Ready for Your Close Up?

CORRECTION: The Indigo Ball is at the Arts Ballroom.

The William Way is getting ready for the Indigo Ball (Oct. 1 from 6 – 9:30 p.m. at the Arts Bank) in a big way this year. Not only is the center throwing an invite-only party at Sisters to get the word out (Sept. 9 from 8 – 10 p.m.), as well as the first-ever IndiGoGo dance after-party at the Troc after the ball (Oct. 1 from 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.), but locals (21 years and older) are invited to a promotional photo shoot this week (Sept. 7 from 4 – 8 p.m.) to get the festivities started.

“Over 55,000 LGBT individuals and allies walk through the Center’s doors each year,” says Samantha Giusti, IndiGoGo’s planner. “This is a great opportunity for local businesses and philanthropists to show continued support for the center and show the region that they stand behind our unique and diverse community.”

Giusti says that the main event at the Arts Bank will be catered by STARR Events with hors d’oeuvres and a three-course sit-down dinner and open bar. “In attendance will be 250 of the region’s most notable business men and women, community leaders and celebrities and politicians,” she says, in addition to the first-ever IndiGoGo dance party. “DJ Chip Dish will spin non-stop music for over 1,000 party goers,” says Giusti, “while the Dumpsta Players and local drag queens entertain the crowd in the upstairs lounge (at the Troc).”

Photographer Peter Lien will be at the William Way this week snapping photos that will be used to promote all of the Indigo events this season. A word to the wise: Wear your most outrageous go-go garb if you’d like to be featured on posters and website. You’ll also be asked to tag and share photos with Facebook friends.

“The theme of the photo shoot is ‘What does Go-Go mean to you?'” explains Giusti, who says Lien will be taking individual portraits and group shots. Five winners will even be treated to free tickets to IndiGoGo, as well as a membership card offering discounts and deals at local gyms and other businesses around town.

The photo shoot is free and open to the public (refreshments will be served). “We expect news about IndiGoGo to go viral within minutes of when the first pictures appear online,” adds Giusti, who’s contributed to the popular Stimulus and Arouse parties each month. “Everyone in the city will know about IndiGoGo and want to attend.”

William Way, 1315 Spruce St., 215-732-2220.