If you’re thinking of crashing any of Tuesday’s election parties, Hal Dash says go ahead. Most parties don’t require a ticket, so just act confident and walk right in.

It’s best to show up early, like before the polls close, said Dash, who is something of an election-night party animal. And make your way to the food table first thing because the grub goes quickly.

As president of political consultancy Cerrell & Associates, Dash has had plenty of opportunities to attend election parties. He attended his first L.A. election bash in 1976 when Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford.

This year, the Republicans will hold their event at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, while the Democrats have reserved multiple ballrooms at the Plaza Hotel in Century City.

Whatever happens at the polls, Dash predicts a good night for political partygoers.

“A presidential election is 10 notches above a regular cycle, and I can’t recall when there’s been so much excitement in Los Angeles about a presidential election,” he said.

Here are some other tips from Dash:

– Wear a button for the correct candidate or party.

– Locate the podium and position yourself so the TV cameras can catch you for the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news.

– Wear strong deodorant and comfortable shoes. “There won’t be anyplace to sit it’s like a big mosh pit,” Dash said.

– If it becomes clear the host candidate will lose, leave the party.

Oh, and there’s one more: Consider wearing a helmet and elbow pads. “It’s going to be a mob scene,” Dash warned.

Seeing Red

As an executive for 27 years, Joseph Akhtarzad has done many things. But he finally got to host his first red-carpet event.

Akhtarzad, 50, hosted the Oct. 23 reopening of the redesigned Video & Audio Center in Santa Monica. The electronics retail center, where Akhtarzad is vice president, was celebrating a $500,000 makeover that was co-sponsored by Sony Corp., Sharp Electronics Corp., Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.

More than 500 people attended the event, including Sony executives and several Hollywood celebrities. “It was a great turnout,” he said.

In Video & Audio’s showroom, guests enjoyed a full sushi bar. But a big attraction literally was the 180-inch Sharp LCD television, which Akhtarzad said is the largest LCD TV on the West Coast.

“When you watch football or basketball or baseball, the players on the screen are as tall as you are,” he said.

But anyone interested in the superscreen TV better dig out their credit card: The sticker price is $150,000.

Staff reporters Joel Russell and Charles Proctor contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at

[email protected].