As Studio 54 comes to its last week of business at MGM Grand, I have become extremely nostalgic for the venue that gave me my start in nightlife PR. As I look back on the nearly three years I spent with the 54 team, I reflect on my five favorite memories and four things that will be irreplaceable by this iconic venue.
Thanks for the memories….
5. An obvious favorite has to be my first night working at the club. I was somewhat of a newbie still when I got pulled in to help with the Kirvin Doak nightlife accounts before Studio 54 was officially bestowed upon me as my new “baby”. My big debut took place at 54 Below – the 10 year anniversary – which was also my first red carpet. My inexperience showed as I ended up pinned in a corner, hiding behind Kid Rock’s giant fur vest so to not get in any photos.
4. Holly Madison’s first Holly-ween event was one of my favorite Halloween parties to date. Crazy costumes, a packed crowd, and Holly making a grand entrance from the ceiling on a swinging chair will always be etched in my mind.
3. When you’re on the job, stay alert and always keep your head up was a valuable lesson to learn when Vanilla Ice performed for his birthday. The rapper loves to spray the crowd with water, and as I tried to duck behind a group of tall clubgoers while escorting a photog, I looked up at the exact wrong moment and was decked in the face with a water bottle that must have gotten loose during the shower. Painful yet valuable lesson!
2. Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev’s 21st birthday stands out as not only do I love the series and the full cast attended the party, but this was my last night working on the account before I accepted a new position. I love, love, love this show, and the young cast hadn’t realized just yet how big they were about to make it.
1. Steve Tyler… my dear sweet boyfriend. One of the best memories of my career to date and probably always will be, I will never forget standing in the VIP sky box, watching him take the mic and break into “Walk This Way” before turning, smiling for the camera, kissing me on the cheek and walking out. That’s a story I will tell for the rest of my life.
Why 54 is irreplaceable in my heart…
4. The personal touches throughout the club were immeasurable. From the original photos of celebrities at the New York venue, everyone from Michael Jackson to Farrah Fawcett, up to the original 54 sign, and of course, the Man in the Moon with the cocaine spoon. The spoon, of course, was hidden way up in the rafters where you could only see it if you knew where to look. All of these pieces equaled a piece of pop culture history, a moment in time that made you feel like you were part of something bigger than just your average night out on the town.
3. The first venue to introduce aerialists, I could have watched these performers for hours. My first time to Studio 54 was actually when I was visiting over a college break and I remember being totally mesmerized by the talent in these girls. To this day, it is still one of my favorite parts of any Vegas nightclub.
2. Studio 54 was like my Las Vegas Cheers… It’s where I knew everyone’s name, and they knew me. And I know I wasn’t the only one that felt this way. It had such a different feel if you were a regular, like it was your own personal playground any given night of the weekend.
1. The memories I have at the club are irreplaceable. It has been the spot where I’ve developed some of my best friendships, some great career achievements, and even some memories that were so great I can’t remember them after all. When the doors close for the last time, a part of my life in Las Vegas will close with it. A part that can never be substituted by another.
