Performing at the Titanic world premiere party in Los Angeles
Another Gig, Or So It Seemed
For the Titanic Movie World Premiere Party, our band was the musical entertainment. At the time, it felt like just another movie wrap party on Whilshire Blvd, the kind of event where you showed up, played your sets, say hello, and then head home afterward. In it’s heyday, Los Angeles was always having movie premieres, private parties, and industry celebrations. Some films become major hits, but many more did not. Upon arriving at this gig, there was no way to know that this movie wrap party would become one of those big landmark motion pictures.
This is what makes some memories so interesting now. What I do remember is not just the worldwide reach that this movie eventually would follow, but actually being there, the atmosphere of the premier night itself, the limousines arriving on Wilshire Boulevard, the large white outdoor tents, and alternating music sets between our band and the Irish band which was featured in the actual film.
One of the more memorable moments was the sight of the large replica, Titanic, sitting on stage in plain view, and with no ropes around it. It was just there for anybody to touch or worse, accidentally bump into it. I was a little concerned because when we would perform our sets, we always move around on stage. This large replica was a little too close to our band equipment and our performing area, in my opinion. Years later, I laugh a bit because that replica is still one of the first things I remember about that night.
Arriving on Wilshire
I remember driving into LA for the event on Wilshire Boulevard. Once I parked and started walking down Wilshire Blvd., toward the venue, I could see limousines pulling up. You could tell immediately, this was not your ordinary movie wrap party. It had the feeling of a major Hollywood event.
I remember seeing Bill Maher in a limousine poking his head out the window, smiling and talking with someone as the line of limos slowly moved down Wilshire, toward the party. It was one of those classic LA moments that you know, oh, this is one of those events. It would have been a bit surreal almost anywhere else, but in LA, it was just another day. Even with this event, as a working musician, you always approach this just like any professional gig. Stayed focused, keep your mind on the performance, pay attention to what needs to be done, and try not to talk too much.
While performing on stage, I remember seeing many of the film’s cast and a number of other celebrities throughout the evening. This was definitely a more high profile Hollywood event.
The Setting
The party itself was outdoors, set up under several very large white tents. Those tents covered the stage, the dining area, and the guest tables. From what I remember, there was also a smaller open area near the stage where people could dance or simply hang out and stand closer to the stage. The whole setup felt polished and carefully managed.
I remember thinking that with this high profile movie cast, they should of had this in a nice indoor venue. But still, it had a nice look of an event designed to impress, while still feeling a bit more relaxed and informal.
Our Role in the Evening
Our band was lucky enough to have performed at several Hollywood parties, so we understood our role. We were there to provide the entertainment, not to mingle or talk to the guests. This was a private after party tied to the Titanic premiere, and the evening was centered on the movie, the cast, and the invited guests. We kept a professional appearance, played our sets, and we also got a nice perk, dinner. We were there just for the atmosphere of the night, and we knew how to do that well.
The Titanic Replica on Stage
The stage itself was another memorable part of the evening. Sitting on the stage was a large replica of the Titanic, placed on the stage, out in the open with surprisingly no boundaries around it. I remember thinking how odd that seemed. It looked very detailed and valuable, but there it was, just sitting on the stage where someone could easily have bumped into it or tripped near it. It felt almost too casually placed for something that looked so impressive.
I also remember that before the gig started, we were playing around on the stage and almost tripped near it. It was pretty funny, but we kept that activity down to a minimum. From where I stood, I remember it spanning roughly half, to two thirds of the length of the stage. It had a real presence.
At the time, I remember hearing that this particular Titanic model had cost a million dollars to build. Whether the replica on stage was that exact production model, I cannot say for certain. What I can say is that it looked like it could have cost that much, but it also made a great first impression. It was unusual enough in its placement on stage that it became one of the first things I remember years later. I also remember we had taken a few photographs of it, along with a few pictures of the stage. When I find those pictures I will add them here.
Sharing the Stage with Gaelic Storm
Our band played a few sets over the course of the evening, and with breaks in between. During those breaks, Gaelic Storm, the Irish band featured in Titanic, went on stage and played their sets. As everyone knows, Gaelic Storm became associated with the film because of their appearance in the famous third class party scene, where their music helped give that part of the movie its energy and spirit.
Having Gaelic Storm perform that night also made the event feel even more connected to the film. This was not a private party with background music. The entertainment itself was a nod to the atmosphere of the Titanic movie.
Alternating sets with Gaelic Storm brought a unique musical balance that fit the mood of the event perfectly. Guests could settle into the evening, be close to the stage, and then revisit the musical theme of the party. What I remember, is that the premier party went very well. People looked like they were having a great time. The party felt like it was a success, in the way a well run private event does, and where the evening speaks for itself.
Before the Movie Became A Blockbuster
Another interesting thing about this evening is realizing how different the emotional connection of the event became over time. On that night, Titanic was of course a major release with a lot of attention around it, but it was still just another big budget movie opening in Los Angeles.
At that time Los Angeles was non-stop, full of productions, premieres, and celebrations tied to the entertainment business. People might assume that everyone at the party knew they were part of something historic. But that’s not how it really was back then, you were just happy to be working, getting paid, and looking to schedule your next gig.
That perspective was true about how Los Angeles and the entertainment business used to be. Films were constantly being promoted before their release. There was always the anticipation, the promotion, and the hopefully eventual release. Some projects become landmarks. Others never even make it or they fade quickly.
The Working Musician’s View
Most people usually remember the stars, the red carpet, the photographers, and the headlines. But there is another side to all these events, the side made up of crew members, musicians, technicians, and support people who help create the environment in which these events happen. We were each a part of that night. We were there to do the job, support the event, and then move on.
There is something simple that keeps you grounded, knowing that everyone you meet on the way up, are the same people you meet on the way back down. So it pays to be nice to everyone, because you never know, your paths may cross again.
Heading Back Home to Ventura
After the party was over, we packed up and went home. Because the event was close enough to Ventura, there was no complicated ending, and no hotel stay. The night simply ended the way gigs often do. You finish the work, gather your things, and head back. In one sense, it ended quietly. In another, it never really ended, because the memory kept growing in meaning as the years passed and Titanic became what it became.
The Titanic Ticket
This is the actual ticket given to me for the party.
The invitation itself was an exclusive world premiere ticket printed for the movie stars and guests of the premiere. These Titanic invitations can sometimes be found for sale on auction sites and are hard to find these days. The invitation has an image of the Titanic printed with Lenticular printing.
Lenticular printing is a technology in which lenticular lenses are used to produce quality printed images with an illusion of depth and the ability to change perspective as they move forward and backwards, or viewed from different angles.
This is one of the things I still have from that night, the Titanic after party invitation ticket. Everyone in our band got their own invitation, which was cool. It's nice to still have that printed invitation today, after all these years.
On December 14, 1997, none of us could have known which category Titanic would fall into, no matter how large the production had been. It was only later, after the film became a worldwide success and entered the pop culture on a massive scale, that the full significance of that night became clear.
When I find the pictures from that gig, including the replica and the stage, I will add them.
