Paid to Party

Dec. 12, 2006 — -- So you go to a Christmas party and the hosts are really trying to spice things up.

Maybe they hire midgets to dress up as elves or a saucy Santa.

But what if they hired an out-of-work D-list actor from a show that's not even in re-reruns anymore just to show up and hang out? Would you think it was odd or even creepy?

What if they hired Jessica Simpson to mingle with guests?

If your hosts can't afford the $1 million Simpson charges for personal appearances and they really want a recognizable celebrity to liven up a holiday shindig, there's always "Potsie" from "Happy Days."

Actor Anson Williams -- remember him? -- is available at the bargain price of $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the type of event and the amount of travel involved.

Or they can get semi-ubiquitous Kevin Federline for $12,000 to $20,000; Efren Ramirez, "Pedro" from "Napoleon Dynamite," for $5,000; and, infamous "American Idol" loser William Hung for $4,000 -- and he'll even sing two songs.

More party hosts are hiring celebrity guests to attend their holiday parties, both private and corporate. And the stars aren't getting paid to sing or tell jokes, they're getting paid just to show up, mingle, and banter with guests for a few hours.

It's not enough to get plenty of egg nog and mistletoe anymore. Wealthy Americans and all types of companies that want to impress their guests are turning to celebrities to make their fetes unforgettable.

"It's really bloomed in the last few years, especially the private parties," said Carol Grabow, whose family runs Grabow Entertainment, a talent booking agency.

"It used to be that wealthy people had their holiday parties at home with a few friends -- and that was enough. Now, they'll hire a celeb to mingle with guests or to entertain and to make that party extra memorable," Grabow said.

Next week, Grabow has arranged to get comic Dana Carvey to tell jokes at an energy company's holiday party in Houston. The cost: close to $100,000.

Other big favorites for Christmas and New Year's Eve: Patti LaBelle; Dave Navarro, for $20,000 to $30,000; porn star Tera Patrick, for $15,000 and up; and "Dancing With the Stars'" Mario Lopez, for $25,000 and up.