Can The Electric Zoo Festival Save NY?

NoK · 07-22-2009, 02:58 PM

Unless you have been living in outer space, you have probably see advertisements for the Electric Zoo festival on almost every dance music related website on the internet. From Discogs to Blogs, Made Event has been pushing the festival with all of their might. Made Event, consisting of powerhouse promoting duo Mike Bindra and Laura De Palma have been promoting parties for as long as I can remember in New York. Mike was the head honcho over at Twilo booking the best talent the city saw, and was responsible for bringing in residencies like PVD and what is probably the best residency at any club ever, Sasha and Digweed. The duo always kept a low profile though, and after Twilo closed its doors, they moved over to Arc (where Vinyl once stood) and began hosting parties there (and some great ones I might add).

And then came the closure of Arc in 2003; doomed by the high price of real estate and the booming condo market, the owner of the building decided to sell it to real estate developers who would later demolish it and turn it into a high rise condo. So Made Event picked themselves up, continuing to throw events in New York at places like Roxy, Webster Hall, and more recently Cielo and Rebel. Though Mike failed to keep things going at Twilo in Miami (and it wasn’t his fault, there were a magnitude of reasons why that club failed, but that is for another day), they kept pushing, kept booking, and kept bringing in the club-goers to their parties. If I were to try and list the talent they have booked in Made’s career, I’d be here until next week writing this, so I won’t. But, I don’t think that anyone will argue that the duo have taken on their biggest challenge yet in the Electric Zoo festival. The Zoo will consist of over 50 DJ’s, and from the first to the last, every single one could headline a night at Space in Ibiza. The diversity is astounding, ranging from megastar trance DJ Armin Van Buuren to local favorites Danny Tenaglia and Victor Calderone, capping off with Richie Hawtin, Hot Chip, and Guy Gerber. Summing it up, you have yourself one hell of a dance party.

And as we found out last year from Minitek, it sure isn’t easy throwing a party of that size in New York. Take into account everything that has to happen in order for a festival of this size to run without a hitch. Most importantly, there is the capital that has to be put up front for the venue. I don’t know the numbers, but I can tell you that a venue like Randall’s Island is not cheap. There is also the insurance, security team, cleanup crews, restrooms/port-a-potties, sound technicians, food and beverage concessions, and oh yea we forgot a huge one….. The DJ’s!

So the question remains? Can the Electric Zoo throw a festival similar in size to that of Creamfields and Homelands, with tens of thousands of people and a DJ lineup that would make any electronic music lover pay 100 bucks to see? Well, if there is any promotion team in New York that could handle it, one with the experience, connections, and one that has earned the respect of the world’s top disc jockey’s, then it would definitely be Made. Now can this even save New York? Well, I don’t think New York is in a dire situation that needs “saving,” and no, this event will not turn New York into the partying Mecca it was in the 80’s and 90’s, and no this party will not convince the owners of the Limelight to re-open, but it sure is a step in the right direction, and we are happy and excited that they have stepped up to the plate to deliver an event like this to the people of New York.

So a big kudos and good luck goes out to Made Event and all of the promotions teams who are working round the clock to make this the most successful dance music event New York has seen!

DJ Sean McMahon · 07-22-2009, 04:05 PM

I hope it's very successful and a new era WILL develop in the NY club scene. It remains to be seen how it will take shape. Venues like Water Taxi Beach, and now Governors Island too, offer some alternatives, but these are seasonal at best, and there still needs to be a breakthrough for a serious venue other than Pacha (which we are all aware of the problems it is facing currently).

The smaller underground scene will probably prosper again for a while and take up the slack. This could be a good thing for all the up and coming DJs that don't often have the opportunity for a crowd to come and support them because everyone is 'saving up' for the weekend at Pacha or whatever.

There's so much talent in this city and it is so underutilized and underappreciated. I hope this changes soon.

rissa · 07-22-2009, 04:44 PM

we should talk about using discretion more ...too many people using/abusing drugs out in the open as if no one is watching ..we shoot ourselves in the foot ...giving them reasons to shut our nightlife down

Chris S. · 07-23-2009, 08:53 AM

As we hit these tough times in ny so to speak, it is nice to see a party like this going down. Too much hate and politics in the club scene. Too many people worried about getting paid. DJ's making 50 thousand a night to plau other peoples music.

What ever happened to it being for fun?

DJ Sean McMahon · 07-23-2009, 10:37 AM

Come to the INDABA : DANCE benefit party then. We gonna have fun AND do some good

rissa · 07-23-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris S.

What ever happened to it being for fun?

exactly

Gerry917 · 07-23-2009, 12:08 PM

nokturnalist should start a revolution!

hehe

its good to see people who think like i do. im getting older, but still like to go out sometimes, and do not want to pay 40 dollars to hear a dj, or buy a bottle of alchol i can get at a liquur store for $25!!!!!!!

skooby · 07-30-2009, 10:11 AM

Hah... I can't wait :-) I'm sure Made is going to do a great job with this event. The lineup is so amazing and diverse.

August and September are going to be great :-)

VanessaG · 07-30-2009, 04:12 PM

Got my Ticket today!

SCOTTO · 08-09-2009, 12:31 PM

Although I am not a big fan of MADE or MIKE BINDRA, it is an impressive effort and undertaking, but it would be much cooler to do overnight camping as PROPER festivals in Europe do. When I produced RAVESTOCK at WOODSTOCK '94, the ticket price was about the same, but your experience is tripled when you can pitch a tent and get laid without leaving the party, with constant entertainment 24/7. It would be better for our collective scene to have invested the same energy and resources on this PROPER FESTIVAL idea instead of wasting it at Randalls Island, a crappy venue in my opinion.

07-22-2009, 04:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
DJ Sean McMahon Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 469	I hope it's very successful and a new era WILL develop in the NY club scene. It remains to be seen how it will take shape. Venues like Water Taxi Beach, and now Governors Island too, offer some alternatives, but these are seasonal at best, and there still needs to be a breakthrough for a serious venue other than Pacha (which we are all aware of the problems it is facing currently). The smaller underground scene will probably prosper again for a while and take up the slack. This could be a good thing for all the up and coming DJs that don't often have the opportunity for a crowd to come and support them because everyone is 'saving up' for the weekend at Pacha or whatever. There's so much talent in this city and it is so underutilized and underappreciated. I hope this changes soon. __________________ Let the music use you up Vistamix Productions http://www.myspace.com/djseannyc INDABA : DANCE facebook

07-22-2009, 04:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
rissa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 338	we should talk about using discretion more ...too many people using/abusing drugs out in the open as if no one is watching ..we shoot ourselves in the foot ...giving them reasons to shut our nightlife down __________________ Nightchildrecords.com NightChild on Myspace NightChild on Beatport 10/01/09 ..:Rissidium@Deep See(Sapphire Lounge) with Lola, EMan& Spider 10/16/09..:Rissidium@ Rebel w/Stimulus Response Crew Last edited by rissa; 08-24-2009 at 02:37 PM.

07-23-2009, 10:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
DJ Sean McMahon Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 469	Come to the INDABA : DANCE benefit party then. We gonna have fun AND do some good __________________ Let the music use you up Vistamix Productions http://www.myspace.com/djseannyc INDABA : DANCE facebook

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07-23-2009, 08:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Chris S. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 75	As we hit these tough times in ny so to speak, it is nice to see a party like this going down. Too much hate and politics in the club scene. Too many people worried about getting paid. DJ's making 50 thousand a night to plau other peoples music. What ever happened to it being for fun?

07-23-2009, 12:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gerry917 Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 7	nokturnalist should start a revolution! hehe its good to see people who think like i do. im getting older, but still like to go out sometimes, and do not want to pay 40 dollars to hear a dj, or buy a bottle of alchol i can get at a liquur store for $25!!!!!!!

07-30-2009, 10:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
skooby Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,225	Hah... I can't wait :-) I'm sure Made is going to do a great job with this event. The lineup is so amazing and diverse. August and September are going to be great :-)

07-30-2009, 04:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
VanessaG Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Queens Posts: 346	Got my Ticket today!

08-09-2009, 12:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
SCOTTO Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2	Although I am not a big fan of MADE or MIKE BINDRA, it is an impressive effort and undertaking, but it would be much cooler to do overnight camping as PROPER festivals in Europe do. When I produced RAVESTOCK at WOODSTOCK '94, the ticket price was about the same, but your experience is tripled when you can pitch a tent and get laid without leaving the party, with constant entertainment 24/7. It would be better for our collective scene to have invested the same energy and resources on this PROPER FESTIVAL idea instead of wasting it at Randalls Island, a crappy venue in my opinion.