FIRST OFF . . .

A Las Vegas hotel executive has accused the musicians’ union of lying in its current battle with management over the issue of taped music and guaranteed work. Musicians Local 369 is striking five Las Vegas resorts, charging that the hotels want to eliminate live music in the city by switching to taped music. John Giovenco, president of Hilton Nevada Corp., said Wednesday, “We don’t have any intention of eliminating live entertainment in Las Vegas. The musicians’ statements to that effect are just lies.� Giovenco charged that “the union wants us to pay 14 to 25 musicians full salary to stand by and do nothing.� He pointed out that most entertainers now appearing at the Las Vegas Hilton travel with their own orchestras and complex musical systems. “We end up paying the acts and their musicians,� Giovenco said. “They don’t require a house orchestra and they don’t need backups.� He said the Hilton was losing about $3 million a year in its showrooms to bring live entertainment to Las Vegas. Representatives of the five struck hotels are scheduled to meet this morning with officials of the musicians’ union, and another meeting is to take place today between Southern Nevada labor leaders and Gov. Bob Miller’s chief of staff, Scott Craigie, in an effort to find a solution to the strike.