After party will keep Lady Gaga concert glow going
By Megan Wadding

The owner of a new event company is hoping that a party after the Lady Gaga concert will put give his organization some exposure.

The Lady G After Party will be staged at the Madison Street Events Center after the concert on July 31. It will feature a Lady Gaga look-alike contest and an appearance by Lady Gaga’s lead dancer.

Guillermo Betancourt, who started Phoenix Events Management in November 2009 after he moved to the U.S. from Puerto Rico, said he came up with the idea for an after party a few months ago.

“I was thinking about my first event and how to get my name out there because my company is brand new,” Betancourt said. When he learned that Lady Gaga was coming to town, “I thought that the first thing I would do would be the after party.”

Jessica Wild, from the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and a friend of Betancourt, will perform. Other entertainers will include Yara Sofia, QueenBee Ho and Kenya Michaels. Kiki Vermont will serve as host. Music will be provided by DJ Tsunami. There will be a cash bar.

Quest, Lady Gaga’s main dancer, is expected to make an appearance. Quest appeared in the movie Step It Up and has worked with Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown.

Lady Gaga look-alikes will be brought to the stage for a costume contest, with the winner to be determined by audience applause.

Benacourt said he’s expecting about 1,300 people to attend. “I just created this little party, but it just got so big,” Betancourt said.

VIP tickets include parking, a meet and greet with performers, hors d’oeuvres, a VIP room with waiter service and a red carpet entrance.

Before the Lady Gaga concert, there will be a free pre-show outside the concert venue at the US Airways Center. The pre-show starts at 5:30 p.m., with Jessica Wild and other entertainers set to perform.

VITAL STATISTICS
Lady G After Party
July 31, doors open at 9 p.m.
Madison Street Events Center
44 W. Madison St., Phoenix
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door ($5 discount with Lady Gaga concert stub); $40 VIP
Tickets can be purchased at www.phxevents.com or at 3 Snaps! in Phoenix.