CHARLIE SCOLA, aka "PARTY CHARLIE" Shares Party Planning Secrets
By Staff Writer

Media personality and celebrity party planner to the stars, Charlie Scola or "Party Charlie" as he's affectionately known by his family, friends and clients, has been planning parties and catering to celebrities, politicians and corporate executives for more than 30 years. He's that kind of compassionate Italian family guy, and at a party everyone is his family.

Parties are healthy, according to Charlie, who says, "parties with a healthy attitude and socializing are very beneficial for health reasons. Doctors suggest to party, celebrate and socialize can boost your immune system, and social contact in a friendly, upbeat environment is extremely reinforcing to who we are.

According to Charlie, the definition of a party is when "two or more people gather to lift each other's spirits and celebrate life."

Even being an Invited guest automatically validates you to be on the guest list. This brings you into the circle," he says. "And inviting a lonely neighbor to a party is also good for the soul."

For the ebullient and resilient Charlie, all of his life is a party. He's filled with plenty of New Jersey energy but with a California casualness that comes from living out near the beach.

These days, though, he's meting out that energy more carefully, exercising and doing yoga after years of stressful work. He wrote a comprehensive book looking to share his party secrets so party givers can avoid some of the stress with information he's learned over many years.

Charlie's new book is called "Party Planning Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Party." The book is an up to date, comprehensive, easy to read book with many, many templates and lists that make a party foolproof. Charlie covers every possible aspect of a party in a breezy yet linear and organized format style. Anyone following his steps can prepare for a party and still have the time and inclination to not only eat and socialize with your guests, but to do so with gusto!"

The sections includes (1) Charlie's philosophy, (2) planning, (3) presentation, (4) the small details, (5) the actual day, (6) the day after and (7) Vendors and Rentals. Charlie also has a website (www.partycharlie.com) with more details.

One section of the book Is templates and checklists. As a staff member myself of one of the premiere catering companies in Los Angeles, I know that any professional event planner or restaurant caterer would find this useful section alone worth the price of the book.

Charlie's five main steps to a successful party (and his modus operandi) also apply to every situation in life: (1) Tempt your guests with an exciting invitation (2) Greet your guests with a high-energy welcome. (3) Entice your guests with a festive ambiance (4) Involve your guests by giving them something to do, which ranges from having fewer chairs then guests so that they mingle to hiring a caricaturist or magician as an ice breaker to having them bring out something from the kitchen!

Says Charlie, The best advice I can give anyone is party, celebrate and socialize your way to health and success." He's living proof of this.

Over the years, Charlie has planned parties for, with, and in honor of a long list of celebrities, personalities, entertainers, political dignitaries and high level military personnel including Elton John, Tom Cruise, Bon Jovi, John Travolta, Bill Maher, Dana Carvey, Angela Landsbury, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder, Julio Iglesias, Barry Manilow, Diana Ross, Sen. Ted Kennedy, the Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

Party Charlie has also mastered the art of dealing with top level VIPS and big numbers. He orchestrated the grand opening of City Walk at Universal Studios Hollywood for 7,000 guests, the Millennium Christmas Party at the Playboy Mansion, as well as private affairs for the City of Beverly Hills and of Hermosa Beach.

back to top