The doorman. The gatekeeper of the night. These silent observers see it all and yet say nothing. Until now. In CONFESSIONS FROM THE VELVET ROPES, New York’s top club doorman, Thomas Onorato, lifts the ropes and lets readers into this exciting world. Voted best doorman by The Village Voice, Onorato has been guarding the gates to New York’s hippest and most exciting parties for over nine years. Collaborating with journalist Glenn Belverio, Onorato opens up and delivers a series of outrageous tales from the worlds of nightclubs, fashion shows and celebrity parties.
From the night Madonna DJed at the notoriously exclusive hipster haven MisShapes, to Nicky Hilton being crowd-surfed at a Kimora Lee Simmons’ fashion show that almost brought down the tent, to the night Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance was stalked by a crazy fan – Onorato was always there, right in the middle of the action.
Combining elements of juicy gossip columns, rock star fan memoirs and nightlife social studies, CONFESSIONS FROM THE VELVET ROPES is a tell-all with style. Author Belverio reports from both sides of the velvet ropes, delivering vivid, entertaining accounts of Onorato’s world, including humorous and cutting observations of today’s misbehaving party people. Belverio also profiles other doormen in the book, including Marc Benecke—gatekeeper to the legendary Studio 54—who dispels some of the myths of nightlife’s most famous club.
Praised by Publishers Weekly as the next Preppy Handbook, CONFESSIONS FROM THE VELVET ROPES is also a tongue-in-cheek pop culture guidebook for navigating the sometimes treacherous landscape of metropolitan nightlife. Belverio and Onorato administer helpful advice that both seasoned and neophyte nightcrawlers can benefit from: tips on how to dress and where to shop, how to get on the guest list, velvet ropes etiquette, and more.
“Having Thomas at the door gives your party a stamp of approval.†—Carlos D. of Interpol, Spin
“Glenn Belverio has a devastatingly urban eye. An ultra-hip arbiter of style, he commands the fine line between fashion and flash. He is a superb guide to the underworld of earthly delights.†—Bestselling author and cultural critic Camille Paglia
Official Confessions from the Velvet Ropes website