Are "Celebrity Gifting Lounges" at events like The Oscars a scam for artists?

I know celebs get crazy goodies for these kinds of events. So, the ‘gift lounge’ is real. As for these two ladies and their email, I can’t comment.

Find out who their clients are and what events they’ve been associated with. They could be a legitimate agency that has an arrangement with the event staff to give out swag, and I imagine that the brands that contribute to the goodie bags do pay such companies for this and write off the items as given for marketing purposes.

This is an interesting promotional idea, and you would need to look at how it fits in with your marketing plan. Like with most marketing expenditures, there needs to be some sort of benefit to you. If the benefit is word-of-mouth promotion, ask to see what sort of press or promotional benefit there is. Is the expectation that the celebrities will tweet about your item? Are your search optimally maximized so that people can find your product easily by mention? Could you meet a sudden demand for your product, should it transpire? What sort of press mention is guaranteed, or has happened in the past?

Are the ROI numbers available related to the spend?

I suppose it could be legitimate, but I would be very, very suspicious. I think the “gift lounge” is where representatives of companies can be sent with swag to give to celebrities. I am sure they have to pay for a booth, and representative of the company showing the wares and answering any questions about them, kind of like a home show or a boat show. I would advise NOT to give these two ladies anything!

Swag. Sealed with a gift.
Thank you for coming to our event so and so.

the events are not a scam but the gifting groups that do them are. check to see will be at this event you pay all this money to gift. Most of the groups….one in particular is a total scam. they claim things are handmade and they are but its crap and the leader is making thousands and promising a celeb photo and delivering a d list celeb with a awful photo

That group is a scam no ROI and the cost is high. You are not guaranteed anything but you may get a picture of your product with a D-list actor. Nothing else. All promotion and advertisement is addressed and given only to The Artisan Group not the actual artist.