Finance

Money for nothing

by Seth Gitell

In this season of money and politics, it's worth asking a question: what can you get for your dollar?

Not much. But put together a few thousand of them, and things could get interesting.

At least it seems so. Recently, our offices received an invitation to a September 14 fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee. The party, sponsored by media bigwigs Harvey Weinstein of Miramax and Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone, is being thrown at Radio City Music Hall. Macy Gray, Jon Bon Jovi, and Lenny Kravitz are expected to perform. Boston's Park Plaza was scheduled to play host to a similar event featuring James Taylor this past Wednesday.

Here's what we learned: for $100,000, you, too, could co-chair the New York shindig. Your prize? Access to candidates Al Gore and Joe Lieberman, four concert tickets, six general-admission after-party tickets, two pre-concert reception tickets, and membership in a special DNC program for "major supporters." A $50,000 donation buys "vice-chair" status: four concert tickets, but only four after-party tickets, and two tickets to a Roxy Suite reception.

If you're from a more modest background, you may want to scrape together $5000 to become a sponsor. Or better yet, split it with a friend and pay just $2500 each. You'll get two concert tickets and two after-party tickets.

What a racket.