It's corporate holiday party time, so we're heading out into the cold to ask employees what they think about their companies' bashes. (That's the point, right?) Here's our fourth report of the season.
Bulgari is known for its heavily dolled-up parties (like April's dinner at the Met). But the Italian jewelry company, which employs more than 2,500 people worldwide, took a less production-intensive approach to its corporate holiday party last night, bringing its New York crew to Marquee, one of west Chelsea's highly populated nightclubs.
The hard-to-crash bash (rumors circulated that employees weren’t allowed to bring guests, but no one would confirm) seemed poised to go long into the evening, if the loud cheers and Britney Spears music we could hear from the sidewalk were any indication. In the 45 minutes that we shivered outside, we were able to chat with a few (extremely anonymous) guests before a PR staffer caught on and (politely) asked us to leave. Here’s what we managed to gather about the secretive party.
“We used to do a formal dinner, which might have been more in keeping with the company’s upscale image. But, you know, we realized that a holiday party is really a time to let loose and have fun. Now we always find the best clubs in the city and always have a great, crazy night. Wait, where do you work again? I don’t think I’m allowed to talk to you.”
—Anonymous
“[As far as decorations go] it’s pretty much just the basic club. I don’t think they changed much for the party. They didn’t really need to, because it’s such a cool place.”
—Marketing department staffer, 28 “Of course we have great food, buffet-style. I mean, we are Bulgari—we go all out. Three quarters of this staff wouldn’t show if there was no food.”
—Finance department staffer, 48
“The only decor is basically our logo projected on the walls. Oh, and there’s a machine that takes photos of people and projects them on the walls. It’s fun because it’s pretty incriminating! No one needs to see my dancing skills projected on a wall.”
—Anonymous
“Look at this guy! [Points to a guest arriving in a tuxedo.] Classy guy. Most of us are in suits, but every once in a while you see a tux. It’s definitely a formal party, you know, mixed with the usual debauchery and dance music.”
—External relations department staffer, 59
“I can tell you, we’re a great group and we’re all having a great time. But that’s about all I can say. Everyone is very strictly instructed not to speak to the media, so you’re not going to have much luck here.”
—PR department staffer
Bulgari is known for its heavily dolled-up parties (like April's dinner at the Met). But the Italian jewelry company, which employs more than 2,500 people worldwide, took a less production-intensive approach to its corporate holiday party last night, bringing its New York crew to Marquee, one of west Chelsea's highly populated nightclubs.
The hard-to-crash bash (rumors circulated that employees weren’t allowed to bring guests, but no one would confirm) seemed poised to go long into the evening, if the loud cheers and Britney Spears music we could hear from the sidewalk were any indication. In the 45 minutes that we shivered outside, we were able to chat with a few (extremely anonymous) guests before a PR staffer caught on and (politely) asked us to leave. Here’s what we managed to gather about the secretive party.
“We used to do a formal dinner, which might have been more in keeping with the company’s upscale image. But, you know, we realized that a holiday party is really a time to let loose and have fun. Now we always find the best clubs in the city and always have a great, crazy night. Wait, where do you work again? I don’t think I’m allowed to talk to you.”
—Anonymous
“[As far as decorations go] it’s pretty much just the basic club. I don’t think they changed much for the party. They didn’t really need to, because it’s such a cool place.”
—Marketing department staffer, 28 “Of course we have great food, buffet-style. I mean, we are Bulgari—we go all out. Three quarters of this staff wouldn’t show if there was no food.”
—Finance department staffer, 48
“The only decor is basically our logo projected on the walls. Oh, and there’s a machine that takes photos of people and projects them on the walls. It’s fun because it’s pretty incriminating! No one needs to see my dancing skills projected on a wall.”
—Anonymous
“Look at this guy! [Points to a guest arriving in a tuxedo.] Classy guy. Most of us are in suits, but every once in a while you see a tux. It’s definitely a formal party, you know, mixed with the usual debauchery and dance music.”
—External relations department staffer, 59
“I can tell you, we’re a great group and we’re all having a great time. But that’s about all I can say. Everyone is very strictly instructed not to speak to the media, so you’re not going to have much luck here.”
—PR department staffer
