Event Planning is a unique art, as we all know. Kinda like doing a ballet on rollerblades while juggling chainsaws.

One of the things that we have to juggle is taking an old stand-by event and making it fresh, relevant and hip again.

Case in point is the "casino night" event.

We have all either planned one (or a hundred) or been an attendee at one. As the old stand-by events go, these are actually kind of fun and can be an amazing success that will leave attendees talking for months if done right.

One way we have found to up the ante on Casino Events is to take two parts cool James Bond (encourage attendees to come in black tie, serve martinis) and add one part Celebrity.

Believe it or not, hiring a celebrity to spend the evening playing poker or blackjack with your attendees can be done and if it is the right celebrity, attendees will never forget it.

Everyone from the Super A list, B list on down to the D list can come to your event to mingle and hang out with your guests. Actors, athletes and other public figures are all considered celebrities in this context so everyone is in the mix. Whether the star of a Hollywood Blockbuster, a former child star or the star third basemen of your favorite baseball team, anything goes. 

Some do it for a fee, some for exposure, while others will do it for a donation to their favorite charity. There is a celebrity for every budget.

A few things to remember before you step out onto the red carpet. In addition to any fees or other compensation, be prepared to pay all expenses for your celebrity including first class air, hotel and ground transport. Some celebrities jump right in, ask no questions and grab a seat at the table, while others have rules and want everything exact, so know beforehand what is expected. Just ask, their handlers will tell you exactly how it is going to go.

Just a thought and remember to bring your cameras!

As always, feel free to drop me a line!

Keith
kjohnston@onsiteevents.com