Annual PSA: Many of the "big" black-tie New Year's Eve parties are borderline scams. Consider supporting a neighborhood bar or restaurant instead.

Submitted by flimsywicket t3_yw4t6s in washingtondc

Reposting from the last few years. Link to last year's post if you wish to read the comments.

TLDR: If you are going to a ticketed NYE event, make sure you know who's running it. Most often, it's not the venue itself, but a shady outside promoter who plans poorly and doesn't care if you have a bad time. They have your money before you set foot in the door. If you have a problem, the venue won't help you and the promoters can't be contacted. Because there's no place to leave bad Yelp reviews etc., there is no record of it being a bad event and the cycle repeats the next year.

If you want to go out, you're better off supporting a neighborhood bar or restaurant.

I'm sure everyone knows someone that's planning to spend NYE at one of those dress-up events at a hotel or prominent venue in the city, in exchange for a few hundred bucks. If you are considering going to one of these events, do not buy a ticket without doing research first.

I'm talking about the ones that happen in large event spaces, such as:

  • "The Mellon Gala" @ Andrew Mellon Auditorium
  • "Big Night DC" @ Gaylord Hotel
  • "Capital Gatsby Gala" @ HQO
  • "Black Tie Gala" @ The Willard Hotel

If you search for these events, you would think they're being put on by the venues themselves. This is not the case. These spaces are being rented out by promoters, who hide their names on the event info, if they put them on there at all.

I've been to several of these events (shame on me). They are not all mis-managed, but it happens frequently, and every year the promoters get away with it. They charge $100+ for a ticket, but the catch is you have no recourse if the event is poorly managed. They run out of food before you got in? Too bad. 30 minute lines to get a drink? Nothing they will do about it. (And yes, 30 minute lines are typical.)

Because events like these are put on by promoters, the venue itself won't help you. There are few (if any) ways to contact the promoters. Some promoters, if you can even find their name, don't even list a phone number, email, or physical address on their website. The promoters have little reason to care about their reputation, because their name isn't really associated with the event. They'll just point you to their non-refundable ticket policy.

Every year, many promoters operate the same scheme:

  1. Rent out a prominent event space. The promoters borrow reputation from the venue since they have little themselves.
  2. They promote their event ("The X Gala") to local media and on Eventbrite.
  3. The media includes the event in their run-down of NYE parties, giving it credibility.
  4. The public buys tickets, since they know the venue they assume it's managed by capable people or the venue itself.
  5. The night comes, and the promoter always under-delivers. Half an hour line for drinks. Bathroom lines may be equally long. It isn't top-shelf as advertised. Food might run out by 10pm. Etc.
  6. Attendees are pissed and want a refund. They contact the venue.
  7. The venue tells them they aren't responsible, and to contact the promoter.
  8. The promoter, if they can be reached at all, points to their no refund policy.
  9. Attendees can't post a Yelp review for "The X Gala" because it's an event, not a location. If a review is posted to the location's page, it rarely gets seen.* The promoter scrubs negative comments from their Facebook/Instagram pages.
  10. Attendees eventually give up chasing the promoter.
  11. 11 months later, everyone's forgotten, there's no online record that the last event was bad, and promoters repeat this whole process for the next NYE.

I'm not saying all NYE events are like this, but in my experience it's more often than not. And these events can get worse than simply running out of booze. I've seen hour-long lines in freezing weather just to get in. At a past NYE event the Mellon Auditorium, there was one men's & one women's restroom for about ~1,000 people. You can imagine that line. People resorted to relieving themselves on the balcony overlooking Constitution Ave.

I imagine this is why some venues, such as the Building Museum, stopped renting out for NYE parties. If you want to go out, go to your neighborhood pub or restaurant. Unlike promoters, their business relies on their reputation, so they're more likely to ensure you have fun.

*But here's a few [Mellon 1] [Mellon 2] [Mellon 3] [Gaylord 2]

462

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

BoozAlien t1_iwhorh7 wrote

New Year's Eve = Amateur Night. It's the best night of the year to throw a party at your own place, go to a party at a friend's house, or just stay home. Unless you love shit service that's worse than the normal shit service that restaurants offer these days, standing in line, realizing your non-VIP ticket to a gala doesn't even include the option of sitting down all night, realizing the included drinks will run out by the time you get to the end of the line, or being around people who can't handle their alcohol really overdoing it early in the evening.

113

SquishWindow t1_iwhmh5k wrote

Excellent post. OP I feel like your title does a slight disservice to the message; it's great to support a neighborhood restaurant or bar, but this advice isn't about charity to others, it's about looking after yourself. These events (I have also been to multiple (shame on me)) can be really frustrating as an attendee.

That said, many people have a good time at them, especially if you know in advance what you're signing up for and have reasonable expectations, or if you are the type of person who has other people wait in drink lines for you. It's not impossible to have fun at one of these galas, but just know that it is not the glamorous, full-service experience you would expect from the price and marketing. The drink lines especially are genuinely unconscionable and will eat up a huge chunk of your night if you actually want to get a good buzz going on NYE. But if you can deal with that, there will be many young attractive people drinking and dancing in fancy clothes and maybe that's all you need from your night, no judgment.

47

Praxiscat t1_iwhoti0 wrote

Buying concert tickets is also always a solid option.

But I agree...avoid the big events and go local restaurant or bar.

31

LostLongIslander t1_iwhq7o9 wrote

Concert ticket is my go to every year. I’m usually in NYC, but will local this year. George Clinton and p. Funk are gunna be at 930 and I think that’s the place for me this year….

23

laughingcolors t1_iwi8jn5 wrote

George Clinton performed for my colleges graduation party. Took over the cities largest park, man that was some party

13

sharksandwich70 t1_iwi9ad6 wrote

I had a backstage pass when I saw him at the Rams Head Live in 2008. First time I ever regretted quitting weed so long ago.

5

optix_clear t1_iwiz0ax wrote

For this reason I miss LuLu’s, some of the best NYE & concert

3

dcsnowpatrol t1_iwhrfkq wrote

Agree. I got Tix to Kennedy and am thinking of hitting George Clinton after

8

Mosaic1 t1_iwhqptg wrote

Unless the organizer at Willard has changed, that party felt like value for money when we went in 2019-2020. 6 or 7 different styles of music throughout the venue, decent enough buffet food on that option, plenty of decent drinks available with minimal lines as plenty of bars throughout the venue.

30

IcyWillow1193 t1_iwihjm8 wrote

It's worth considering that these big events perform a community service by keeping the douchebags off the streets and out of neighborhood institutions.

28

Gumburcules t1_iwiidyb wrote

Best rule of thumb is if it's not the kind of party you need to be invited to be able to attend, it's not worth going to.

Best way to spend NYE is at home, with people you love, (romantically or platonically is fine) lots of cheese, and the nicest bottle(s) of champagne you can find at Costco.

27

Deanocracy t1_iwi42ti wrote

Did the Building museum one 09 into 10.

Total trainwreck. Like my back now.

20

BoysenberryNo4959 t1_iwictm2 wrote

Or stay at home, watch the Twliight Zone marathon and order takeout. Go to bed before midnight. Been my NYE routine for 25 years. 😄 NYE is also probably the most dangerous night to be on the road due to all of the idiots who drive drunk or recklessly. Too cold to go anywhere anyway.

18

Konrow t1_ix9f7og wrote

Twilight Zone marathon is my usual plan too. We cook a nice ass dinner (usually beef welly) and enjoy some nice tv getting drunk together at home lol. Never been to an actual organized NYE event out that was more fun than a friend's house or my own. They always suck.

1

RedTreeDecember t1_iwizqu1 wrote

Sounds like I'm throwing a big expensive dissapointing gala this year. Thanks for the instructions!

18

mak7912 t1_iwi3ppc wrote

Appreciate the heads up, but are there any actual good black tie NYE events? I've always wanted to do an event like that for NYE.

16

Gumburcules t1_iwlicmt wrote

Yesh, lots if you're in the right corporate/philanthropic circles.

The problem with these is that you have to know someone and be invited. The next bet tier is movers and shakers throwing parties at their home, Slightly less exclusive - you could score an invite by being a really nice neighbor but definitely not as a stranger.

Bottom of the barrel is anything you can by a ticket for, avoid at all costs.

Occasionally you'll find a unicorn - a few years back I stumbled upon a flyer for a rugby team NYE fundraiser - black tie, limited invites with a rather hefty donation, upscale bar with open bar and food, and real money gambling throughout the venue (all of the rake went to the club)Super nice people, great atmosphere, and a worthy cause.

7

doogles t1_iwj5em6 wrote

I went to the 08 PA inauguration party in January of 09. I got to see Sharon Stone off her ass on something. Also got to see the motorcade making a fast run late that night. 10/10

14

Formergr t1_iwjfwtl wrote

Haha I was there too!

5

doogles t1_iwl2p7h wrote

Going on and on about how PaA had the best milk and cows...what a scene from such a crazy moonbeam.

3

chiddie t1_iwhp3ua wrote

We did one of these parties at The W Hotel (now Hotel Washington) before COVID. It was a genuinely good experience. We started with the "happy hour" drinks downstairs, then paid the premium for the cocktails upstairs at Vue when "happy hour" ended.

I'm not sure if they're doing a similar event this year, though.

11

StrangeOldHermit77 t1_iwjcwqg wrote

I found service there pretty bad year round on the rooftop. You really are just paying for the view. The downstairs was always good though.

9

Midnight_Morning t1_iwhqo2y wrote

I learned my lesson a few years ago with the Gaylord mess. Now I just hit up Costco and load up on alcohol and food. I set up my firepit and just chill out in my backyard with a few friends to ring in the new year.

7

beetnemesis t1_iwhuuao wrote

Yup. The one at the Gaylord is not great, IMO.

6

ender2 t1_iwilh9e wrote

I do get the risk of the events but I will say I went to Capital Gatsby last NYE and the one at the Gaylord pre pandemic and our group (about 8) was very impressed with both and had a great time. Gaylord had a bunch of different rooms with different music and bartenders lining the sides rarely ever had to wait for a drink the whole time. Add-on Food option were not very good there it was more cafeteria style.

6

socialist_butterfly0 t1_iwjdgg5 wrote

Went to cap lounge (rip) on a Tuesday new years eve in 2019/20 and they still did 25 cent wings. Was the best new years ever.

5

SavoryRhubarb t1_iwjpf6p wrote

It’s a couple years off, but this advice is good for many “inaugural balls” put on by promoters. If you don’t need an invitation of some kind, it’s probably a similar event with outrageous drink prices and no seating.

5

IamMe90 t1_iwk8yko wrote

Lol I went to the Mellon one last year - it was like a high school prom dance event but with 1,000+ late 20s/early 30s yuppies instead. It was complete trash, the catered food was garbage, and I immediately got COVID for the first time right after. I don't remember exactly how much it cost because my pyscho ex bought the tickets for us, but I think it was at least $200 for mine. Good stuff haha

5

6FeetBeneathTheMoon t1_iwibmik wrote

I find the idea of going to one of these parties very strange in the first place.

4

Gumburcules t1_iwll60t wrote

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for a 2022 update of a Gonzo Journalism expose.

"We had 2 bags of K2, 75 pellets of Adderall, five sheets of something our Chinese bitcoin merchant assured us was high-power blotter acid, a salt shaker 1/10th full of sepped on cocaine and 90% full of fentanyl and baby powder, and a whole galaxy of completely untested illegal research chemicals. Also a quart of Fireball, a quart of Rumchata, a case of Truly lite seltzer, a pint of raw kombucha, and two dozen redbulls and cans of axe body spray.

Not that we needed it all for the trip, but once you start buying the nasty shit your girlfriends always want at Tick Tock Liquors, the tendency is to drink 1/4 of what you bought and stash the rest in the car in an ever-growing stockpile nobody will ever finish."

4

GoodOmens t1_iwje1is wrote

Haven’t been in a long time but Black Cats Peaches O’Dell and her orchestra was always fire.

4

Less_Wrong_ t1_iwhn8qn wrote

Don’t worry. I don’t go to parties

2

RyVsWorld t1_iwia4nc wrote

Honestly the people who fall for this are the type of people who get stopped by kiosks in shopping malls to buy stupid little gadgets

2

celj1234 t1_iwhol8y wrote

Scam isn’t the right word for those events. This isn’t some Fyre Festival situation.

Many people have a great time at those events. It’s all personal preference come NYE (and deff varies based on your age)

−13

rachs1988 t1_iwhpu2u wrote

They are running a low-quality, money-making operation and then ghost ticket holders who request full or partial refunds for overselling, disorganization, and poor planning on the organizers’ part. I’d call that a scam.

19

celj1234 t1_iwhqkhp wrote

Many bars/club do the same exact thing with their NYE parties.

Everyone knows NYE is a shitshow amateur hour. If you’re going to one of these big gala events expected everything to run perfect and for it to be a underwhelming crowd then you’re foolish.

−8

flimsywicket OP t1_iwhyeu6 wrote

Even if other attendees act like amateurs, that should not affect the host delivering on promises of reasonable access to food/drink/bathrooms/etc. That's primarily what this is about.

> Many bars/club do the same exact thing with their NYE parties.

I'm sure they do. But in those cases, attendees at least know who is responsible if they felt their experience was lacking (even if the host does nothing about it). And owners/hosts are more likely to at least listen to complaints because they have a reputation to uphold. And attendees can leave a review on Yelp/Google/etc. In contrast, the hosts of these big NYE parties conceal their identities to avoid accountability.

12

celj1234 t1_iwhzkyo wrote

And you get access to those things at the mass majority of these events. Yes there might be a line but you get access to them and probably easier access if you pay for “VIP”.

−10