How to Throw an Emmy Party

With a worldwide rep as the ultimate in glitz and glamour, the Emmy’s circuit is part fashion, part schmoozefest, but at heart it’s just a partying, people-watching lalapalooza. Get caught up in the fever and host your very own Emmy’s Awards costume party, and you’ll be the star of your own high-concept production.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Food and Beverage
• Glue, glitter, markers, etc.
• Red velvet
• Costumes for mannequins
• Red felt
• TV show posters
• Copies of nominee ballots
• Cameras (digital or disposable and video)
• Popcorn buckets
• Popcorn packets or slates for invitation
• Celebrity lifestyle magazines
• Mannequins
• Faux Emmy statuette

1. Grab a bunch of toy slates from a toy store or costume shop (a slate is that thing someone snaps shut like giant false teeth in front of the camera at the beginning of a take – “Scene 2, take 45!”) and write the party details on it (or attach a note) for your invitation. Or sticker the details to a bag of microwave popcorn (um, unpopped) and throw it in the mail.
   
   Production: [insert Primetime Emmy Awards Viewing Party]
   Director: [insert your name]
   Camera: Come dressed as an actor or member of the press
   Date: Bring one, on [insert air date and time of preshow (usually one hour prior to show)]
   Scene: Total, it starts at [insert time]
   Take: Yourself to [insert location]
2. Start getting your pad ready by rolling out a red carpet by your front door (use red felt instead of real carpet, and secure it by laying a carpet rubber underneath it and a strip of red tape on the edges). Transport your sofa back to the feeling of the old movie theaters by draping red velvet fabric over it.
3. Place his and hers mannequins or dress forms at the entrance, dressed in formal attire for the Emmy’s event. Grab the wardrobe at thrift stores, costume shops, or your best friend’s closet. Pick up mannequins or dress forms at sewing shops, thrift stores, costume shops, or on-line.
4. Deck the walls with television show posters, and around the party space, casually arrange tabloids mixing in with glossy rags that celebrate the celebrity lifestyle. I’m talking InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Us, and Variety.
5. Party cam! Remember the mannequin greeters from the party entrance? Stand an easel next to them that holds cue cards featuring questions like “Who’s your agent?” and “Who are you wearing?” Set up a digital camera and capture your friend’s grand entrances, or have disposable cameras on hand to get flashbulbs popping.
6. Print out a copy of this year’s nominees and have everyone pick their winners, then give out a faux Emmy statuette (find them at trophy stores) at the end of the night to the winner. Invite them to “thank the Academy” and give a speech.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need extra seating but don’t feel like your IKEA chairs measure up, just throw some lush red velvet over ‘em.
• Keep the fun going with a drinking game. Everyone takes a shot every time someone gets rushed off the stage before finishing his or her speech.
• Don’t let your schmooze fest turn into a snoozefest. Break the night up with a few things to keep guests interacting. Try a little popcorn bucket decorating. Grab markers, glue, glitter, and magazine photos and let your guests go to town.

Who Can Help:

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