Veteran Hollywood Insider Pushes Back on Event Cancellations: “People Need to Get Back to Work”

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The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles are causing chaos in Hollywood‘s social plans, as organizers and producers struggle to decide the best course of action given the extensive destruction caused by these disasters.

As a devoted fan, I’ve been following the buzz online about major events getting canceled or postponed lately. Some folks like Jean Smart are proposing non-televised award shows, while Rosanna Arquette thinks the SAG Awards, Oscars, and Grammys should transition into telethons. But a seasoned industry insider in Hollywood and fashion is now stepping forward to counteract all this speculation about cancellations.

Ashlee Margolis, founder of The A List marketing firm in Beverly Hills, expressed that everyone is feeling quite distressed, as there’s a strong desire for things not to be halted. What people truly yearn for, she explained, is a sense of community – the chance to converse and connect. Margolis emphasized the urgency to resume work, as we can’t afford another period similar to the COVID-19 pandemic or the Hollywood strikes, which resulted in significant losses for businesses in this town.

Margolis has extensive experience in the thick of Hollywood productions, ranging from organizing and coordination to planting seeds and selection. She expressed that witnessing a multitude of events being removed from the calendar due to wildfires – with many Grammy events being canceled and numerous award shows or ancillary events postponed – has been devastating. This situation is expected to significantly affect the finances of countless individuals and businesses who rely on these events for support.

She notes that the cancellations of events currently will undoubtedly affect everyone greatly. Since our livelihood depends on these events, I won’t be able to cover my employees’ wages if everything keeps getting called off.

After the fires, Margolis transformed her 90210 showroom and office into a relief center where members of her team and volunteers have been collecting donations such as clothing, toiletries, beauty products, and other necessities. As mentioned in The Hollywood Reporter this week, this project will remain open for at least five months and is currently collaborating with the Los Angeles Unified School District Education Foundation to aid displaced families and employees.

Margolis stated that she is aware of various event professionals such as bartenders, valet drivers, florists, and others from affected regions like Altadena and Pasadena who are in need of employment to cover their bills. She suggested that events could and should be organized in collaboration with charities or non-profit organizations to aid relief efforts, thereby providing a means of giving back, even amidst the festivities of an event.

She mentions that she’s been communicating with other industry insiders such as fashion stylists, public relations specialists, event organizers, production aides, and DJs, and the consistent message she’s receiving from all of them is clear: The show has to continue. These discussions sparked her to produce an Instagram Reel emphasizing this message, which you can view below.

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2025-01-18 03:24