The “Reality” of Event Planning

Yes, there is officially a reality show for everything. On Dec. 2 (or 12, depending on what article you’re reading) E! Entertainment Television will launch “Party Monsters: Cabo,” in which nine contestants will compete for the enviable title of “Celebrity Event Planner” at the LG Villa Cabo resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Each episode will charge contestants with throwing “the ultimate party” for celebrities including P. Diddy, Carmen Electra and various other B-list reality show regulars. What do you think about this, planners? Does a show like this elevate the visibility of your profession or paint an inaccurate caricature of an extravagant party planner?

--Marni Ginther
Assistant Editor

Comments

[Geri Wolf]

Completely unrealistic.

As I was moving tables and chairs at the corporate event last night, I was thinking about all the television shows about event planning show an unsurmountable amount of work being done in a short period of time.

Shows like that spread the perception that event designers / planners stand there shouting out orders while sipping a martini. So unrealistic!

[Assistant Editor Marni Ginther]

Thanks for your thoughts, Geri. My initial reaction was the same as yours, but not being an event planner, (even though I interview and write about them) I didn't want to make a definitive judgment. But it did tick me off a little bit to read about the show.
I think reality shows have done similar damage for a lot of folks who work in more creative fields. My Mom is an art director and always warned me about working in a creative field where there's no "right" or "wrong" answer. People often think it's fun and games all the time, because after all, she just draws pretty pictures, and you just plan pretty parties, right? I wonder if fashion designers and models feel the same about shows like Stylista, Project Runway or America's Next Top Model.

[Wedding Planner Bay Area]

I think the opposite. Reality Shows come as a big platform plus they give the real picture behind the glitz and glamour of working in a creative field. And that should be the purpose behind all the reality shows. Now after watching America's next top model people realize that modelling is not just wearing designer clothes an make up but involves a lot of hard work.

[Marni Ginther]

I think that's a fair point too. Maybe it depends on how the reality show treats the subject matter. Some of the challenges they give the girls on America's Next Top Model seem pretty difficult (filming a commercial in Japanese), and therefore show that the program is trying to present something true to the actual industry rather than simply creating drama. As for Party Monsters, I have yet to watch an episode, so I can't say.