Bronson van Wyck had a lot to celebrate in his life: Born into a family of landlords, he grew up in the rural idyll of a farm. Where Farm is understated. It was one of those facilities with its own name: Arrowhead. On this scale. After studying in Yale - where a proper party was held - the boy did not really know what to do with himself.
So he began an internship at the US Embassy in Paris, then the realm of Pamela Harriman, former daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill, a society lady of not quite impeccable reputation - and a great hostess.
In France, van Wyck learned the importance of seating plans and how to pay special attention to guests: his boss meticulously kept a book of their encounters, in order to be able to flatter their counterpart with a supposedly elephantine memory at the next meeting.
The parties in Paris were followed by an attempt at an acting career and a time when van Wyck kept afloat by proofreading scripts. He may have been born with the golden spoon in his mouth, but work has always been done, says van Wyck right at the beginning of his book Born to Party Forced to Work. His parents insisted on that. It was his mother who gave him the idea of making money by celebrating.
For a lifetime party
After complaining about boredom and hopelessness on the phone, Mama van Wyck asked her son what she wanted to do. To throw a party was the answer. This was followed by an example of maternal care and enterprising pragmatism: "Then let's find a way to make money."
It came in the form of a friend who needed help with her wedding: all of a sudden it was time to start a society break. The Vogue reported, and Van Wyck & Van Wyck were in business. From then on there were a few more formal events up to P. Diddy's 40th birthday, receptions for Chanel or the wedding reception of film mogul George Lucas.
photo gallery
10 pictures
What makes parties better: Tips from the event expertHowever, classifying Bronson van Wyck as a snobby salon lion would be unfair. This man has dealt intensively with the celebration of celebrations. Even with the thought of whether costly events for the rich and beautiful are still appropriate in times when many have to be shorter, he disassembles - and concludes that the one Freud 'does not necessarily mean the other's suffering, but often creates jobs (including his own).
The role of the host
For the vast majority of celebrations are certainly not the big events from van Wyck's league, but without money, it is not even in the home living room. Gladly you show yourself generous - and maybe, what you have. Therefore, the author elsewhere points to the difference between generous and großkotzig. To make his guests small is the last thing a good host wants.
The role of the host is very much in van Wykc's book. His reflections on his responsibilities begin in Greek mythology with Philemon and Baucis. Their door was, as legend has it, the only one open to two runaways, who turned out in the course of the evening as the father of the god Zeus and his son Hermes. Ovid's ode to hospitality serves van Wyck as a commandment of kindness, generosity and openness. The virtues on which his mother and he founded their company more than 15 years ago - and that make every party better.
No photos and a good breakfast
Of course, "Born to Party forced to work" does not come without name dropping, after all, the van Wycks are still in business, and this book is also a kind of reference letter. But among all the photos of New York City social gatherings, celebrity parties and backstage moments, there are plenty of practical tips on all aspects of a successful celebration.
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Bronson van Wyck
Born to Party, Forced to Work: 21st Century Hospitality
Publishing company:
Phaidon
Pages:
256
Price:
EUR 65,99
Language: English
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The chapters range from the invitations (digital or on paper, first on paper and reminder by e-mail) to the afterparty, which is often the actual highlight. For van Wyck only two rules apply: no photos and a good breakfast! The potential in it is indicated only discreetly in the sentence: "Exceptional things can happen, if only the hard core is left."
Other anecdotes from the life of the professional party bitcher are reported in more detail. For example, how to get the band "Earth, Wind & Fire" out of the dressing room, where they have been barricading themselves "for praying" for an eternity, even though they have to stand on the stage for a long time: Turn the music in the room to full volume , A good piece of advice for every celebration.