WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? LASERVICE WILL TACKLE THOSE TASKS YOU DON'T WANT TO.

Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer

SHERMAN OAKS - No matter if it's fetching a gallon of milk or planning a Christmas party for 200, Cynthia Chance lives to serve.

As principal of LAService, she's arranged swanky get-togethers for Beverly Hills socialites, set up local visits for international entertainers and even gone house shopping for clients. But though the concierge firm doesn't shy away from these big-ticket orders, it's the everyday tasks that Chance enjoys the most.

Which is good, because there's no shortage of them, especially in the packed holiday season. For the past month, her crew of six core managers and 150 service providers has been buried in an avalanche of just regular, old stuff. They've wrapped presents, bought groceries, waited in line at the post office and done all the little things clients can't do themselves. More than half the firm's business comes from individual clients, many of them senior citizens.

Though the services Chance and company provide can be a hassle, she says the payoff justifies the irritation of trafficking in life's inconvenient tasks.

``Yes, we do mundane things,'' Chance said. ``When you help a senior get their roof repaired, it's not exactly like there's a lot of fun in that, but you're helping someone with something they need. I get a lot of joy out of that.''

Launched a year ago as an extension of Chance's former Web site design firm, LAService has built a name for itself taking care of clients' varied desires. Its most mundane services, such as picking up dessert at a restaurant, run in the neighborhood of $15; more expensive party planning can run into thousands of dollars.

Kathy Missakian, a Canoga Park stay-at-home mom, first heard of the service last year. What sounded like a novel convenience at first soon became a huge part of her life when a difficult pregnancy left her confined to home. Rather than waiting long hours for her husband to get off work to help, she now can pick up the phone and have all her errands taken care of pronto.

``If I need some milk, I can call them, and knowing that when I can't get out, they can help me is a big relief,'' she said. ``It's difficult being pregnant with another child, so it's helped a great deal. Now that I'm going to have a newborn, it's going to be double trouble, so I'll need them even more.''

Producer Simone Sello has found the company to be invaluable, especially with its multilingual employees and knowledge of Los Angeles. When arranging studio time with his international contacts, he has little time to devote to arranging all the aspects of their visit.

``My work is music, and that takes a lot of time,'' he said. ``I could do some of the stuff - maybe I can pick people up at the airport to be polite. But from a professional point of view, I'd rather stick to what I know in the studio and let someone else take care of the everyday needs.''

Though the company specializes in those everyday tasks, Chance says large orders are no problem, even at the last minute.

``We'll do whatever it takes to get it done,'' she said. ``If you have 200 people coming over tonight, we'll call the chef, do the lights and hire a three-piece Italian band with a roving serenader.''

Party experts are nothing new in Los Angeles, but you won't find too many who will find that Italian band and bring you fresh cookies every day.

``An event planner is lucky to get one event a year from a client,'' Chance said. ``We want to provide continuous service, so we'll plan your party, then take your dog to the vet.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Cynthia Chance, right, delivers a bag of toys to client Kathy Missakian, who has a child at home and another on the way.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Cynthia Chance, owner of LAService, shops, wraps and ships for people who don't want to do it themselves.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer