Scott Barnes is one organized fellow. When I called to set up his interview, I received an online confirmation reminding me of the time and place before we’d even finished the two-minute phone call. Not surprisingly, he has been recognized as Philadelphia’s Event Planner of the Year by the International Special Events Society, and has received both the CATIE and STAR awards from the International Caterers Association. Barnes was also named the Male Rising Star by Event Solutions magazine. He’s worked with STARR, KPMG LLP, Cashman & Associates and Feastivities. Barnes also gives back to the community by lending his talents to various nonprofits throughout Philadelphia, such as The Attic Youth Center, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, FringeArts and the William Way LGBT Community Center.
His newest gig has him overseeing all marketing, special events, public relations and branding for the Philadelphia Film Society, which runs the Roxy and Prince Theaters and the annual Philadelphia Film Festival.
PGN: So Mr. Barnes, you’ve worked in the restaurant industry. What would be your death-row meal?
SB: I’ll try anything but, at heart, I’m a steak and potatoes guy, so I’d say filet mignon with creamed spinach and baked hash browns … with baked Alaska from Butcher & Singer for dessert. That’s my favorite, favorite restaurant in Philly. I love everything about them, from the grandeur of the high ceilings to the plaid curtains and the Scotty dogs. It’s retro and whimsical at the same time.
PGN: Where did you learn the business?
SB: I grew up in Newtown Square in Delaware County and attended Cardinal O’Hara High School, then made a big move — all of 15 minutes away from home — and went to Widener University. I’m a Cancer, so I’m a bit of a homebody. It was nice to be able to jump in the car and go home for Sunday dinner. As a hospitality major, I really got into the industry clubs they offered as well as my fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega. I interned at Aronimink Golf Club and when I graduated they offered me a management position, which I did for a while, but I always loved the city. Both of my parents worked in Philly; my mom worked at Blue Cross for 34 years and my dad’s been at Beneficial for 38 years and we’d often go to the city for the Wanamaker light show or the Franklin Institute, etc. So I got a job at The Restaurant School running their student activities, clubs and organizations. I started organizing graduations and convocations and orientations and it gave me my first taste of special-event planning. The students also had to do community service as part of the citizenship development, so I got to know all sorts of nonprofits throughout the city. I also planned the career fairs and the student volunteers at The Restaurant School, which led me to work with Stephen Starr. [Laughs] Basically all my jobs have catapulted one to the other.
PGN: And now you’re with the Philadelphia Film Society and here at the Prince!
SB: Yes, and it’s great. I get to fulfill a personal passion of merging arts and culture with my professional skill sets.
PGN: The theater showcases both film and live theater. What was the first show you remember?
SB: The first movie I vividly remember was seeing “E.T.” on the Wildwood boardwalk. The first play I ever saw on Broadway was “Phantom of the Opera” when I was in fourth grade. When I was in sixth, seventh and eighth grades I was in the Archdiocesan Boys
Choir so I got cast as Oliver in “Oliver,” Patrick in “Auntie Mame,” things like that.
PGN: You’re a thespian!
SB: A little bit, yeah. My parents were big on instilling arts and culture. I took piano and organ lessons and was in shows at O’Hara. I was president of the student council and the school mascot. I thought I wanted to be a star but then realized that it wasn’t the most stable career path and decided to pursue something more tangible.
PGN: Siblings?
SB: My sister, Kelly. She’s still in Newtown with her husband and my nephew/godson, who is the sun, moon and stars to me.
PGN: How were you as a big bro: bossy or benign?
SB: A little of both. I’m definitely an A-type personality so I was constantly making her my little sidekick doing shows and playing house and office, dress-up, whatever. But my sister is my best friend and always has been.
PGN: Tell me about your sparkliest show with her.
SB: [Laughs] They were sparkle shows! There was always a construction-paper program and a concession stand selling microwave popcorn. At one point, I was on a big figure-skating kick. We had those footie pajamas, remember those? We would slide around and spin on the hardwood floors as if I was Brian Boitano and Kelly was Katarina Witt.
PGN: A written program? I guess you were always Mr. Organization.
SB: Oh yes, if you open my closet you’ll find all my shirts and pants lined up in rainbow order — not as a gay thing, it’s just easier for pulling outfits together.
PGN: That sounds like Monk, from the TV show! Borderline OCD?
SB: Definitely borderline! I actually had that checked professionally and I have more of what’s called OCPD, which is Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. It has a lot of the attributes of what everyone thinks of with OCD but without the repetition. I don’t have to close the door 10 times or touch certain objects but I’m very much a creature of habit and a perfectionist, which was a challenge when I started event planning. I would plan everything out to the last detail and, in the beginning, when something would go awry — which happens at every event — I had a hard time adjusting. But I quickly learned that I had to roll with the punches and relax and adjust or we’d never get to the finish line. I learned to become more solutions-oriented rather than “this is not how I planned it!”
PGN: What was your favorite event and your biggest disaster?
SB: My favorite personal event was my sister’s wedding, because … well, it was for my sister. Professionally, the most exciting was a private dinner at the home of a big Comcast executive for President Obama. Watching the Secret Service in action and all the details of that level of an event was something cool to be a part of. And I was able to shake the president’s hand and get a picture with him. Pretty cool, ya know! The event I was most passionate about was co-chairing The Attic Youth Center’s 20th-anniversary gala with Tami Sortman. It was an amazing event and we tripled the amount of attendees from 200-something to 667 and raised $123,000. It was a magical evening.
PGN: So tell me about your new job.
SB: I’ve been here just over three months and it’s exciting. I’m the marketing director and I oversee the PR as well as large-scale events for the Philadelphia Film Society and our Roxy and Prince Theaters and the annual Philadelphia Film Festival in October.
PGN: I understand we almost lost the Prince Theater.
SB: We did. The prior organization had some financial difficulties that forced them to close the doors. The Film Society had done some programming at the Prince with David Lynch and a guest at that program made a generous donation to help the Film Society save the Prince and use it as a permanent venue. That was before my time but what an amazing, amazing opportunity to save an iconic arts and cultural theater like the Prince. There’s a lot of history here. It started out as the Karlton Theater in 1921 and boasted Italian marble and fountains in the lobby and foyer and was able to seat 1,066 on one floor. In 1943, Philadelphia theater operator William Goldman acquired the theater and changed it into a first-run movie theater. A number of world premiers were held there. The Prince currently has the largest non-Imax film screen in the city of Philadelphia and we do live shows as well as films. It’s steps away from the Avenue of the Arts and boasts state-of-the-art equipment as well as a Black Box theater on the second floor. We can also do events here and we offer approachable pricing for nonprofit and cultural organizations. We’ve had the Gay Men’s Chorus, qFLIX and currently we have Vulcan Lyric in the house doing opera now through mid-August. It’s important to us that smaller arts groups have an affordable place to perform. Something we’re really excited about is hosting Dance Affiliates, which was at the Annenberg Center for 32 years. They’re renaming it NextMove: Dance at the Prince and it will open here with 54 performances in the fall. It’s great to see the place bustling; as we speak, there are singers downstairs in the dressing rooms with huge opera wigs and fancy costumes and a pit with a full orchestra and people everywhere. We also rent out for corporate events, companies bringing in keynote speakers or having receptions in the lobby or Black Box theater. In addition, we’ve been filling any vacancies on the calendar with first-run films because, since the theater is owned by the Film Society, it only makes sense. We had Pixar’s “Inside Out,” which was a huge hit, and this month we’ll have a movie from the New York Film Critic’s film series. In September, we’re doing a series of films based on the pope’s favorite films and, of course, we’ll be involved with the Film Festival as well. The Prince is alive and robust. In the whole calendar year there are only 13 days where we don’t have something going on here!
PGN: That’s impressive. You’re obviously passionate but let’s get back to you! What are some of your hobbies?
SB: I love the beach, anything near water, probably because I’m a water sign. I love to travel, though the only time I’ve traveled internationally was to Paris. I just loved everything about it. Looking at the architecture, I was amazed at the kinds of things they were able to build without the technical resources we have now — so much more spectacular than the stuff we build today! I love anything cultural, going to the theater, dance, you name it. I’m on the board of Brian Sanders’ JUNK. I love getting lost in a museum. And no, I’m not related to anyone with the Barnes Museum!
PGN: What’s your favorite section of the Art Museum?
SB: The Cloisters! I don’t know why. No, actually my favorite, favorite section is the Great Stair Hall, probably because I’ve done so many events there during my time with Stephen Starr. The space is exquisite for entertaining. But I mostly love, loooove the Collab in the Perelman Building. I love modern design. Oh, another thing I love is spending time with my nephew, Connor!
PGN: Best day with Connor?
SB: He’s a little riot. Everyone says he looks and acts like me when I was younger. He knows how to FaceTime me and when he visits he knows how to use my phone and access my password and the games I keep in a folder for him. What I love about him is that he’s up for anything, whether it’s playing piano with me or singing songs that are on the radio now or playing outside in the dirt. [Laughs] Something I never wanted to do! On my birthday that just passed, everyone came to my apartment, and he walked in and said, “Where’s Connor’s room?” So cute!
PGN: Other than being finicky about dirt, what’s an early sign you were gay?
SB: My mom said she knew pretty young. When she’d dress me, if I didn’t like the outfit she chose, I’d put something else on. I thought overalls were for babies even when I was a baby. I liked shirts with alligators or horses so I guess I was an early Ralph Lauren and Lacoste fan. Of course, the biggest giveaway was probably when I came down the steps wearing one of my mother’s pink bridesmaid dresses and throwing Monopoly money imitating Madonna singing “Material Girl.” I officially came out right before my senior year of college.
PGN: A sentimental item you’ve kept?
SB: Well, I’m a purger; I don’t keep much except for cards, especially from my grandmom. She watched us every day while my parents worked and we were very, very close. I’m the oldest of nine grandkids, followed by my sister. Then there was a break before the next seven. I wouldn’t throw away anything from her.
PGN: Battle you’ve fought?
SB: I got sober eight-and-a-half years ago. I owe a lot to the 12-step program and their philosophies. I’m a worry wart and they taught me, if it’s not worth worrying about five years from now, it’s not worth worrying about. I’m very open about my sobriety. Maybe it’ll help someone else.
PGN: Best things you’ve learned from being in the hospitality, PR and event business?
SB: Save your contacts! Never burn your bridges, never burn your bridges. It takes more than one person to get a project across the finish line. You may be the person responsible, but there are lots of pieces of the puzzle to make it complete and they’re all important.
For more information about the Philadelphia Film Society, visit www.filmadelphia.org.
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