Tony,I got the bug last year.
I had no idea what to do so I simply went to the cages and asked if I could buy a couple of chips. I started with Limited Editions(LE'S) and $1.00 chips. Almost all of the cashiers were very helpful. My mistake was not getting extras for trades.
This year,when I returned,I took back several chips that were no longer of any use to me and got instant cash so that I could buy other chips.This time though,after being a club member for a year,paying attention, and trying to get a feel of what others might want,instead of picking up 1 chip,I would try and buy 5 or 10 so that I could trade them down the line.
Tipping the cashier...and showing that you are indeed are going to tip...seems to get things going really well.
Hit as many casinos as you can anywhere you can(a car helps). The first year I hit every casino on the strip and downtown that I could find.When I returned home and did more research,I found that I had missed a few like Poker Palace,Fiesta,Big Horn and a couple of others,so this year I tried to get to those casinos as well.
DO NOT GO ON A FRIDAY...this is when the casino employees are paid and the lineups to cash their cheques are long and time consuming.
Some casinos are in bad areas of town but,if you go early in the day,it seems safer....might not be....but better than going in the dark.
Be polite...be friendly...and you will do ok.
Good luck.