Each year over 500,000 people gather around Times Square to party in the new year, an event that is broadcast to more than a billion viewers worldwide.

This year, Times Square partiers will have an opportunity that only comes around every thousand years — a chance to party in the new millennium.

Let the doomsdayers buy the 100-hour candles, generators and dehydrated food, because Y2K doesn’t mean impending doom or uncivilized chaos.

It means business opportunities.

Across the nation and around the world, people will be buying silver mylar, streamers and noisemakers in anticipation of the biggest party of their lifetimes.

Also preparing for this year’s occasions are the people who make the parties happen. Clubs, bands, DJs and venues will do their best to land the biggest gig, book the biggest band and throw the biggest party.

Behind the scenes of New York’s Times Square party is Irish glass company Waterford Crystal. Waterford has the daunting task of building the 500-pound ball to be lowered down a 77-foot flagpole from 22 stories above the square.

The mayor of Waterford, Alderman Pat Hayes, will travel to New York next week to formally present the millennium ball to his New York counterpart, Rudolph Giuliani.

“All of the United States watches the Times Square celebration. That’s the actual moment when the new year is considered to be in,” a Waterford company spokesman told the New York Times. “It’s a great position for our company to be in.”

New York businesses aren’t the only ones that will be cashing in on the millennium. As one of the largest venues in Des Moines, the Val Air Ballroom has found itself in a great position as well.

“This New Year’s, you won’t want to go anywhere else,” coordinator Jane Wittenwyler said. “I don’t think anyone else in Des Moines will be able to compete with us.”

The Val Air, a 1940s-esque venue, has dubbed its New Years event “the Val-lennium.” Featuring a dinner dance, catering, buffet and two bands, the Val Air is prepared to party in the millennium in a formal way.

Decorations for the event are being created by professional balloon sculpturist Amy Ratekin, who will also be working at the Olympic Games opening ceremonies in Sydney. Ratekin will be covering the Val Air with thousands of balloons.

So far, Wittenwyler has had no problem filling the reservations for the “Val-lennium.”

“We’ve been making reservations since last New Year’s Eve,” Wittenwyler said. “People love the nostalgia that surrounds the Val Air.”

A professional caterer of nine years, John Benker of Omaha has also had no problem lining up business for Dec. 31, 1999. Booked since last January, Benker has received numerous catering requests a year in advance for the millennium’s eve.

With the number of party-throwers and party-goers, finding party workers is Benker’s only problem.

“It’s obvious all the single people will want the night off,” Benker said.

Describing his food as tasteful, expensive and unique, Benker specializes in events such as the millennium party. Sparing no expense, Benker’s menu features steak, lobster, rack of lamb and grilled seafood, as well as other appetizers.

Looking for musical appetizers, however, is a little more pricey. The millennium party is coming at no small cost for Chris Cardani, manager and concert coordinator for Des Moines night club Supertoad.

“It’s outrageous what bands think they can get since it’s 1999,” Cardani said. “We’re looking at three or four national acts as potentials for New Year’s this year. All of them are asking for at least twice as much money as they usually play for. We got bands who play for $30,000 asking for $80,000. It’s way too high.”

For Mary Bernstein, president for Events Inc. in Omaha, higher New Year’s prices mean bigger paychecks. Bernstein has been planning parties from Girl Scout cookie-fests to corporate bigwig get-togethers in Omaha for over 20 years.

“People love themes,” Bernstein told the Omaha World Herald. “People always want to hear about a party. Even if they don’t go, they want to be invited.”

This year, that’s more true than ever. Party hosts are looking for a futuristic theme with an emphasis on the millennium.

Bernstein has already bathed the Bemis Art Gallery in Omaha in more silver foil than the Mir Space Station to coordinate a space-age, millennium-themed bar mitzvah.

Bernstein said themes for corporate millennium parties are either a reflection of a company’s history or an all-out, extravagant celebration.

For Ames DJ Al Weltha, this New Years’ theme is “just another weekend.”

“We never do a premium,” said Weltha, owner of Al’s Music. “I don’t believe in gouging people. There are always some opportunists who will overcharge, but that doesn’t leave you with much credibility.”

Several of the largest DJs are working the largest venues on New Year’s, according to Weltha. Local DJs are more focused on private parties and other private functions.

“As far as the student market goes for DJs, they’re not expecting something super fancy,” Weltha said. “We get calls asking us to work for pretty much nothing. So to up our prices would hurt our credibility.”

As partying has evolved from a leisurely activity to a full-time business, entertainers have based their careers around that business.

And on Dec. 31st, 1999, business is looking good.