tell you a tip is expected, but I once specifically told the guy at the outset he wouldn't get a thing, because I knew he was lying about everything, and he seemed cool with it, so they definitely get a commission for bringing you in, DO NOT tip those pied piping bastards). You will not get anything else. They pull up, you get out, they drive off for the next saps and you have to pay whatever applicable cover charge there is (there isn't usually one). But if, at the outset, you know it is nothing more than a free taxi ride to the strip club, and you were planning on going anyway, it is still a good thing.
Also, in my experience, "topless only" means "I can't take them off, so they are pulled to the side for better tips."
Also, if you go to Olympic Gardens, and a girl walks up and reaches in your pants to grab your junk, then chokes you with your belt and pulls you to a table for a free dance, make sure you ask Natasha if it is her son Jonathan is at his fathers tonight before you go with her...
As far as the shows, yeah, you're fucked there for money if you want to go. If you can figure out a way to see them on the cheap, let me know. I'm a people watcher, me. And that is really the best thing about Las Vegas. Interacting with strangers. It is a city where not only do the people not get offended by whatever behavior you can dream up, they expect it. They paid for it. I challenge you to get slapped. I have seen a friend spanked by a stranger with her belt, but never slapped.
