Party Like a Pre-MMVA Rockstar

Kalan Porter at Rockstar Hotel, the pre-MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVA) party in TorontoRockstar Hotel was the name of the pre-MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVA) show on Saturday night, where hipsterati filtered in and out of the rooms and halls of The Gladstone Hotel to catch a glimpse of their favourite celebrity and get a chance to score some free swag.

Outside there was a red carpet entrance to make the celebs feel welcome. Inside there were rooms sponsored by Puma, Fido, Zune and Fuze, offering freebies to the VVIPs. Pity a mere VIP green bracelet wasn't enough to snag a pair of new kicks from Puma's runway shoe line.

MMVA pre-show party Rockstar Hotel in Toronto at The Gladstone HotelFido at the Rockstar Hotel pre-MMVA party at The Gladstone Hotel in Toronto
Fido's "New Wave Manhattan" themed lounge was perhaps the most spectacular looking, with a wall of mirrors and chatty models pushing their Samsung cellphones and fancy martinis.

But it was all smoke and mirrors, as you had to be a VVIP again to even get a chance to win a phone or a cocktail.

Other rooms were less impressive, including the Pioneer sound system headache I walked into: A DJ spinning lots of pounding beats with little substance or interaction.

The Herbal Essences "Pose Like a Rockstar" booth was a fun idea, but wasn't that well executed. At least they gave away free candy.

The Zune room was the most fun. While I had no interest to play with their portable music players (I'm an avid iPod guy) I quite enjoyed watching others get tattooed, albeit with temporary ink. After a little coercing, I gave in and got my very own skull tattoo.

The New Era cap reps were the coolest bunch, offering up samples of their "true fitted" designs. Check out their Toronto flagship store at 202 Queen St. W. next time you need a new lid.

New Era Cap display at the Rockstar Hotel pre-MMVA party at The Gladstone Hotel in TorontoBack on the ground floor, amateurs pretended to be rockstars, singing and playing along to their fave tunes via an XBOX 360 Guitar Hero Aerosmith.

After about an hour and a half schmoozing that rockstar thing, it was time to leave behind the K-OS and Kalan Porter sightings and let some others feel like VVIPs for a night. On my way down from the second floor shenanigans, there was already a lineup 10 deep at the foot of the stairs.

More celeb photos and more in the mini photo slideshow below:

Photos by Roger Cullman.

Reader Reviews and Comments

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...hipsterati - an interesting name for a group of people in an effort to make themselves seem of consequence and important.

Posted by: pincus caplin at June 17, 2008 10:17 AM

K-os, Kalan Porter AND Fefe Dobson? Wowee. Call me when there's an exclusive party that involves celebrities bigger than the ones I see walking down Queen St. on a daily basis.

Posted by: jen at June 17, 2008 12:59 PM

oh yeah, rufus was right. torontonians are snotty little bitchs. how about supporting local talent and being proud of some home grown instead of only being impressed by american performers?

Posted by: kate at June 17, 2008 1:26 PM

good clean fun, no harm in that.

how old is Fefe now?

*cough*

Posted by: RBeezy [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 17, 2008 2:50 PM

K-os, Kalan Porter and Fefe Dobson will show up to the opening of an envelope. K-os is at least a credible musician, but is known for being a difficult asshole. Kalan's only known for Cdn Idol and Fefe's career stalled years ago.

I love Rufus despite what he said about T.O., and he's definitely not American.

Posted by: jen at June 17, 2008 5:29 PM

Did this writer not realize he got duped into covering a party that was one big product placement? Luckily for us readers, there are links directly to every sponsor's website. I'll let someone grumpier than me scold the lack of any journalistic integrity but even media outlets with the loosest of morals are savvy enough know you don't give away this kind of ad space for free.

Posted by: Grumpster at June 17, 2008 6:49 PM

hahaha, is "Rufus was right" going to become one of those things? I'm gonna make a t-shirt.

anyway, this looks like a d-bag fest. As if.

Posted by: oscar at June 17, 2008 10:20 PM

Kate - You realize this party took place on Saturday, the last night of NXNE, which I am sure had many more attendees and was covered on BlogTO much more than the MMVA's.

I just wish Roger wouldn't write about himself so much!

Posted by: Sarah at June 17, 2008 11:14 PM

let me clarify. i was responding to a comment made by jen who wasn't impressed enough by canadian talent.

i'm sure the party was very well attended and i hope that coverage of these events continue to happen.

i am just peeved with the attitude that you have to make it in the states first before you are recognized as a credible artist; albeit musician, actor or visual artist etc.

maybe the reason that "Kalan's only known for Cdn Idol and Fefe's career stalled years ago" is because we don't give enough support.

how many cd's do you have in your collection that meet the maple standards?

Posted by: kate at June 18, 2008 2:08 PM

In attendance was Joey McIntyre and Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block, actor Rainn Wilson (The Office, Six Feet Under), Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole, Kardinal Offishall, and members of Simple Plan, Hedley, Finger 11, Ill Scarlett, Protest the Hero, Bedouin Soundclash and Attack in Black.

Posted by: Jeff at June 22, 2008 10:16 PM

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