Emmys & Oscars guru says events are more relaxed but suggests guests leave phones at door

THE woman behind lavish parties including the Emmys & Oscars says events are more relaxed and suggests guests leave their phones at the door.

High end Event producer Cheryl Cecchetto who wrote the book Passion to Create.

A GENUINE Aussie feeling will be on the lips at this weekend’s Emmy Awards.

Plans for the Governors Ball, that follows the awards ceremony, will include serving Penfolds wines as the night’s theme ‘Reigning with Radiance’ kicks off at the grandest after-party ever.

According to dynamic event organiser and producer of the Emmy Awards Governors Ball, Cheryl Cecchetto, the Los Angeles Convention Centre in downtown LA will be dazzling with Swarovski crystals and there will be a relaxed vibe in the room.

“I like to create total ‘spectacular’,” says Ms Cecchetto says from Los Angeles.

Sneak peek: inside the Emmy Awards Governors Ball (artist impression)

The lounge-inspired room will be encrusted on 27-foot chandeliers, over 750 floral arrangements and a menu that includes ‘mystery’ ingredients like “Cabra crakine” and “bearnaise espuma.”

As well, there will be a staff of 1,000 who will be looking after up to 4,000 guests.

Guests this year will be an acting and entertaining A-team including names like Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, John Hamm, Ricky Gervais, Adrian Bodey, Felicity Huffman, Amy Schumer, Jessica Lange, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Emmys host Andy Samberg and all the top dogs in the Emmys night mix.

Oh, and Governors Ball guests will consume an estimated 100 gallons (380 litres) of Penfolds wine and 1,500 pounds (680pkgs) of beef.

That’s a lot of Swarovski crystals ...

But this is all in day (or a year’s work for event producer extraordinaire Cheryl Cecchetto) whose company Sequoia Productions has worked with Governors Ball Committee for 17 years.

Cheryl, who was trained in the performing arts always promises a ‘once in a lifetime experience’.

Cheryl has been in special event world land since 1990 and name an awards night or mega event that has been on in the US and chances are she has orchestrated it.

Whether it’s 25 years of the Academy Awards Governors Ball; the Emmy Awards Governors Ball for 17 consecutive years; the The G’Day USA Gala for 11 years or major events for Warner Brothers Studios, Entertainment Weekly, 20th Century Fox or the People’s Choice Awards, the Cecchetto name is attached to them all.

“Every single event has its own personality and I can tell you, once it’s on finally get on I can try to kick back and have a couple of wines myself!”

So in love with her working world, Cheryl even wrote a coffee-table book ‘Passion to Create’ which is packed full of awards-worthy recipes including Wolfgang Puck’s truffled chicken pot pie and Shelley Winters’ marinara sauce, along with anecdotes about working with the stars and plenty of glitzy photos.

Cheryl’s fascinating book chronicles the path to manifesting some of the most memorable and high profile events in Los Angeles, sprinkled with amusing stories and anecdotes not normally available for general consumption.

Cover of Cheryl Cecchetto's book Passion to Create

Cheryl writes it with humour, detailing the collaborative inspiration and challenges of many of her creations, as well as behind-the-scenes drama that comes with the territory.

“I also share my philosophies on work ethic, service, generosity, family, and balance and if it isn’t fun, why do it?” Cheryl says.

Cheryl says that food and atmosphere are just as important as each other but adds that most guests done want to stay in one spot anymore.

“They prefer to work the room and mingle so that means really formal sit-down dinners aren’t as popular as they once were,’ adds Cheryl.

“Tables are more to hang out at while they imbibe just smaller places of food.

“Oh and as for phones, I’d rather everyone leave them at the door but in this day of constant communication we do have lots of charging stations!”

But not everything has been smooth sailing at every mega party.

As she details in her ‘Divas, Disasters and Near Misses’ book chapter, the most memorable disaster is at an Oscars Governors Ball when her choice of using ‘fish‘ as part of the centrepieces of the tables turned into exactly that.

“Unfortunately some of the koi fish started to jump just minutes before guests were to arrive in the room,’’ says Cheryl.

“They were jumping, all 2000 of them onto the tables and plates so we quickly had our ‘fish wranglers’ remove the koi and put them in large buckets before they were donated to a pond in Ladera Heights.

“Well, at least they had their 15 minutes of fame!” she laughs.

TOP EMMYS PARTIES:

Over the next few days and leading up to the Emmys this week there are a host of events to keep the acting and TV fraternity entertained.

Here are the pick of the Emmys weekend soirees:

• The BAFTA/LA TV Tea Party the day before the Emmys at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills is a hot invite: Emmy nominees from the U.K. and a “Downton Abbey” resident or two will sip tea, champagne and imbibe in scones and cucumber sambos at this chic afternoon party presented by BBC America.

• The 67th Governors Ball happens straight after the ceremony where 4000 peeps will have a 3-course meal before Andrea Bocelli and David Foster perform.

• HBO will host a Havana-style show band a party at the Pacific Design Centre with Game of Thrones and Veep peeps kicking up their (possibly big winning) heels

• Fox Broadcasting party will host the broadcast at Vibiana with guests like Will Forte, Claire Danes and the cast of Modern Family and American Horror Story: Freak Show on hand

• The Amazon party at The Standard in Downtown LA should be hot — well, the show does have 12 nominations

• The Mad Men, better Call soul and Breaking Bad cast will be rocking the Boa WeHo steakhouse with 7 nominations all up

• Netflix are taking over Chateau Marmont and with 34 nominations that party is bound to eventually fall (nicely) like a House of Cards

• Comedy Central are hosting theirs after party at Boulevard 3 in Hollywood to celebrate its 26 nominations

Take a read here for the full Emmys party schedule – it’s a serious party-thon.

Melissa Hoyer is heading to Los Angeles and will be a guest at the 67th Emmys awards of Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Production; Love Beverly Hills and Qantas