SERVICE: Wrangling Celebs to Your Events

For better or worse, celebrities have become the focal point of many events. So how do you score some big-name guests--and big-time press coverage--for your events? If you don't already have the rich and famous on your Rolodex, celebrity wrangling firm Flying Television can help. Founder Lori Levine spent 10 years as a talent booker for TV shows, including a stint at Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Now she and her staff keep a database of celebrity information, including details about their pets, charity affiliations and peculiarities (Whoopi Goldberg never flies, Ray Liotta doesn't do small elevators). They also track who's in town when, and offer advice for dealing with the rich and famous. (Never pay celebs to show up at a party, but expect to give them some perks: Car services, stylists, free product samples.) The firm's services include booking celebs for events, TV shows and awards shows, and handling all the travel arrangements and intricacies of getting them there. (They got 19 bold-faced names to the much-hyped Gotham magazine launch party, and booked winners and presenters like Sheryl Crow for Glamour's Women of the Year event, left.)
--Chad Kaydo (Photo courtesy of Glamour)
Posted 07.23.01