Invite Only

Too much, or not enough?

Posted 04/24/2008 at 2:25 PM  |  3 comment/s

Wednesday April 22, 2008

Here we go again, a day in the life of the Executive Assistant to the E-I-C. It was a hectic night, but I can't complain. Did three events in four hours, four events if you count a small afterparty at Virgils in the heart of Times Square. One thing I learned tonight, there are some clearly defined do's and don'ts people need to be hip to. First stop...

Diddy's Ciroc Tasting Event, Audrey Lounge @ The W Hotel, N.Y., N.Y. Yes, another music mogul with his own liquor, how...predictable. I'm not hating on Sean though, do your thing--get your people drunk crunk. Ciroc, a vodka, is packaged very cleanly like VOX vodka, and it goes down as smooth as SKYY vodka, has the aftertaste of BELVEDERE, but because it's D-I-D-D-Y, it is distilled from grapes, which makes it the "Ultra Premimum" of all vodkas. High and lows of the event...

DO: Have a celebrity mixologist. (I see you Mr. Dale Degroff!!!)

DON'T: Hold an event in a place so small, it becomes inevitable to touch someone's ass.

DO: Invite tastemakers and media.

DON'T: Not invite Diddy himself, or a rep to speak on his behalf.

DO: Get the crowd involved in how to make the drinks.

DON'T: Get noticeably drunk at a tasting, it's just lame.

Next stop: the U.S. debut of the 2008 "Smart Fortwo" car, at Pace Wildenstien N.Y., N.Y. The car, which strategically made its debut on Earth Day, has to be the smallest car I've seen in my life. It's 8 feet long, 5 feet high, and drives an average of 42 miles a gallon. The car was featured in blue, yellow, and red, and it really made me want to "go green." Strengths and weakness...

DO: Have a rep at each car to answer any/all questions.

DON'T: Have that rep not know the answers to any/all questions.

DO: Pick a location that is open and airy.

DON'T: Have a bar that doesn't carry tequila, if it isn't sponsored by a particular liquor.

DO: Have culturally diverse guests.

DON'T: Put good food on top of rice cakes. (Beef and rice cakes dont mix)

DO: Hand out eco-friendly gift bags in brown paper bags, cute look...I guess.

Spotlight Live Lounge, NY, NY. What do you get when you put Sylvia Rhone, Danyel Smith, Llyod, Mike Kyser, Free from 106 Park, Angie Martinez, Gayle King, Shanti Das, Kevin Liles, Alisha Renee, Irv and Chris Gotti, Ashanti, Emil Wilbekin, Q-tip, Angel Lola, Shirea Carroll, Mona, Ryan Leslie, Anthony Anderson,Stephen Hill, Flo-rida, models, industry insiders, and all those who got next in one building? The chaotic but exciting event - "R&B Live" held twice a month. This was the third I attended, and by far the best. I'm sitting next to the highly respected President of Universal Music Group Motown Records -- thee Ms. Sylvia Rhone trying to make sure I stay in my place without looking like a cornball. My likes and dislikes of the night....

DO: Have a line outside around the block.

DONT: Have additional line inside just to get upstairs.

DO: Shine like Universal's new artist Suai, who knew how to work the stage with 5 inch thigh high boots.

DON'T: Have an awesome voice like new songtress Grits, but sing songs that discuss killing your father.

DO: Be as hype and stylish as Ryan Leslie, who obviously stole the show.

DON'T: Come to the stage like Ashanti dressed to the nine's, but cackling and laughing at her own jokes, that weren't funny.

DOUBLE DON'T: Think because your a plantinum recording artist that your intro can be longer than your performance, when most came out to support you Ms. Ashanti.

DO: Have all types of media to cover the event.

DON'T: Let them block the view of the stage.

DO: Have the privelage like me to sit directly next to Sylvia Rhone, Q-tip, or known figure in the industry.

DON'T: Get in any of there paparrazi pics (we must crawl before we run!)

DO: Put on your biggest smile, image means a lot.

DON'T: Go anywhere without a breath mint, or gum...it will be your downfall. (I'm just saying a few hellos I recieved, I smelled before I heard.)

DO: Try and make it to the next R&B Live Event!

Lesson: The coolest things happen when you don't force it.

Big Ups: Armelle Crump (Universal Motown), Shanti Das (Universal Motown), Dante Simpson (DSA Media), Brandon Hatler (Sunshine Sachs), Antoine Phillips (Giorgio Armani), Andre Cole (BET), Sonya Moore (Nation's Resturant News)

(entry permalink)  |  (add a comment)