MARK WAITE / PVT A woman examines some of the products offered by Bead Volcano as attendees crowded into the banquet room at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Gambling Hall Friday afternoon shortly after the opening of the 11th Annual Biz Expo. Advertisement

Julie Wagner, a licensed aesthetician advertising facials, peels and microdermabrasion, had some creams available at the 11th annual Biz Expo at the Pahrump Nugget Casino, almost like the free samples at the cosmetic counter at a department store.

"There was a rumor going around that I left town so I thought this would be good. I can tell people that I'm still here," Wagner said.

Next to her, Emil and Mildred Janssen from Pahrump Family Mortuary had some urns on display for cremations, while next to them Friends of the Library had a bookcase set up.

It was like a classic Third World marketplace inside the Pahrump Nugget banquet room, a central meeting place where buyers could see what businesses were in town all in one compact location.

Flora Collier, from Bead Volcano, said, "I like the fact that we're out here and all the people in town can come by and find out where you're located. That's the biggest thing with people in town, they don't know where businesses are located."

Representatives of Desert View Hospital were giving away coffee mugs with Band-Aids and pens inside. Pam Hannold used the opportunity to plug a Fitness Fair May 9 as well as get feedback from hospital patients.

"A lot of people have used the facility, and I'd say 95 percent of them said their stay, or whatever they had to have done, was great. We haven't had any negatives, it's all been positive," Hannold said. "They're now realizing we do a lot, there's a lot of services people don't know we're offering."

Doug Garlin picked up a free yardstick at the Pahrump Alliance Valley Economic Development booth.

"That's where I get all my note pads for the year, at the expo," Garlin said. "It gets bigger every year."

Garlin said he got some useful information from an income tax specialist. "She had a flat fee -- you don't hear that very often," he said.

First International Bank was handing out hard hats in honor of the start of the construction of its new bank building.

Attendees could spin the cage of balls and win a prize at the Mountain View Casino. On the other side of the booths, Debbielee Johnson, marketing manager at the Saddle West Hotel and Casino, cried out, "it's spin and win," as attendees could spin the wheel to win prizes inside plastic eggs, like free movie tickets.

"I think it's fantastic. We look forward to coming here every year. I just like the whole thing, meeting the people, finding out all the businesses, what's new here, all that kind of stuff," said Bill Miner, a snowbird from Rescue, Calif.

Yolanda McKee was handing out bottled water, courtesy of Nevada Bottling and Beverage Co.

"We're brand new here in Pahrump, we're over on Oakridge Avenue. We bottle our own water directly from the source. We have a well," McKee said. "It's the cleanest water you have ever tasted."

Company representative Gerry Patterson said they run well water through a high-pressure softening system, filter it and add flavor.

One of the more unusual exhibitors was Barbara Pedigo, from Clear Choice Dental Implant Center of Las Vegas, who was holding what looked like a set of teeth.

"This is a dental implant. So if you're missing teeth, we can replace a full complement of teeth in just 10 days," Pedigo said. "The reason we're here is because we have about 50 patients from Pahrump already, and they come to Las Vegas."

Outside, Jacob Skinner stood inside a house covered with foam, for Nevada Foam, what he called "the greenest, most efficient insulation on the market to date."

Also outside, a woman asked Angela Williams, commercial sales representative for Star Nursery, if the Asiatic lilies on the table could be grown in Pahrump. Besides handing out planting advice, Williams urged her to sign up for a drawing for a $25 gift certificate, handed her a Star Nursery publication and promoted their second anniversary event May 2.

It wasn't just businesses on display.

Dan Wertsbaugh had a display for the proposed cultural arts center on the Calvada Eye.

"People are willing to help. We want to get the community involved more," Wertsbaugh said. "Our next phase is marketing and fundraising."

Marie Francis was signing up for a scholarship at the Pahrump Republican Women's booth. Tanya Metaksa and Deanna Brown were also gathering signatures for a petition to support an initiative asking to recall Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

All the walking, and carrying that bag of free giveaways can make somebody tired.

Isabel Ramirez, an employee in the therapy department at Advanced Medical Center, admitted she was popular doing free massages.

Alice Eychaner was waiting 15 minutes for her spray tan to dry on her legs in the hallway outside the banquet room, courtesy of Tiki Bronze, another new Pahrump company.

"It gives a lot of people in town an opportunity to talk to businesses they didn't know existed in town, and they can come over and get some free information," said Allen Parker, with the Small Business Development Corp. "It's also good for the local attendees who are exhibitors of the chamber of commerce because it gives them an opportunity to meet a lot of people at one location at one point in time."