Merriment on Merit

Mr White, of White Parties, talks about the event’s Parisian inspiration, keeping the event interesting and ensuring nobody leaks any secrets

Mr White wouldn’t necessarily call the White Parties famous, since he doesn’t feel the number of social
media followers provides a true indication. But he does concede that they are rather glamorous, but not in the clichéd way Dubai is portrayed on certain reality TV shows. As far as the parties are concerned, he says he is but a puppeteer.

Inspired by an event that started in Paris, where guests would meet in a public space for a secret pop-up dinner, the parties in Dubai needed a bit more structure and planning since the guests can’t very well just turn up in public and have an event. The workaround included finding venues that were willing to collaborate and asking guests to contribute while preserving their key principles of remaining anonymous, not making the event money-oriented, and keeping the party a secret.

The delicious exclusivity of the event is that no amount of followers, fame, PR, or money will guarantee an invite. Instead, it really comes down to who you know, and White describes it as a pyramid structure. “I appoint gatherers and they appoint table leaders, and these guys bring in the right people. We are very strict about who we choose, and if f rom one year to another someone misbehaves, they’re out. I’m very cautious about bringing in new people and the first question is, ‘Who can recommend you?’

Sometimes they may not know anyone, and I just have a feeling that the person will fit the bill, and then they are welcome,” he said. The second requirement is making an effort. Guests are required to dress in white, bring their food and provide really beautiful table decorations which fit a theme, and that is not an effort that can be bought. It creates a commitment. One group that stood out to him was a table that embraced Wimbledon as their theme, and they came dressed in tennis whites with racquets. Since the parties are not held often, the guests make them exceptional.

KEEPING SECRETS
Once an agreement is reached with a venue, White admits that’s when the paranoia kicks in and very few people know about the venue to ensure its secrecy. The venue generally has the party registered as something, like John’s birthday, to avoid leaks.

Often, when bookings are made at venues the staff has no idea they will host a White Party. For example, at one venue the event was registered as John’s birthday. From there the preparation
is extremely organised and the set up on the day is well orchestrated. It builds anticipation for the guests who get on the tour bus with their picnics and no clue where they are going.

“We always try to find venues that have a ‘Wow!’ effect, because it’s usually a beautiful venue, it’s a great party venue, and it’s ideally a venue where the guests have never been before, or that that they’re experiencing it in a new way,” he added.

This article appeared in Issue 002 – the Men’s Edition