The return of the Vegas Music Experience

Presented by Remix Hotel and LDI Events, the 2008 Vegas Music Experience is upon us. “The Experience,” says founder Gino LoPinto of Vegas Alliance, “is the access to the future of music technology, information, interaction and networking with people from all walks of life with similar interests by day and the excitement of some of the world’s best DJs in their respective categories. And let’s not forget, this all happens in Vegas, the world’s greatest nightlife destination!”

Getting the ball rolling Wednesday, October 22, Godskitchen presents Steve Lawler and Audiofly at Body English. Thursday, LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad go off at Moon. Friday, Steve Lockwood’s A/V audiovisual party kicks off the weekend at Jet with DJVJ Roonie G. Saturday night, double your pleasure prime time at Paul Oakenfold Presents Perfecto at Rain with Mobius 8 and Kenneth Thomas as well as LoPinto’s newest venture, Late Night 54 afterhours, recently relocated to Studio 54. Sounding familiar so far? To us as well. VME incorporates the best of the best from Vegas’ party smorgasbord, stringing together the ultimate electronic-music sampler plate; the Dance Music Summit component returns as well this year, though there are no daytime parties.

Close out the weekend at The Bank, where, if you’re still standing, you’ll be rewarded for your superhuman ability to hold liquor and fist-pump to the beat with sets by DJs Carl Cox and Mark Lewis. “It’s an experience you don’t want to miss,” says LoPinto. “This is what I’ve been waiting for!”

Trick or cheat

It looks as though the days of winning $25,000-plus in cold, hard cash at a 15-minute Halloween costume contest are over, as more clubs are offering goods and services in lieu of greenbacks. Kicking off the holiday week is CatHouse’s “Bald Kitty” Halloween party on Monday, October 27, where the woman with the sexiest cat costume wins Brazilian hair-removal treatments. On Tuesday, Blush awards $5,000 to the lady wearing the sexiest Halloween attire. Studio 54’s ’80s-themed party offers $2,500 to the best ’80s character, plus cash for the sexiest ’80s pop star. Again at 54, $2,054 in prizes will be given away at the 43rd annual Beaux Arts Ball on Thursday, October 30. On Halloween night, Christian Audigier awards free clothes to the sexiest and scariest costumed patrons. Sugarcane offers up a $200 dining certificate. The 11th annual Devil’s Night awards $1,000 to the most creative and sexiest female outfit. And Studio 54 is at it again with $12,000 in cash and prizes for the sexiest and most original costumes. Only Tryst and Pure have topped the list so far with their respective superhero-themed parties, awarding $20,000 each in cash and prizes, of course, for their own superhero-themed event (our guess is a swag bag and gift certificates). So economy or no (uh, we’ll take economy), rest assured, the ladies will still be prepping their naughty nurse, naughty schoolgirl and naughty vampire costumes. (It’s Sin City. We only do “naughty.”) Sorry, fellas, we know you make a great Cap’n Jack Sparrow, but really, most of the costume contests won’t include you.