Beginners Night sounds like a good idea. That way, the audience would know what was in store, you could offer critique (usually unwelcome unless it's positive), a sympathetic audience (more realistic than one might imagine. Audiences, as a rule, really want the performer to succeed.)Your bar owner will be content as long as he sells his libations, and you will not have to face an unanticipated wave of disappointments. (The acts may, well, suck but you will, at least, be expecting the worst) I think I'll suggest such a plan to our local open mike venues. Of course, it would be the very height of chutzpah to expect the audience to pay an entrance fee for these shows which, although they might present an occasional star to be, are more likely to be of the Chuck Barris genre.