Jeff Beacher called to ask me to check out the talent auditions at the Hard Rock tomorrow for his Madhouse. When I attend, I want to ask him about details of upcoming projects he is involved in at the Venetian and Imperial Palace. I am sure he will want to talk about those. Beacher will probably have less to offer on another topic I am going to raise: the recent departure of the Hard Rock's president.

But my main reason for going is simply to see the audition. The last time I went, I saw a lady who rolled about on broken glass, a dancing troupe from Africa and a go-go dancer who was about 70. About the only thing Beacher's staff wouldn't allow was someone who wanted to do something involving setting a certain body part on fire. The audition, by the way, isn't just freaks or mere variety acts. Sort of unique among shows in town, Beacher auditions everything publicly for his show at events like this. Everything that is except the comics — the ostensible stars and yet the most disposable part of the Madhouse experience.

So as with all things Beacher, the auditions draw many attractive young women hoping to work in his show as Beacher's Babes or in dance teams or as hostesses. You can look at the auditions for Beacher's Madhouse in two ways and both work. First off, it makes the audition process a marketing and publicity vehicle for the show. That is pure Beacher. This is the reason Beacher wants me to drop by. But another way to see it is the reason you should drop by too: Beacher's auditions offer the highlights of the Madhouse experience for free. Usually only celebrities and major VIP characters get close to the stage at the actual Madhouse. But at the auditions everything is unstructured and open to the public. You can wander about and take it all in as free entertainment.