Poof Doof marketing manager Nic Holland is taking a leap of faith and launching his first independently-run event: a Sydney Harbour boat party taking a nostalgic look back at pop music from the 2010s.
“I’ve been doing events for a long time – and felt it was long overdue for me to try do something for myself,” Holland told GSN.
“This event is 100% owned and operated by me with no other partners or stakeholders, which is equal parts scary and exciting.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that part of me biting the bullet is to actually prove to myself that I can do this independently – so it’s a big leap of faith, but I know this party will be amazing (especially for anyone who enjoys my DJ sets or other events).”
Named “Pop Yacht”, the first event will be held on Saturday, January 13, onboard Seadeck Sydney (capacity 420 people) between 7.30pm and 11.45pm, meaning it’s a sunset cruise.
Tickets start at $38.44, and rise to $69.02 for the final release.
Music from Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP and The Fame Monster, Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman, Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, and Lana Del Rey’s Born To Die can be expected.
Participants can also expect music from Beyonce, as well as from Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz album, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Rihanna’s Loud, Taylor Swift’s Red, Kesha’s Animal and Cannibal EP, Carly Rae Jepsen’s E.MO.TION, and Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale.
“These are the albums by artists that have made us who we are – semi-functioning adults [who] love to have drinks with the girlies and get lit up like Fireworks on a Saturday night,” Holland said, “and now there’s a place where all of these things can come together!”
Holland, who lives between Sydney and Melbourne, said he’d love to do Pop Yacht once or twice a year in both cities. “But for now the only plans I have are for this one-off party on January 13th,” he said.
The event page for Holland’s event describes the 2010s as the “Golden Era of Pop Music”. We don’t disagree, particularly between 2010-2013.
The four-hour event will also include performances “that will transport you back to a time when life was a whole lot simpler”.
Pop Yacht is the first independent event from Holland, who has for almost a decade been helping Poof Doof founder Anthony Hocking run his events, as well as assisting Sydney WorldPride with their parties.
Other boat parties coming up this summer include GAYM Entertainment’s Shiprekt. It involves several boats setting sail on Sydney Harbour and later linking up in a circle, where ocean toys and other floatables are placed in the centre.
Shiprekt runs Sundays November 26, December 17, January 28 and February 25. It costs between $145-$160 per person and you typically have to find a group of 20 people minimum who are willing to pay a total of $2900 upfront.
However, GAYM has this year launched an online form allowing people who only have between 3 to 10 people to join a waitlist and be allocated to a boat with other people who are also looking to go.
Other queer parties on Sydney Harbour coming up include the Poof Doof Big Gay boat party (March 1, $53.48), the Hot Trans Summer boat party (February 22, $53.48), and the Eden Mardi Gras recovery boat party (March 3, $63.35) for queer, lesbian, non-binary and trans people.
Gay Sydney News editor