Behind the Scenes at the MTV Video Music Awards

In 1981, cable tv channel MTV began by airing its first music video “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles (ironic) followed by Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.”  This channel was unique and fun – previously tv channels aired news, series and movies.  

My early memories of MTV are of watching Duran Duran, Madonna, Britney and of course the music video which helped establish MTV as a new form of television … Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  Forty years later, I had the great fortune to attend the 40^thanniversary of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).  What I discovered was that MTV knows how to put on a spectacular event.

Here is your behind-the-scenes pass starting with fashion and drama.

Fashion on the Red Carpet

The first rule of dressing for the VMAs is that any form of cocktail attire goes just do not make it boring.  With that in mind, I sifted through my closet reviewing all combinations of leather, lace, and stilettos.  Finally, after styling a Valentino beaded lace and suede skirt with a leather Akris shell and a Ralph Lauren biker jacket topped off with a pair of sparkly black Jimmy Choo pumps, I was ready to climb into the waiting limo.  

Pulling up to the red-carpet entrance behind Paris Hilton‘s pink Mini Cooper, I immediately spot boy band stars Nick Lachey, AJ McLean and Lance Bass posing together for photo ops.  They united to present the award for best K-Pop.  Walking on towards the star-studded group of people jostling to get to the front of the red-carpet line, I stopped to watch (gawk at) Ed Sheeran.  He wore a beautifully patterned black and gold Versace suit jacket that played perfectly with his flaming red hair.  

Sheeran stopped to greet (and get a photo-op with) singer/songwriter/actor Torye Sivan.  Sivan was styled in a beautiful black Fendi Spring/Summer 22 cropped “suit.”   The jacket ended at his ribcage displaying an impressive six-pack.  The suit pants were cut off at the knee showing off black crew socks and oxfords.

Drama on the Red Carpet

I ignore the jostling crowd as I am distracted by actress Megan Fox.  Emerging from the crowd of queuing stars she is wearing a sheer custom-designed Thierry Mugler dress with a rhinestone thong and bralette underneath.  While pausing for a moment (as I analyze if I could have ever pulled off that dress….NO), it hits me that the crowd pushing I was experiencing was actually a fight between Fox’s boyfriend and rapper Machine Gun Kelly and Ultimate Fighting Champion Conor McGregor.  

Machine Gun Kelly, dressed in a Dolce Gabbana rhinestone studded red suit, had apparently pushed McGregor while trying to reach the front of the “line.”  This pushing prompted McGregor to throw his drink across the crowd at Kelly.  As the liquid crossed the group and sprinkled down into my hair, my first thought is oh no…a messed-up hairdo.  My next thought when I looked over and realized that security was holding McGregor back was, he looks buff and angry.  

As Kelly and McGregor moved towards one another, everyone either jumped out of the way or tried to hold them back.  In the end, Megan Fox took Machine Gun Kelly’s hand and pulled him onto the photo platform.  McGregor was soothed by staff and my hair and outfit survived the tussle.  

After pausing for the VMA photo-op, I continued onto the section of the red-carpet where the media stations were waiting to interview performers.  My eyes did not know where to look first.  Singer Lil Nas X was wearing a lavender sequin embellished Versace ensemble complete with train.  Just past Lil Nas X was Chloe Bailey wearing a futuristic Marni Fall 2021 dress with a voluminous silver metallic foil-like skirt.  

Moving my eyes away from at Chloe’s skirt (which was hard to do), I see Avril Lavine striding past.  She is wearing a preppy pink plaid suit by Area and Cristahlea with a huge heart shape cut out of the jacket front – displaying her silver sequin bra. 

Turning around, I almost bumped into movie star and fashion leader Timothee Chalamet, noticing that he has stepped away from his usual pencil leg suiting and instead wore a black suit with long pleated chiffon pants looking other worldly (making me think of his current role in Dune). Finally, about to walk into the venue, it was hard to miss  singer Kim Petras wearing a heavily beaded almost medieval Richard Quinn dress with black tights and a full-face latex mask.  As I said – whatever you decide to wear – make sure it is not boring.

The Show

Masterminding a celebration worthy of both a 40^th anniversary (of the MTV awards) and a return to live performances, MTV executives wanted the greatest number of talent ever to perform and for the show to be presented in a multi-level and dimension stage.  The final product was fabulous spectacle that did not disappoint!  

Industry stars lighting designer Tom Sutherland and set producer Julio Hemede were charged with producing an unforgettable a multi-dimensional experience.  With the baseline of 2 symmetrical stages at either end of the arena and a host entrance tunnel guarded by a 50-foot MTV astronaut, they managed to make 14 performances extraordinary, dynamic, and unique.

The show itself was filled with surprise guests, collaborative numbers and the extraordinary constantly evolving sets, lighting and performances.  Surprise guest Madonna opened the event.  Shocking as ever (remember when she kissed Britney on stage?), she rips off her trench coat, revealing the familiar black leather body suit, black stockings, stilettos, and a black leather beret.  

Madonna was followed by Justin Bieber (who was up for 7 MTV Music Video Awards) and Kid LAROI who were lowered from the ceiling onto the giant moon mountain to a joint performance of “Stay.”   

There were moments of inspiration. Cyndi Lauper, award presenter and past VMA winner, and Billie Eilish, winner of 5 VMAs, including the best video for good (with a social message) commented on protecting women and girl’s rights.   

There were moments of speculation. Award presenters Megan Fox and Kourtney Kardashian introduced their boyfriends Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker as “their future baby daddies.”  The shocked crowd began muttering things like “Well…that was gutsy.”  The tabloids went crazy.  It was bold and entertaining.

Being in the audience at the MTV Video Music Awards was like being inside a spectacular constantly evolving music video.  The energy throughout the show was electric both on stage and in the audience.  

Three hours from the start, lights faded on the show. Faced with walking around the arena and two blocks to the waiting limo, I did not notice my aching feet in the 3 ½ inch stilettos (well not much…). Instead, I basked in the afterglow of experiencing an extraordinary production of an iconic institute.