It was probably only a matter of time until reality TV would choose to sensationalize the world of event planners, and cable network’s E! Channel has created Party Monsters: Cabo to showcase competition among nine aspiring event planners.
For the uneducated and those who dream about this profession, Party Monsters: Cabo glamorizes the work of event planners and hopefully won’t inspire some people to think this is a real perspective of the profession, hoping to make it their life’s work.
Perhaps it will be interesting to poke fun at just how “real” this reality show may be. Anyone interested may feel free to post their own thoughts about the show on the Event Planning Forum general topic specific to Party Monsters Cabo.
First, because it’s a reality show, it’s reasonable to assume that the most qualified event planner will not win the competition. Second, because it’s a reality show, it’s reasonable to assume that the competing party planners have limited skills before participating on the show (and this is quickly validated within moments of watching the show). Third, it’s a TV show, so it’s going to showcase every possible mistake and flaw imaginable, so that can be fun to watch.
So let’s see if we can identify as many event planning mistakes that the Party Monsters: Cabo shows air each week (but let’s be sure to simply overlook the poor choice of program name and the general misleading concept about what it’s like to work in the event planning field itself). And it has to be obvious that the producers probably setup the aspiring planners to make some of these obvious errors because some of them simply make for better television.
Party Monsters Cabo Concept
Nine ambitious, young party planners head to Cabo to see who can throw the ultimate party for Hollywood's hottest A-listers. Each week, one party planners gets eliminated until one remains a winner: selected for the position of LG Celebrity Event Planner and $100,000.
The show takes place at LG Villa (by the way, great product placement for show sponsor LG Electronics, Inc., and its LG products found throughout the set), and each week contestants face a new celebrity and a new challenge, bringing party plans to life for the elite including: P. Diddy, 50 Cent, Carmen Electra, Lil' Jon, and Brody Jenner. At the end of the event, the contestants' performance is critiqued by the celebrity guest, as well as co-hosts Brian Worley, a celebrity event planner and owner of Los Angeles-based Bash!, and Michele Merkin, a model and actress who has worked on many E programs.
Event planners are organized into small teams, and the planners are expected to present their event concepts to the week’s host, who serves as their client. One event is selected, one person is selected to serve as the event planner, and the other contestants provide event support. The show premiered December 2, 2008.
Party for Brody Jenner and Frankie Delgado to Help Friend Forget Recent Breakup, next page
