Girl About Town: Made it to the A list! Too bad Coachella parties were a yawn

My Coachella experience has been a fireworks display.

Exciting moments erupted so rapidly, it was impossible to catch each one. Even the most extravagant flash didn't hold my attention for long.

Heading into the first weekend, I thought if anything had the makings of a grand finale, it was the after parties.

Now, I could write a blas piece about the parties, acting like I run into celebs on their late-night romps during a typical Saturday night. I thought about it. But the truth is this was my first experience juggling invite-only events hosted by magazines and brand-name liquors, clothing and phone companies.

This was the first time in my life that my calendar matched Paris Hilton's.

Now that you understand I say this from a place of humility: in the scheme of the weekend, the parties were ... eh.

I hear and read about these bashes all the time a celeb was spotted rekindling an old flame; free liquor flowed; well-known DJs and artists performed. Then free swag and photo booths guarantee everyone heads home with evidence that fun was had and they were in on it.

What surprised me at the parties was how little fun everyone seemed to be having.

It was never for lack of a savvy set-up. For the Details @ Midnight party last Friday, sponsored by Details magazine and Hennessy V.S., guests received a Rancho Mirage address that day. Upon arrival, we were shuttled to a residence, where rapper Asher Roth performed, pop star Katy Perry danced late-night and free whiskey drinks flowed. At the Neon Carnival event Saturday, put on by Armani Exchange and T-Mobile, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and carnival games transformed a hangar at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal.

Both parties happened late at night, largely after festival music wrapped. The unseasonably cold weather chilled those in trendy dresses and cut-offs. At the Details party, attendees clustered around heat lamps and fire pits. Neon Carnival attendees seemed better-bundled and we! re warme d by 75 heaters and a packed dance floor. Still, the cold may have added to the impatience of a large crowd waiting to get in just after 1 a.m.

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And that's the energy that doesn't get coverage in the trades and the gossip blogs/magazines. There's desperation among people trying to get into the parties, pushing to get into the shuttle and crowded around the free bar. It kind of killed the cool factor.

To be fair, that energy dissipated outside of those apparently high-tension situations. The vibe then slid to the other extreme detached and aloof. Forbid anyone look like they're enjoying themselves. The carnival loosened the crowd up, however. Even the most image-conscious can't look unaffected in a bumper car.

Most brands frontloaded their parties, holding them during the first weekend of Coachella.

To me, I've always thought it'd be out of this world to go to these exclusive, VIP events. In reality, the music, the drinks, the activities be it carnival games and rides, make-your-own T-shirt stations, photo booths or other clever offerings are fab. The see-and-be-seen attitudes are not.

That said, I'm an in-crowd novice. I didn't get a chance to ask Paris to weigh in.

Sonya English can be reached at sonya.english@thedesertsun.com. Include the subject line, Girl About Town.Follow @GirlAboutPS