The ASYM Awards and The Diversity Awards

ASYM stands for American Society of Young Musicians. The 2008 ASYM Awards was held at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. Mr. Jarvee Hutcherson invited Bling Queen Fashionz to participate as one of the major sponsors. I truthfully had never heard about this organization until I was introduced by Charron Morro, a friend and a socialite living between Las Vegas, New York, and Florida. ASYM is a non profit, 5019(c)3, national organization founded by Mr. Jarvee Hutcherson. The purpose of such event is to mentor and provide inspirational leadership, to benefit and award scholarship money to honor outstanding and inspiring young musicians.



Let's check out the executive committee. It consists of Whitney Houston, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Quincy Jones, Tina Turner, and the list goes on. Impressive! Let's check out the web site, www.ASYMusicians.org. Looks good! Alicia Jacobs from News 3 Today, proclaimed "Queen of Celebrity Scoop" by Vegas Magazine. Alicia, amongst other celebrities, interview include George Clooney, Bob Hope, Diddy, ect. Okay, my best friend that is head executive for Wireimage knows Alicia personally, in fact she got me in contact w/ Alicia. All good so far. Guests were to be Justin Timberlake, Wayne Newton, Good Charlotte, and B.B. King, legendary blues man.

Funny thing is that I don't know how Justin Timberlake was going to be in two places at once. Denis was photographing him all day for the golf tournament benefiting the children's hospital that Timberlake supports. Wayne Newton also had a show that starts at 7:30 pm. Oh well, it was a good cause. Price tag is $15,000 plus the cost of my three models, and a hotel room for them to freshen up (I'm a good boss ;) ). The only celeb I knew there was Mr. BB King, who only made a brief stage appearance. The rest was... Oh, there was great food there as well. Media exposure? Well, Alicia was there. The funny thing was that as "celebs" were showing up, the script would change every five minutes. At a certain point, Alicia flat out (but graciously) set aside the manual. I happened to be on stage, so she decided to interview me. "Here is BlingQueenFashionz', the queen of bling, Anna. What is your special gift to Mr. BB King?" It was unexpected. I froze, then mumbled, "A mouse." DEAD SILENCE!! "Oh no! It's a Swarovski crystal mouse with a stainless steel mousepad portraying New York, and a built-in calculator." AHH!!

The rest I don't remember. I don't think Alicia did either. We were swinging it. Except she's a pro on stage. I'm not. HUGE disadvantage. I did meet some great people who are now friends. But I wonder... at $250.00 a person for the attendees, where does the money go? In November, Mr. Jarvee had planned yet another event. $500.00 per ticket in L.A. The Diversity Awards.

Okay, so since this was the first time the ASYM Awards was being held in Las Vegas, I decided to sponsor it. Yes, I do tend to see the good in people. I was once again prompt in my mission to "SAVE THE PLANET!"

The hotel room for three nights = $900.00
Traveling to California from Las Vegas = $300.00
My dress = $1,500.00
Attending the Diversity Awards held at Universal Studios led by Mr. Jarvee Hutcherson and Dick Michaels = PRICELESS??

We, my company, shipped out over 400 gift bags that were designated to the A-list celebrities. The value of each gift bag was $40 - $45. Making this a whopping $18,000.00 value. Oh yes, the shipping of the jewelry in velvet boxes, placed in black and gold gift bags. Presentation IS important. Shipping and handling was about $150.00 We are at what? $20,850.00!! The date was October 20th, 2008. The American Music Awards was being held the same night but in a different location.

Gifted, Ne-yo's cousin was to be my escort. He left the American Music Awards to meet me at the Le Montrose near Sunset. My girlfriend, Jennifer Jay Ziba, an artist herself, and her escort were to meet there as well. We all met in the lobby.

Ready? We enter in Universal then.... WHERE'S THE RED CARPET? Oh okay. We have to park? FANTASTIC! Walking in high heels in an evening gown and in the freezing cold? You can't even imagine how the event was. We get to the red carpet on foot. Gifted was already wanting to go. "Let's go to the AMA's! Where's the freaking media?!"

Gifted was very gracious when they literally pulled him aside for an interview. He writes songs. We tried to enter as quickly as possible. Then we were like, "OKAY, Where are the A-listers? Maybe we were it! Any-who, we took our non-designated seats. No names or ushers. There was media from Chicago that came to cover the American Music Awards, and being friends of a friend of mine, they wanted to meet me and interview. I thought, "NO WAY! I WON'T BE CAUGHT DEAD SEEN HERE!" There were no stars or new ones to speak of! As I excused myself with Jennie to go outside to smoke a cigarette, Mrs. Katherine Kovin Pacino, Al Pacino's mother, stopped me to compliment on my bracelets. She was accompanied by her friend, Mr. Norm Vincelli. I later found out he is a composer, writer, and director. I excused myself with Jennifer and went behind a corner in tears. First smoking a cigarette, then FREAKING PISSED OFF! I walked over to the gift bags. The volunteers said there were only 200 bags. My beautiful packaging was dumped in a big black ugly bag with samples of shampoo and candy! I asked where the rest were. Rhonda apologetically claimed they were at Jarvee's place!

Media kept on calling my phone. They didn't have clearance to get in! They turned back to the AMA's and we were to meet later. Jennie and I walked back in to see Jarvee standing by Gifted asking him if he paid the $500.00 ticket! I heard Gifted explaining to him that he was my guest. Jarvee was telling Gifted to pay or get out, claiming I only gave a little! Gifted opened the booklet page and said, "Is this why Bling Queen has a full page?"

He grabbed my hand and we were walking out of there as they were auctioning my $1500.00 all Swarovski crystal bag and sold it as I was being called on stage. Once outside, the fresh air hit me, and so did my Italian temper. I asked to get Jarvee outside NOW! As a crowd was forming I was calling Universal security to come get my gift bags and just take them for themselves. I called the police and the dispatcher said it would take a while. I said something nasty and hung up. An even bigger crowd was coming out to figure out what was going on. Mind you, I was composed and DID touch up my lipstick. Jarvee was hiding and no one could find him! Gifted claimed he had had it. We were surrounded by people, guards, and Mr Vincelli excused himself through the crowd and handed me his card, asking me to call him if I would. I threw the card in my evening bag, and we ended up at Cafe Roma in Beverly Hills for dinner.

My friend friends that were covering the AMA called us to meet for the after party, but I was soo frazzled, it scared poor Gifted; his being so soft spoken. We ended up till 3:30 am outside Cafe Roma, then we went back to my hotel suite to blow off some steam which ended up in a uncontrollable laughter. I called Mr. Vincenti the next day to ask him how it all went. He said he left as well. He asked me how I had met Jarvee. I really hadn't till my money was in his pocket. He then proceeded to ask me what movies I made in Italy. I was a bit puzzled. "Excuse me? Movies?" Jarvee was telling everyone I was a famous actress from Italy!

POOR MAN! HE REALLY NEEDED SOME CELEBRITIES! I guess I was his bank and his excuse for a celebrity.

There is ONE interesting character I met at the ASYM Awards, but that has to be a story all on its own. UNBELIEVABLE! BUT SOO TRUE!