Event planners debate rise of private versus press Oscar parties | Special Events /sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_specialevents/images/logos/footer.png Google Tag Manager Skip navigation Informa Special Events is part of the Informa Connect Division of Informa PLC Informa PLC About us Investor relations Talent This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726. Discover: Advertise Digital Edition Webinars Special Events Blog Ace and Gala Awards Candid Conversations The Special Event MeetingsNet Catersource Leading Caterers of America More Menu Log In or Register Catering Decor Entertainment Event Tools Event Types Rental Venues Weddings Advertise Webinars Special Events Blog Ace and Gala Awards The Special Event MeetingsNet Catersource Leading Caterers of America Subscribe Eventline Newsletter Research Store Classifieds Instagram About Us Advertise Privacy Statement Terms of Service Cookie Policy Ad Choices Search Log In Register SUBSCRIBE NOW Recent Recent Follow Us On Our New Social Media Sep 23, 2022 Who's News September 22, 2022 Sep 22, 2022 Creating a Harmonious Relationship Between Planner and Caterer Sep 20, 2022 Everything Pros Wish They Knew When They Started Their Business Sep 19, 2022 EventUp Survey Confirms Event Trends from 2022 Sep 16, 2022 education View Our Webinars! Featured What Pandemic Shifts are Here to Stay in the Wedding Industry? Dec 06, 2021 Taking on the 2022 Trends Jan 28, 2022 Who's News for September 15, 2022 Sep 15, 2022 Reducing Tone + Tension in Written Word Sep 14, 2022 Special Events brought to you by Content Oscar Parties: Press or Private? Feb 28, 2007 "The Big 3" doesn't refer to American automakers--at least, not in L.A. Instead, they are the major day-of Oscar parties, known to everyone who is invited and virtually everyone else. The granddaddy is the Governors Ball, the official Academy event, created by long-time producer Sequoia Productions and catered by Wolfgang Puck. Vanity Fair magazine has a lock on Morton's restaurant in West Hollywood, while across the street at the Pacific Design Center, Elton John combines fun with fundraising for AIDS. Mix celebrities, media and marketing and the result is a powerful party. Hachette Filipacchi Media--publishers of Elle, Premiere, American Photo and Metropolitan Home magazines--created a three-day media-marketing fest. Billed as "celebrity prep headquarters," the event took over "Haven," a Hollywood Hills mansion, for all-day branded gifting and spa opportunities, with parties at night. Event producers Friends in High Places coordinated such mega brands as Cadillac and Revlon to pamper the celebs in logo'd rooms. The HFM magazines will cover their own event. Classic Party Rentals decked out the home's deck with a dramatic clear-top tent complete with elegant chandelier. OVEREXPOSED? But are the paparazzi's flashbulbs getting a little too bright? In a provocative article last week, the L.A. Times said that big, media-filled Oscar parties "are on the wane," being replaced by private events hosted by big-time agents in private homes--no red carpet and no media. Caterer Joann Roth-Oseary of Someone's in the Kitchen agrees. "Smaller parties are the word," she tells Special Events. "One of the best parties was this year's Foreign Language Film Awards, which takes place two days before the Academy Awards and is relatively intimate as these things go--about 175 to 200--not a cast of thousands invited." She adds, "This year's party was fabulous because we switched gears for the normally more formal and stuffy feel for this event and gave it a hot, Latin-flamenco-fusion feel, with the look, the lighting, the food, and the six-piece flamenco-fusion music." WHO YOU KNOW But Charles Banfield, head of Charles Banfield Productions, says big parties have a big future. "I do know that these smaller private parties have been around for quite a long time for networking and underground meetings prior to and after the awards," he tells Special Events. "They are getting play now because someone from the media managed to break their way into the know." Banfield says that the Big 3 parties will stay strong. "They are the most attended and will always have the golden residual effect of press coverage the next week, which is what the celebrities go for," he explains. "That, and they know that the events are attended by many heavy-hitters that are not in attendance at the actual Oscars." Underscoring the undying allure of the red carpet, he notes, "This year a new cool trend that is welcomed by the fashion industry is 'costume changes.' [Academy Award winner] Jennifer Hudson wore a total of five different gowns that night." Indeed, Richard Mooney, head of Kensington Caterers, says the best bash is still the Governors Ball itself. This year's party did away with assigned seating, instead letting its star-studded crowd visit buffets and pick the seating option--sofas, ottomans, stools, etc.--of their choice. [Click here for more detail.] "They took a chance and changed the format," Mooney says. "Bravo!" Photos by Special Events Magazine 0 comments Hide comments Comment * Switch to plain text editor More information about text formats Text format CommentsPlain text Comments Allowed HTML tags: <em> <strong> <blockquote> <br> <p> Plain text No HTML tags allowed. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. PublishLog in or register to comment Save Leave this field blank RECOMMENDED FOR YOU [Webinar] Everything You Need to Successfully Run Your In-Person Events Sep 22, 2022 4 Signs It’s Time for a Reset When Feeling Overwhelmed (and How to Make the Shift) Aug 15, 2022 Why & How to Perform a Tech Audit Aug 11, 2022 Planning to Hire in 2022? Check Your Analytics First Aug 10, 2022 Load More About Us Advertise Subscribe Ad Choices Sitemap CCPA: Do not sell my personal info Privacy Policy Terms of Service Content Licensing/Reprints Cookie Policy Follow us: © 2022 Informa USA, Inc., All rights reserved Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms of Use