Brooklyn arts marketing collaborative JellyNYC announced last week that its free pool party concert series—which found a new home last year on Williamsburg's East River waterfront after being displaced from the McCarren Park Pool—would return for a fifth summer, a conclusion producers say had a lot to do with help from Senator Chuck Schumer.
"The story of how he got involved is sort of infamous now," explained JellyNYC co-owner Sarah Hooper. "He's a big biker, and he was cycling through Williamsburg last summer when he rode by the pool party. He found out what we were up to and came back the next two weeks to shake hands and speak with the crowd. At the last show, he asked us if we were excited about next summer."
Senator Schumer did not like their answer. Hooper and JellyNYC founder Alexander Kane explained that the elaborate production was draining, especially with the evolving needs and expectations of the series' new partners at the New York State Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance. So Schumer promised to throw his support behind the pool parties, and for the several months it took to iron out a working model for the concerts to return, he did just that.
The fruits of their negotiations will see the series return for an eight-week run again this summer, and also open up the state-owned waterfront park to ticketed events organized by third parties. The new infrastructure will make the waterfront similar to summer venues like the Prospect Park Bandshell or Central Park's Rumsey Playfield.
"We'll be able to walk into a more relaxed environment this year," Hooper said. "Last year, we had to bring in all of our own production, build it at 6 a.m. and load it up again every night." That model also limited pool party mainstays like food and alcohol vendors to a beer garden far away from the stage—something JellyNYC planners hope will be more integrated this summer.
"We also want the Slip 'n Slide back," added Kane, referring to one of the McCarren pool activities not permitted in the first year on the waterfront. "That's the next big fight. And if we get it, we want the senator to take the inaugural dive."
After getting the green light, JellyNYC has already started booking acts for the next series, with a formal announcement to be made in the coming months. Hooper and Kane expect some big names will appear on the anniversary lineup, joining past performers such as Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, and MGMT.
